In Amish Tripathi's mind, Sita is not a coy and docile wife as she is often depicted in TV dramas and popular literature. The author of the Shiva trilogy sees her as a warrior princess who combats several challenges to rise from being an adopted daughter to a warrior princess and ultimately a goddess.
In an interview with PTI, Tripathi said his second book in the Ramachandra series will feature Lord Rama merely as a supporting character and instead focus entirely on his wife.
"The version of Sita that we have now is based on a 1980 television series, which was largely based on the 'Ramcharitamanas' by Tulsidas," he said.
Titled "Sita: Warrior of Mithila," the book to be launched this year, will narrate the period from Sita's birth until the point where she is abducted by Ravana, in a multi-linear narrative in which Rama will appear only in the last one-third part of the book.
Inspired by Valmiki's "Adhbut Ramayana", the book will explore the flip side to the conventional portrayal of Sita as a traditional, dutiful Hindu wife who follows her husband. In Valmiki's version Sita overcomes several hurdles with incredible strength of character to emerge as a warrior and goddess, Tripathi said.
"The very word Ramayana means the travel of Rama. It is the story of Lord Rama, and Sita Devi is a character in that story...But my book is actually Sita Devi's story where Rama is just a character who appears only in the last one-third of the book," he said.
Although Valmiki is said to have written a traditional version of the Ramayana, which has a similar portrayal of Sita as in "Ramcharitmanas", lesser known is "Adhbut Ramayana", also credited to Valmiki, where she is a warrior, he said.
"She is the one who kills Ravana in 'Adhbut Ramayana'", said Tripathi, a banker-turned-best-selling author who is among the leading names in the mythological fiction genre in India.
"There are two Ravanas; the elder Ravana is killed by Sita Devi when she takes the true form of Maa Kali," he said.
"Sita: Warrior of Mithila," comes two years after his bestselling "Scion of Ikshvaku," the first in the Ramachandra series. Three more will follow later, he said.
"The first book was from the birth of Rama to Sita's kidnapping. The second book is from the birth of Sita to the kidnapping of Sita. The third book is from the birth of Ravana to Sita's kidnapping. Fourth book onwards is the common narrative," he said.
The book is expected to hit the stands by end of May or early June.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
