Rashmi Chakravarty

Ramayana, the epic Hindu mythological tale holds a revered and prestigious position in not just India, but also in several other countries, like Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos etc. And while Valmiki” Ramayana, probably the oldest one, continues to be the most famous one, it is by no means the only one. Several other Ramayanas, by several other people and from several cultures and countries have been written.

The commonality between most of them is that they are written by males and more or less centre around and are mostly addressed to Rama and his journey. But, how many times have we come across Sita’s version of the tale?

Hardly ever.

The brilliant American-Indian author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s novel ‘Forest of Enchantments’ is a poignant retelling of the Ramayana from Sita’ perspective. Not just hers, but from the perspective of the every woman who forms a crucial part of the epic, but is pushed to the fringes.

What’s So Exceptional About The Novel?

The feministic side of most women for ages has been at unease with the stature and the treatment of Sita in the great epic. Despite her queenly lineage, noble demeanour, stately personality as well as the possession of ALL the “pre-requisites” or necessities for a good wife; namely –complete obedience to the husband (ranging at times on subservience), affectionate treatment of in-laws and maintaining her loyalty and chastity to her husband, she was ultimately rejected and insulted by the man she wholeheartedly loved at several junctures. A question arises, one each from her perspective and from the perspective of the counterpart males: Why she, a strong-headed and wise woman choose to give in to the unjust whims and fantasies of patriarchy? And then, why, despite the possession of all the “necessary” female virtues was she subjected to such estrangement?

Chitra Banerjee’s novel chooses to answer both of these questions, amongst several others. She gives a sneak peek into the unsaid tales of Sita, her sister Urmila, their mother Sunaina, Dashrath’s three wives Kosalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi, Ravana’s beloved sisterSurapnakha, his wife Mandodri and even that of a couple of rakshasis. These women, who yet were just a part of the epic in bits and pieces, get their full voice and freedom of expression in Chitra’s fascinating re-telling.

A World Where Women Aren’t Pitted Against Each Other:

Unlike the banal narratives wheretwo or more women fawn over the same man, or are pitted against each other for petty reasons, ‘Forest of Enchantments’ unfurls a world where women live as sisters more or less and stand up for each other, and even against when the situation demands.

One of the touching aspects is the friendship between Sita and Mandodri while the latter is a captive. Equally lovely is the steadfastness and caring nature of Trijata, who is the in-charge rakshasi for keeping an eye over Sita. And not to say, the bond between the sisters Sita and Urmila makes a delightful read.

The novel attempts to shatter the long-existing prejudices against the female character, via explaining their stance. Surapnakha, who has always been looked at with contempt and as animmoral rakshasi, finds her voice here. I’m Chitra’s version, Surapnakha appears more like a frivolous and coquettish teenager who dotes over the handsome Raghu clan brothers. Her anger laden complaint to her brother seems less of an inducement to revenge, than out of the personal sense of loss at having her face disfigured for the rest of her life.

 Lakshmana, the devout brother who followed his brother and sister-in-law seems may at times seem completely cold to his wife Urmila. Chitra makes sure to amend that view, and give a picture of not just Lakshmana’s remorse of having his wife suffer, but also the obvious love between them.

As we can understand, the book isn’t just about re-telling the woman’s part of the story. It is also a narration of the highest form of love…Between Lakshmana and Urmila, Dashrath and Kaikeyi, Ravana and Mandodri and above-all Ram and Sita. Although the tale is by a woman, of women and for women (and yes, with the women!), it isn’t limited to it. On the contrary, it tries to fill in the gaps in the epic that het have been overlooked. Speaking more on it would definitely mean letting out spoilers. So grab a copy for yourself quick enough !