Quote by Mahasweta Devi: “Why should they be deprived of what is theirs by right?”

This rhetorical question challenges the injustice of dispossessing individuals of their inherent entitlements, whether land, dignity, or basic human rights. It urges a critical examination of power structures and demands accountability for the systemic marginalization of communities.

Devi’s work in the late 20th century consistently highlighted the exploitation of land and resources from indigenous communities in India. This quote encapsulates her persistent questioning of authority and demand for justice for the dispossessed.

Bengali writer and activist, born in Dhaka in 1926, whose fiction exposed the brutal exploitation of tribal and lower-caste communities in India. She received the Jnanpith Award in 1996 and the Ramon Magsaysay Award for her journalism and fiction, including the celebrated story collection Agnigarbha.