Ramayana Unravelled: Lesser Known Facets of Rishi Valmiki’s Epic

No epic has moved the consciousness of millions like the Ramayana. The appeal of the story of Rama is such that it has inspired the imagination of countless storytellers over the centuries, across the length and breadth of the subcontinent. From Jain poets to Bhavabhuti, from Kamban to Goswami Tulsidas, many have retold the Ramayana in their own language, infusing their own unique flavour. Though the story of Rama is much loved and well-known, questions prevail. Ramayana Unravelled attempts to address some key concerns: How did his childhood and youth shape Rama? Why did Rama agree to go on vanvas - was it only to obey his father or was there more to it? How was the relationship of Rama and Seeta? Is the Ramayana inherently misogynist, considering the characterisation of Seeta, Shurpanakha, Kaikeyi and Tara? What led to the downfall of Ravan? Ami Ganatra takes the reader through the events of the Ramayana, resolving conundrums and underlining the reasons the epic continues to be cherished to this day. Though the story of Rama is much loved and well known, questions remain: Why did Rama agree to go to vanvas-was it only to obey his father or was there more to it? What was the relationship between Rama and Seeta? Was Seeta a pitiable, oppressed woman or an assertive woman with her own mind? Is the Ramayana inherently misogynist? What led to the downfall of Ravan? Ramayana Unravelled attempts to draw out insights from the epic as narrated to Rishi Valmiki to answer these and other such questions. It also explores other aspects of the Ramayana such as the events of Rama's youth that shaped his values as a king, Lakshmana's character, Hanumana's wit and the making of the nala-setu.