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neethuraghavan676's review against another edition
5.0
This is a true example of feminist writing in Indian literature. This collection of stories explains how Sita attains her liberation from Rama through conversations, arguments and question-anwers with Surpanaka, Renuka, Urmila and Ahalya.
Sita represents all the indian ladies who sacrifice their life for the well being of their husband and sons. It was Rama who took decisions for her until the day he threw her away in the forest. But then life changed for sita. Surpanaka taught her beauty and prosperity wasn't needed for a peaceful life. Renuka was ordered to be killed by her husband and her son was ready to obey his husband. Ahalya taught us what is true for one wouldn't be true for others. So believe in what you really want to. Urmila was abandoned by her husband and his people for years. All these people and their words led Sita to liberate from Rama.
Sita represents all the indian ladies who sacrifice their life for the well being of their husband and sons. It was Rama who took decisions for her until the day he threw her away in the forest. But then life changed for sita. Surpanaka taught her beauty and prosperity wasn't needed for a peaceful life. Renuka was ordered to be killed by her husband and her son was ready to obey his husband. Ahalya taught us what is true for one wouldn't be true for others. So believe in what you really want to. Urmila was abandoned by her husband and his people for years. All these people and their words led Sita to liberate from Rama.
sruthi_ragesh's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
_askthebookbug's review against another edition
5.0
| Book Review | The Liberation Of Sita.
•
‘I can protect myself. I can match you in archery,’ Sita had said, laughing. Rama’s face had fallen.
‘As long as I am alive, you will never have to protect yourself. Such a situation must never arise. You must look towards me for protection. You must turn to my strong arms for protection. If you take care of yourself, what am I for? Promise me that you will never do that'. - Volga.
•
Everyone knows the trials that Sita had to go through to prove her chastity and the unfairness of it all is truly heartbreaking. To begin with Sita's life was dedicated to her husband Sri Ram, in serving and loving him. It was after her abduction by Ravana that things began to unravel at a great speed. In this slim book by Volga (originally known as Lalita Kumari), she brings into light the lesser known characters who bring about a significant change in Sita. Originally written in Telugu and later translated to English by T. Vijay Kumar and C. Vijayasree, this book oozes feminism. This should come as no surprise considering how a fierce feminist and activist Volga was. I loved Volga's interview which is documented by Vijay Kumar in this book.
•
There are five small chapters in this book, each different and yet interlinked with each other. In each of these chapters, Sita meets a woman on whom stories are weaved and labels are pasted. Ahalya, who was turned to stone by her husband for being duped by Indra, goes to show Sita that her truth is different from the one that people claim to know. Suparnaka, whose ears and nose were cut by Lakshmana finds love in nature and makes peace with it. When Sita stumbles across her by chance years after the incident, she finds a bond of friendship unfurling inside her chest. Renuka Devi, famous for being known as the mother who's head was cut off by her own son Parashuram, tells Sita that in this life even sons cannot be considered as your own. Later her own sister, Urmila consoles Sita at the time of her trial. All these women have something to pass down to Sita. It is after all this that she attains liberation.
•
For as long as man has existed, it has always been clear that women were used as objects of desire or ridicule. Their lives even back during the mythological era were tales of woes. When Sita's chastity was questioned, she goes through a turbulent time during which she questions Rama's love for her. With the birth of her sons Lava and Kusha, she manages to find a brief sense of understanding before realising that they belong to the universe alone. From Draupadi to Madhavi, there were many unfortunate women who got caught up in unthinkable situations for no fault of theirs. Albeit Sita's story is well known there are many other women who were put through this misery with no way out.
•
When it comes to Sita, there's a clear transition in her personality. At the very end when she decides to go back to Mother Earth, she does it gracefully and with dignity. I especially liked how Volga decided to add Rama's perspective in this book. Between his role as a King and also as a husband, he struggles to grasp a middle ground. At the end his love for Sita wavers in front of his responsibilities of acting as a honorable King. This book reflects feminism like no other and I highly recommend it to everyone. Though some of the essence was lost in translation, this still is a very important book.
