Dr.
Sapna Dogra
Assistant Professor
Department of English
Government College Baroh,
Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India
Review by Dr. Sapna Dogra
Author:
Shweta Mishra “Shawryaa”
A
Smothering Selfless Epitome: Sita
Kindle Ebook
Year of Publication: 2020
Price: USD 5.19
ASIN no: B08CHM7JT9
There is a move at present towards interrogating and re-reading the
mythologies through a feminist point of view. There has also been a change not
only in the writers but in public taste as well. Modern readers generally
acknowledge and appreciate works that deal with ‘retelling’ to bring a fresh
perspective to the so-called stories thrust upon them by the literary
forefathers. It seems obvious that this bears some relation to the increasing
literary confidence and assertiveness of modern female academicians. A Smothering Selfless Epitome: Sita is
in line with the ever-expanding tribe of books that aim to tell Goddess Sita’s
story. It’s a retelling and re-questioning through women’s eyes.
Shweta Mishra has chosen to
explore the thorny topic of the relevance of Goddess Sita in today’s world
solely on the strength of her conviction. Valmiki’s The
Ramayana, which recounted the story of God-hero Rama and his wife Goddess
Sita is probed further to
bring home the point that Lord Rama never managed to kill the Ravana of
patriarchy. For Shweta, Rama is a testimony of the patriarchal values in
India. She begins her book by stating that “I don’t want to be Sita.” (p. 2)
What follows is an explanation as to why she is reluctant to be one.
The early chapters unfold
providing just enough contexts for us to care about what it was to live a life
of Sita. The book is dedicated to “. . . every woman who is austerely expected
to live up to the standards set by Sita and to every man who is comfortably
excused that he can’t equal the standards set by Ram.” (p. 7) From the very
beginning, the book braces the readers for an invigorating read. Shweta also
seeks forgiveness for her impudence to dare to raise her voice and speak on
behalf of Sita.
Sita,
if you were ever there, I ask for your forgiveness. Your status as a Goddess
makes me feel anxious and although I speak as your voice in this book, I know
not whether this assortment of thoughts is a reflection of your way of
thinking. There’s a greater probability that you think otherwise and that I
went utterly wrong. It’s possible that I may anger you in the course of this
venture. . . Therefore Sita, forgive me for everything…for speaking on your
part, for speaking for you, for raising a voice in your favor…though you never
asked me to do it. Forgive me for this infringement as I couldn’t stop myself
from barging into restricted areas. (pp. 9-10)
The book is in the form of
letters/diary entries with Shweta’s and Goddess Sita’s voices alternating.
There is no antagonism between the two. Both the voices merge to bring home the
same point.
Did
Sita have a voice? Sita cannot complain. Sita shouldn’t complain. Sita is
patience personified. Sita is goodness incarnate. Sita is sweetness and
virtuosity alive. For Sita her husband is God and Sita would never let the
human world or the demon world speak against RAM. (p. 20)
Lord Rama is universally
accepted as the embodiment of Dharma,
righteousness and duty. She questions the development of the myth of the Maya
Sita, which was developed to preserve her chastity.
To
keep me pure you created an illusionary Sita, my image, my reflection; just an
illusion to cuckold Ravana, or to save my public image, or both.
Is
body so important?
That
justified the Agnipariksha.
Essentially,
it was simply an error of nomenclature. It was not an examination, no test as
such. It was just a process of reclamation from fire.
A
wrong title was allotted to that episode. It should have been renamed as “Satya
Sita Punarwapasi. (p. 28)
Lord Ram has been
conspicuously silenced. The entire book serves as a succinct dialogue of Sita
and the modern women and the issues that bother Sita the most and how they
impinge on modern women. Mishra’s signature angry, conversational and engaging
style makes this book a good read. She doesn’t make her book drown in dry facts
and unnecessary mythological annotations. It is written for women but is
accessible for all. Even people ignorant of India Mythology will find it of
interest.
As
one progresses through the first few chapters of the books, Sita’s travails
become oddly intriguing. One cannot help but feel overwhelmed at the poignancy
of her feelings and it allows the readers to be entwined into her thoughts and
feelings. Sita had to prove her purity to her husband by undergoing a fire
test. The test becomes a pivotal point for Sita, as it explores issues of chastity
and the troubled relationship between Rama and Sita. She is unable to connect
to the man who unjustly banishes her.
The
world vows by my virtues. I am like that tree that is laden with fruits and
willows down under the weight of its own juicy fruits. Totally selfless.
Totally for others. Pluck away my fruits. Sit under my shade. Throw stones at
me and take away my fruits. Climb onto my branches to occupy a vantage point,
to have an aerial view, to look at far off sunrises and sunsets while stepping on
my branches and pulling away my leaves. (p. 40)
The
book has its own set of weaknesses: lack of extensive research, improper
format, use of slangs, repetition and lack of attention to details.
Nevertheless, it is an inquisitive and thoughtful feminist engagement with Ramayana. The book is not marred by
jargon; the readers can easily breeze through the book in a day or two. This
book caters to the general public and academicians alike. Also, the book
doesn’t subscribe to the hyper-feminist academic writing laden with jargon that
gender studies course books so proudly flaunts.