Women definitely must 'Stop being Sita'!

 

Yes, Sita! The ideal woman all the ladies in India lookup to! ‘Stop being Sita’.. although this looks like is a sell-out title, there’s a weighty, hefty truth behind these three big words. Exploring the truth of the Ramayana, in the times we live in, is difficult, as modern day interpretations, translations and most importantly popular notions hold sway over what was actually composed and written in absolutely mind-boggling numbers of metered verses by poet sages defying conventional intellect.

 

After a rather long journey of over two millennia, I see the truth being moulded to present one side of the facts by means of translations. A translation which has become very convenient for most of those who revere or despise it but the thing with Truth and the Ramayana is that, there comes a time when the universe draws individuals into exploring the truth and once on that path, it becomes difficult to live with an untruth.

 

 

One such story goes viral the heads on the social media these days is ‘Discovering the truth about Sita’. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U18YMv4vZ_A).While this remains one of the #mustwatch reels today, I wonder why this tape has to counter the concept of ‘feminism’. In fact there is no point I think to circulate the basic concept of the ‘being Sita’. Well here are 3 major aspects to note this reel as #epicfail in its real sense :

 

1. Saving women from being Sita : Ramayana and Mahabharata are considered to be the two valued, old, cultural epics. While Mahabharata teaches how one should not behave, Ramayana reveals the total ideal world- Ram, the ideal man and Sita, the ideal woman. Ideal woman who listens to her husband, who chooses to keep quite seeing injustice happening to her! ‘The same judgemental approach! She’s understood nothing’, you say! One simple question.. Can a woman in India today afford to be Sita? Does society want her to keep shut and carry injustice happening to her? We all need to think practically!

2. Valuing culture and tradition : The ‘ready to marry’ or newly married girls in India are still taught to always listen to their in-laws and husband and whoever is associated with ‘his’ family. Why? Because it’s our culture. One should be like ‘Goddess Sita’! But going to 14 years of ‘vanvaas’, giving ‘agnipariksha’ was her total choice, right? The era back then demanded whatever she did to be ideal. Can we today in 2020, afford to make such choices? I don’t say that a girl must not listen to her in-laws or not love her husband to the moon and back, but as a person every lady must think practically and yes must ‘Stop being Sita’ in 2020!

 

3. Agnipariksha : ‘Agnipariksha-the trial by fire was not a trial actually, it was means to bring back Sita, the Ramayana verses say. Again putting forth the same question, Do we need Sita in today’s world, the world that is filled with bads for women? Back then to say, shadow went in the fire and Sita was back. She still exists in society and that contributes to another reason, why ladies must ‘Stop being Sita’!

 

I don’t say that Sita is a false God or that she had no views and opinions of her own but she as a person, not as a ‘lady’, she as a ‘person’ definitely failed to stand by her rights. May it be because she loved her husband, may it be because she wanted peace around and I totally respect her choice. But I say, today in 2020 we all need to think feasible. The way society has accepted Sita with her life choices, why does it see difficult to accept the ladies who stand for their rights? It’s all about choice, right? Why this comparison and cornering feminism?

 

She is something great that's why she always managed overcome the situations, whenever was put to trials. And that’s supposedly what they term as ‘being feminist’? Long story short, Sita was strong and loving and she did her part well. Her position must be presented in much truthful and in exemplary manner, so that it be strength to today's women and not just a matter of comparison!