•
Rating - 4.5/5
•
‘I can protect myself. I can match you in archery,’ Sita had said, laughing. Rama’s face had fallen.
‘As long as I am alive, you will never have to protect yourself. Such a situation must never arise. You must look towards me for protection. You must turn to my strong arms for protection. If you take care of yourself, what am I for? Promise me that you will never do that'. - Volga.
•
Everyone knows the trials that Sita had to go through to prove her chastity and the unfairness of it all is truly heartbreaking. To begin with Sita's life was dedicated to her husband Sri Ram, in serving and loving him. It was after her abduction by Ravana that things began to unravel at a great speed. In this slim book by Volga (originally known as Lalita Kumari), she brings into light the lesser known characters who bring about a significant change in Sita. Originally written in Telugu and later translated to English by T. Vijay Kumar and C. Vijayasree, this book oozes feminism. This should come as no surprise considering how a fierce feminist and activist Volga was. I loved Volga's interview which is documented by Vijay Kumar in this book.
•
There are five small chapters in this book, each different and yet interlinked with each other. In each of these chapters, Sita meets a woman on whom stories are weaved and labels are pasted. Ahalya, who was turned to stone by her husband for being duped by Indra, goes to show Sita that her truth is different from the one that people claim to know. Suparnaka, whose ears and nose were cut by Lakshmana finds love in nature and makes peace with it. When Sita stumbles across her by chance years after the incident, she finds a bond of friendship unfurling inside her chest. Renuka Devi, famous for being known as the mother who's head was cut off by her own son Parashuram, tells Sita that in this life even sons cannot be considered as your own. Later her own sister, Urmila consoles Sita at the time of her trial. All these women have something to pass down to Sita. It is after all this that she attains liberation.
•
For as long as man has existed, it has always been clear that women were used as objects of desire or ridicule. Their lives even back during the mythological era were tales of woes. When Sita's chastity was questioned, she goes through a turbulent time during which she questions Rama's love for her. With the birth of her sons Lava and Kusha, she manages to find a brief sense of understanding before realising that they belong to the universe alone. From Draupadi to Madhavi, there were many unfortunate women who got caught up in unthinkable situations for no fault of theirs. Albeit Sita's story is well known there are many other women who were put through this misery with no way out.
•
When it comes to Sita, there's a clear transition in her personality. At the very end when she decides to go back to Mother Earth, she does it gracefully and with dignity. I especially liked how Volga decided to add Rama's perspective in this book. Between his role as a King and also as a husband, he struggles to grasp a middle ground. At the end his love for Sita wavers in front of his responsibilities of acting as a honorable King. This book reflects feminism like no other and I highly recommend it to everyone. Though some of the essence was lost in translation, this still is a very important book.
•
Rating - 4.5/5
singh_reads_kanwar2's review against another edition
5.0
Volga’s retelling, it is Sita who, after being abandoned by Lord Rama, embarks on an arduous journey to self-realization that she is strong and independent not some brittle glass. Along the way, she meets extraordinary women who have broken free from all that held them back: Husbands, sons and their notions of desire, beauty and chastity. The minor women characters of the epic as we know it – Surpanakha ( Ravana sister, who enjoys being in jungle not in the kingdom under custom but free soul), Renuka (mother of Parashurama, and goddess of Cure, killed by his own son) Urmila( younger sister of Sita but she choose to be in Kingdom while Sita was into exile ) Sita wants to know why she choose her over comfort even though she vow to be dedicated to Sita like Lakshman to Rama and she told Sita that one day her children may also decide to be with there father when they came to know the real identity of him. and Ahalya (Ahalyā also known as Ahilya, is the wife of the sage Gautama Maharishi, who was deceived and seduced by Indra and Maharishi cursed her to be dried up stream but she was liberated by Rama) – steer Sita towards an unexpected resolution. Meanwhile, Rama too must reconsider and weigh out his roles as the king of Ayodhya and as a man deeply in love with his wife.
A powerful subversion of India’s most popular tale of morality, choice and sacrifice, The Liberation of Sita opens up new spaces within the old discourse, enabling women to review their lives and experiences afresh. This is Volga at her feminist best. As different perspective from powerful women whose life changes in the time of Lord Rama as a avatar of Vishnu.
