Book Review
"In Ayodhya, everyone swore by Rama's protection. Who knew that Sita was Sri Rama's protective charm?"
The Liberation of Sita by Volga translated from Telugu by C Vijayasree and T Vijaya Kumar re tells old tales from Ramayana from a gynocentric perspective; the many battles within Sita, her inner turmoil when she is subjected to many tests and trials; the initial mayhem, anger and despair leading to an unending quest for answers, gradually giving way to an inner peace, a strong resolve to never give up one's sense of identity or bow down to external authority.
The answers that help Sita liberate herself from all familial ties and become one with her mother are not obtained alone but with support from other lesser known women in Ramayana - Urmila, Renuka, Ahalya and Shurpanaka. Women strengthening women, forming a supportive backbone in times of need makes this slender book a marvel, in my opinion.
Sita's interactions with the women in four stories - The Reunion, Music of the Earth (my favorite), The Sand Pot, The Liberated are all imagined extrapolations with a definitive purpose - Sita's liberation and her return to the Mother Earth, the actual conclusion in the epic as well, thereby making the stories extremely believable, conversations in them real and relatable.
The last story - The Shackled deals with how an exalted nobleness turns a handicap for Rama. The daunting task of preserving and protecting Arya Dharma corners him to loneliness and misery, an existence bereft of Sita whom he loves dearly. The author scores full points here cause while she exhibits Sita's perseverance in face of constant strife with fine lucidity, she reflects no acridity towards Rama for the decisions he takes.
Rama's laments that with enormous political power, he has lost power on himself and is chained to his royal duties reflect clearly that 'feminism' in true sense is not extolling females and putting down males but seeing them as equals in a society that encompasses them.
Very strongly recommend this lovely, meaningful read!
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