"The Liberation of Sita" by Volga

A book that retells a popular narrative from a different lens.

When I used to think of reworkings, I was particularly intrigued by the degree of possible “profanity” that is at play when a religious or revered work is looked at from a different angle.

However, after an education in literature, I have come to the conclusion that such a perspective deepens one’s outlook and understanding of faith.

Within the Indian context, the importance of narratives is particularly vital. Therefore, what Volga, or P. Lalitha, does with the figure of Sita in this collection is especially groundbreaking.

Power of Reworking

Noted publisher at Westland, VK Karthika, in conversation with Amit Varma in an episode of the podcast The Seen and the Unseen, remarked about her experience reading Wide Sargasso Sea. The book by Jean Rhys is a retelling of Jane Eyre through a prequel of the “madwoman”. Karthika is particularly intrigued by this power of reworking.

Through retelling a story, a modern reader and writer can attempt to liberate a work from the shackles of their past. Hence, the caveat of “a product of their time”, becomes less of an excuse and more of a writing prompt.

A similar narrative force is at work in Volga’s short stories. In particular, there is a remarkable fresh light shed on popular mythological female characters.

Sisterhood Embraced with Empathy

The story that stood out to me, in particular, is one where Surpanakha, now relegated to a farm in the forest in the aftermath of her encounter with the brothers of the epic, meets Sita. The conversation that the two women share is one of deep empathy and therefore sits in sharp contrast with the seemingly masculine narratives enmeshed in the mainstream retellings of the epic.

Likewise, the women here finally appear to have a voice of their own. This agency is refreshing. Characters like Ahalya and Urmila who often find a place in contemporary discourses on morality and chastity are portrayed from a different lens.

Widen Horizons

I have always held that good literature ought to broaden one’s perspective by feeding multiple possible angles to the same “objective” reality. John Green, whose The Anthropocene Reviewed I spoke of in the previous newsletter, goes one step further- asserting that good literature shakes the very foundations of one’s belief.

A work like this sets a precedent for precisely that to occur.

In a world that is dominated by one set of voices and overpowered by only particular narratives, the kind of empathy that Volga attempts gives a breath of fresh air to discourses around equality.

Thus, the argument remains as to why reworkings need to be considered as potentially profane. It would at times appear that by raising anything to a pedestal, one is absolved of trying to understand them.

To extend that logic a step further, by “mystifying”, are we ignoring the concerns of an entire gender? Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex talk about the mythic aspect in that regard at great length.

However, what is certainly not mystic is what would occur if you click on the follow button. More such musings will land in your inbox the next time I finish a book. Do read this work in any form you can find. Feel free to discuss these ideas with me and create an atmosphere where open conversations can be held.