‘STREE – THE WOMEN OF THE RAMAYANA‘ co-authored by Jai Shukla and Lalitha Balasubramanian, brings the women of the Ramayana to the forefront like never before. This stunning work is a treasure trove of information that chronicles the events of the Ramayana through the lives of women, beginning with Shatarupa who yearned to become Mother to the Supreme Being, to Mandodari, the loyal Queen, who lost everything she called hers to her husband’s transgressions.
As a mythology buff, I was humbled by the wealth of information that included legends and lore, character back-stories and lesser-known temples. The meticulous research of the authors shines while they refer to various scriptures, religious texts, regional retellings, and folktales. The women of the Ramayana are no ordinary women – they are scholars well-versed in religious texts and wise beyond their years. There is no distortion of facts to suit a narrative depicting one character in a better light than the other.
As a reader, I teared up when Anjana saved the King of Kashi from a sage’s wrath by reaching out to her son. The scene between Lord Ram and Hanuman was stunningly beautiful and is my favourite chapter among many. The character of Shanta who is only vaguely mentioned in the Ramayana is intriguing; she is a force to reckon with. The authors delve into lesser-known facts. Why did women take to violence or initiate conflict? For instance, Tataka and Soorpanaka were not always the demonesses we perceive them to be; their villainy stemmed from a place of anger deep-rooted in love and loss. Even Kaikeyi’s pleas to banish Ram to the forest had a motive beyond placing Bharat on Ayodhya’s throne. There were also women in this book I had not heard about like Meghnad’s wife Sulochana; evil Meghnad having a tender side was a revelation. I could go on and on.
Despite their virtues, the characters are not without flaws. The authors unravel the complexities of human nature. The ethos of those times demanded that a woman’s life be centered around serving her husband and bearing him progeny. Women often bore the brunt of a misdeed or a curse, be it the innocent Ahalya, the neglected Koushalya, or the misunderstood Urmila. My heart ached for those whose sacrifices went unnoticed.
What also stood out for me was the detailing of sacred spots. I had goosebumps while reading about Naimisharanyam or Kashi. I’ve added new temples to my wish list, like those of Shanta’s and Trijata’s.
‘Stree’ is a mini-encyclopaedia of information and a must-read for anyone who enjoys literature based on the Epics.
