HIS "MILA"
SITA'S SISTER- KAVITA KANE
It was just a few months back that I started to develop a flair or curiosity towards understanding epics
and Puranas from a character's point of view-a character left unnoticed or
unexplored. Therefore, I started my
research and soon came across the renowned writer Kavita Kane. One of her books which proved to be much impressive was "Sita's Sister", which portrays Ramayana through the perspective of Urmila, the second daughter of king Janaka and Lakshman's wife. It is a part-fiction part reality rendition of the epic. The character Urmila finds little mention in Valmiki's Ramayana and the various local versions. However, I found her to be one of the strongest characters and a significant contributor to the events in the story.
The story first revolves around the
childhood of the four princesses of Mithila- Sita, Urmila, Mandavi and Shrutakirti. Urmila is depicted as "the glue that holds them together". Then followed by their first meeting with the princes of Ayodhya, Urmila falling head over heels for the charming yet arrogant Lakshman, their love which is entirely different from that of Ram and Sita, their marriage and life at Ayodhya and subsequent events including the exile, Sita's Sister, with its compact and engaging narration proves to be a must- read for all myth-lovers.
Princess Urmila's life was never a bed of roses. Though a learned scholar and debator, she often had to remain silent, left with no answers or justification to her arguments in front of the patriarchal Ayodhya and its laws.
She took the risk of marrying Lakshman who had no interest in marriage, for his primary duty was to serve and protect his brother. She wanted to remain his "Mila" forever. Though fate left her all alone in the dark, she upheld the very same 'dharma' just like Ram. The pain of separation never wearied her. Instead, she took up the huge responsibility of governing the kingdom.
Ayodhya is seen as a patriarchal kingdom where women doesn't question their husbands and doesn't speak against injustice in contrast to the learning- centered Mithila.
Urmila, the name denotes the "union of souls" and is presented as outspoken yet respectful, strong, always looking at the brighter side of things and is of a 'forgive-and-forget' nature. She symbolizes the ideal woman, a perfect queen.
- Sruthi Krishna G
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