Mother of 1084

Mother of 1084 is a powerful and thought-provoking novel by Mahasweta Devi that examines the human cost of political violence and social injustice in India. Set in the aftermath of the Naxalite movement of the 1970s, the story follows Sujata, a middle-class mother who learns that her son has been killed and identified only by the morgue number 1084. As she investigates the circumstances surrounding his life and death, Sujata uncovers uncomfortable truths about inequality, state oppression, class divisions, and the emotional distance within her own family. Deeply moving and politically charged, the novel is a poignant exploration of motherhood, identity, sacrifice, justice, and the search for truth. Widely regarded as a modern classic of Indian literature, it remains one of Mahasweta Devi's most influential works.