I recieved the book shelf today, and finally my books saw the light of a mumbai afternoon :)
Here is a book review marking the day my books found a place in our home :D
"Sita" by DevD Pattnaik.
What is the first image that comes to mind when one thinks of Sita. For me the first image that springs to mind is also her last image: face streaked with tears, heart broken she calls out to her mother, calls out to the only person in the world who doesn't judge her, and asks to be taken away. Away from the people who mean nothing to her but condemn her, from her beloved who means everything to her but won't stand up for her.
The book changed my view. Slightly.
It made me see Sita not as heart broken "abala nari" but as a heart broken but strong single mother. That Ram could not become a perfect husband is not even a matter of discussion, it is a given.
Who is to know that after a marriage filled with such hardships as in the story, Sita was not relieved to be off the hook. That she did not welcome the thought of being free, albeit not on her terms.
What was the alternative, given that Ram is Ram; and would not silence the common man-
He would have asked her to publicly prove her innocence; like he did back in Lanka. Would you do it? Again? and then Again for that one guy who was gone visiting his relatives and could not attend. Then again for the new settlers in the city. Again and again everytime someone raises a question or mocks the king!
I would not; I would never.. I would be furious with my husband for asking such a thing... But then I would expect him to value me over all else.
Then again, maybe, Sita understood Ram's need for people pleasing. She understood that she came second to that. Maybe that combined with the self righteous anger would bring any self respecting female to part ways with her husband.
What i do not believe is that she was ok with it.
She could have understood it. She could have agreed that her going away was better than the alternative. But i cannot believe that she was not disappointed in Ram for putting her through this.
Here is a book review marking the day my books found a place in our home :D
"Sita" by DevD Pattnaik.
What is the first image that comes to mind when one thinks of Sita. For me the first image that springs to mind is also her last image: face streaked with tears, heart broken she calls out to her mother, calls out to the only person in the world who doesn't judge her, and asks to be taken away. Away from the people who mean nothing to her but condemn her, from her beloved who means everything to her but won't stand up for her.
The book changed my view. Slightly.
It made me see Sita not as heart broken "abala nari" but as a heart broken but strong single mother. That Ram could not become a perfect husband is not even a matter of discussion, it is a given.
Who is to know that after a marriage filled with such hardships as in the story, Sita was not relieved to be off the hook. That she did not welcome the thought of being free, albeit not on her terms.
What was the alternative, given that Ram is Ram; and would not silence the common man-
He would have asked her to publicly prove her innocence; like he did back in Lanka. Would you do it? Again? and then Again for that one guy who was gone visiting his relatives and could not attend. Then again for the new settlers in the city. Again and again everytime someone raises a question or mocks the king!
I would not; I would never.. I would be furious with my husband for asking such a thing... But then I would expect him to value me over all else.
Then again, maybe, Sita understood Ram's need for people pleasing. She understood that she came second to that. Maybe that combined with the self righteous anger would bring any self respecting female to part ways with her husband.
What i do not believe is that she was ok with it.
She could have understood it. She could have agreed that her going away was better than the alternative. But i cannot believe that she was not disappointed in Ram for putting her through this.
It would be better to part ways, but isn't going into the earth synonymous with suicide? That's not a good end. She left her kids with Ram and killed herself :(
ReplyDeleteWell, Yes it is a poetic way of saying suicide. But the fact is that she wants to go back to her mother, she is tired she has given up. Death in a way is also a great equalizer, u could be anyone, death will take u it wont judge you..
DeleteAlso, someone who left a partner now would presumably be free to date/marry in the future if she wants to..that would not have been an option for a respectable woman in Sita's time..
ReplyDeleteYes, but what was her option. Its one of those things about choosing the lesser evil.
Delete