Growing up in
India naturally means growing up with the two epics (Ramayana and Mahabharata)
that shape our cultural story. “The Forest of Enchantments” is a version of
Ramayana from the perspective of Sita.
The Ramayana is no
new story. We all know every bit of it – the marriage of Ram and Sita, their
exile to the forest, Surpanakha’s infatuation with Ram, the battle that follows
and the final victory of good over evil. But this book written by “Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni” has the
voice of Sita which charts the course of her life. Blending in with the story
are other characters we often hear less about – Urmila the loving sister;
lonely pining for her husband Lakshman, Kaikeyi: protective and witty who out
of her misguided maternal love brings misfortune to her sons and husband, the elegant
Kaushalaya silently enduring her husband’s indifferent treatment towards her,
the innocent Ahilya condemned to suffer for a crime she did not commit, the
beautiful Mandodri and the secrets she holds within; who helplessly watches her
husband desire another woman, the righteous Sarama is torn between her husband
Vibheeshan and her son who fight on opposite sides of the same war and
Surpanakha who in search of love is mutilated; becomes the main cause of the
destruction of Ravan.
The book revolves
around the decisions taken by Sita but also cites instances of her being made
mere victim to some. What I liked about the book is the simplicity in the
writing, which kept me glued throughout. There is something about the writing
that stays you on – urging you to go on.
With each flip
of page, it was evident that Sita definitely was a woman of substance – defying
odds but to my surprise what was noticeable was her forward-thinking which
reflected in various instances in the book.
When
Ram says, “In my kingdom, every man will have a voice, no matter how humble he
is,” Sita wants to ask, “What about the woman?” Another time, Sita debates in
her mind, “Not all women are weak and helpless as you think.”
Something that
stayed with me through the read was what Queen Mother Sunaina tells Sita before
her marriage about her future family and how she has to adjust. Every common
girl goes through some adjustments in her new life after marriage, as the environment
in which she is brought up is quite different from the one in her future
family. Every member is different and needs to be dealt differently. After
listening to Mother Suaina, Sita comes out of chamber with her head whirling. “How many people I’d have to deal with in my
new family, to cajole or appease, comfort or avoid, as the need arose! I’d had
to build my relationship with my husband cautiously, without encroaching on
territory that his family felt belonged to them. Could I manage all that?”
Another was when Mother Sunaina tells her
daughters when King Dashrath refuses their nursemaid Malini to come to Ayodhya:
But instead of consoling us, my mother spoke
sternly – “Pull yourself together. Surely I have brought you up better than
this? We come into the world alone. And in between too, if it is destined we
will be alone. Draw on your inner strength. Remember you can be your own worst
enemy or your best friend. It’s up to you. And also this: what you can’t change
you must endure.” Endure a word solid as a tree trunk.
Ram a good
hearted man. He loved Sita so much yet in some instances he only cared what his
subjects thought of him. He keeps on compensating for the mistakes his father
King Dashrath committed – almost deliberately leading to the tragic turn of
events in his and Sita’s life.
During the final
turn of events where Sita has to prove her innocence again, she shows the
courage and heartbreakingly takes a stand saying –
“Because if I do what you demand, society
will use my action forever after to judge other women. Even when they aren’t
guilty, the burden of proving their innocence will fall on them. And society
says, why not? Even Queen Sita went through it. I can’t do that to them. For
the sake of my daughters in the centuries to come, I must stand against this
unjust action you are asking of me. Because this is one of those times when a
woman must stand up and say, No more!”
While the book
is based on the age-old epic, it also exhibits certain similarities to the
present-day world. The author in her writing style takes us into the nuances of
relationships and a woman’s fight against certain customs and traditions. It
also explores the reason behind of birth and deaths, making you realize that every occurrence is a result of a certain cosmic puzzle.
The Forest of
Enchantments is a compelling read. It makes you empathize with Sita and admire
her at the same time for her courageous nature.
This is the
Sitayan to be given to our daughters that they may imbibe Sita’s strength and
even more proudly to our sons, who will learn how a woman is to be treated.
Happy Reading!
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