Sita's Sister - A Memoir Of The Rejected Queen!

Rejected But Powerful.

Namaste.

Ramayana is one of the admirable epics we ever read since our childhood. As we all heard, Ramayana potrays a tale of Sita, Ram and Lakshman. But the epic failed to throw a light on a woman called Urmila, the most neglected and unsung character. She is a little mention in the various versions of Ramayana, however, she is the biggest contributor to the events and one of the strongest characters. The novel was a perfect find that depicts Urmila as a strong, independent, and a intelligent woman who holds much interest in social discipline.

Urmila

"A woman living without her love, any future, a victim of fate, moulds herself according to the situation and stands tall in the worst situation. This was Urmila, Sita’s Sister."

Sita's Sister is a rendition of Ramayana from the perspective of Urmila, Sita's younger sister, second daughter of King Janak and Lakshman's wife. She is a brave and self-sacrificing wife who stood for dharma as much as Ram did, instead forcing her husband to stay by her side.

Since childhood, the four sisters, Sita, Urmila, Mandavi, and Shrutakirti are the companions in everything. While Sita is obedient, Mandavi is stubborn, Kirti is loved, and Urmila, the biological daughter is the anchor, strong one, and called "the glue that holds them together." One day, Sita accidentally picks up the bow 'Shiva', King Janak announces whoever lifts the bow would marry Sita. When prince Ram & Laxman come at Mithila to participate in the Swaymver of Sita, Urmila falls in love with Laxman. Later the four princes of Ayodhya get married to the four princesses of Mithila.

The four sisters find their journey from a gender impartial environment to a patriarchal household at the palace of Ayodhya. It is the place where the son obeys the father unquestioningly, the women don’t question their husbands, not even speak up against any injustice. When Queen Kaikeyi demands Ram to leave the crown and live an exiled life for the next 14 years because of a cunning woman Manthara, Sita follows her husband and Lakshman chooses his brother's way leaving his wife behind.

Urmila, a woman with strong will chooses not to mourn but to bind her scattered family. She becomes the backbone of the family when everybody is in a bad situation. She is outspoken yet respectful, headstrong yet calm, strong in the face of adversity, a learned scholar, with an ability to forgive, forget and look at the bigger picture.

The novel is about Ramayana but more than that, it is the sad plight of a woman who is left out from the list of priorities of both her husband as well as her sister.

“You could always call her secretive, masking her feelings beautifully lest anyone intrude into her inmost realm of hidden thoughts. It was a defense Urmila had evolved since childhood.” - Kavita Kane (Sita's Sister).

Anything to say? Please leave a comment. Thanks!

Jai Hind.