A powerful subversion of India’s most popular tale of morality, choice and sacrifice, The Liberation of Sita opens up new spaces within the old discourse, enabling women to review their lives and experiences afresh. This is Volga at her feminist best. As different perspective from powerful women whose life changes in the time of Lord Rama as a avatar of Vishnu.
brew_and_books's review against another edition
3.0
“That there is no truth and untruth. Is that the wisdom you gained?’ Sita asked sarcastically.
‘Truth does not remain the same forever but keeps changing continuously—that is the wisdom I earned.”
.
The trials and tribunals sustained by Sita, to prove her chastity, are eminently known far wide and beyond. The iniquity and injustice of it all widely argued and pondered even. P. Lalita Kumari, popularly known by her pen name, Volga, pens a beautiful tale that is essentially a feminist retelling from the perspective of Sita. The author diligently crafts this story that gyrates around different characters of the Ramayana, portraying their inner struggle, societal injustice, deprivation, and hardships. Spanning over some 5 chapters, this compelling book beautifully encompasses the life, time, and ordeals of Sita along with other momentous female characters of the Epic.
By dints of enlightening conversations, several questions, and light of introspection dawn upon Sita as she finds herself in her truest form. Extremely uplifting and liberating as we find her in a form other than the manifestation of a depiction bestowed on her in an otherwise patriarchic world. True to say, the essence of the book gets lost in the translation and it is just slightly compromised in there, but that is all. It’s familiar though if you have read other Indian translation books, I wasn’t disappointed as this was something I expected. That said, I definitely recommend this short book for it’s thought-provoking and liberates you from the mental shackles of your own held back thoughts and beliefs, it really does.
‘Truth does not remain the same forever but keeps changing continuously—that is the wisdom I earned.”
.
The trials and tribunals sustained by Sita, to prove her chastity, are eminently known far wide and beyond. The iniquity and injustice of it all widely argued and pondered even. P. Lalita Kumari, popularly known by her pen name, Volga, pens a beautiful tale that is essentially a feminist retelling from the perspective of Sita. The author diligently crafts this story that gyrates around different characters of the Ramayana, portraying their inner struggle, societal injustice, deprivation, and hardships. Spanning over some 5 chapters, this compelling book beautifully encompasses the life, time, and ordeals of Sita along with other momentous female characters of the Epic.
By dints of enlightening conversations, several questions, and light of introspection dawn upon Sita as she finds herself in her truest form. Extremely uplifting and liberating as we find her in a form other than the manifestation of a depiction bestowed on her in an otherwise patriarchic world. True to say, the essence of the book gets lost in the translation and it is just slightly compromised in there, but that is all. It’s familiar though if you have read other Indian translation books, I wasn’t disappointed as this was something I expected. That said, I definitely recommend this short book for it’s thought-provoking and liberates you from the mental shackles of your own held back thoughts and beliefs, it really does.
ritukarthik's review
5.0
Rating is 3.5.
It's a well-translated book, though sometimes it feels too simplistic. And that's the only reason this book is getting a 3.5 instead of a 4 rating.
You need to be well versed with the Ramayan to read this book. It is a retelling of the Ramayan from a feminist perspective and it depicts women characters strongly. It is an important book that talks about emotional detachment from society, from one's self, from family and the many roles, we play in it; wife, mother, daughter-in-law etc. She has an identity of her own which is lost while playing the roles expected of her.
Simple yet powerful read.
It's a well-translated book, though sometimes it feels too simplistic. And that's the only reason this book is getting a 3.5 instead of a 4 rating.
You need to be well versed with the Ramayan to read this book. It is a retelling of the Ramayan from a feminist perspective and it depicts women characters strongly. It is an important book that talks about emotional detachment from society, from one's self, from family and the many roles, we play in it; wife, mother, daughter-in-law etc. She has an identity of her own which is lost while playing the roles expected of her.
Simple yet powerful read.
alinejg's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mon_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
nargis's review against another edition
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0