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Sita
by Devdutt Pattanaik
Description:
SITA : AN ILLUSTRATED RETELLING OF THE RAMAYANA It is significant that the only character in Hindu mythology, a king at that, to be given the title of ekam-patni-vrata, devoted to a single wife, is associated with the most unjust act of abandoning her in the forest to protect family reputation. This seems a deliberate souring of an uplifting narrative. Rams refusal to remarry to produce a royal heir adds to the complexity. The intention seems to be to provoke thought on notions of fidelity, property and self-image.
And so the mythologist and illustrator Devdutt Pattanaik retells the Ramayana, drawing attention to the many oral, visual and written retellings composed in different times, in different places, by different poets, each one trying to solve the puzzle in its own unique way.
This book approaches Ram by speculating on Sita: her childhood with her father, Janaka, who hosted sages mentioned in the Upanishads; her stay in the forest with her husband, who had to be a celibate ascetic while she was in the prime of her youth; her interactions with the women of Lanka, recipes she exchanged, emotions they shared; her connection with the earth, her mother, and with the trees, her sisters; her role as the Goddess, the untamed Kali as well as the demure Gauri, in transforming the stoic prince of Ayodhya into God.
About The Author
Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik (born 11 December 1970) is an Indian physician turned leadership consultant, mythologist, author and communicator whose works focus largely on the areas of myth, religion, mythology, and also management. He has written over 600 articles and 30 books on the relevance of sacred stories, symbols and rituals in modern times, including Myth = Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata, Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana, Business Sutra: An Indian Approach to Management, Shikhandi: And Other Tales they Don’t Tell You.He worked in the pharma and healthcare industry (Sanofi Aventis and Apollo Group of Hospitals, respectively) for 14 years and spent his spare time writing articles and books on mythology, which eventually became his full-time passion. He has also worked as a consultant at Ernst and Young. His first book Shiva: An Introduction was published in 1997. Devdutt illustrates most of his own books
Skryf Review
Sita’s Ramayana follows in the Indian tradition of innumerable retellings of the Ramayana, be it by accomplished poets or grandmothers at a child’s bedside, with each retelling drawing color from the imaginings of the storyteller and the regional culture they belonged to. More specifically, as the publishers inform us at the end of the novel, it follows in the tradition of female retellings of the Ramayana, which have brought unique perspectives to the story, and looked beyond the themes of male heroism and honor. The narrative largely remains faithful to Valmiki’s version but also has an eclectic mix of other versions. At some points in the book, we also get an understanding not just of (the then) prevalent societal mores, but also their reasons. It is a wonderful read, and takes its rightful place beside Jaya as a favorite!