Sita's sister by Kavita Kane

"Sita's sister" by Kavita Kane. This book is published by Rupa & Co in Mar 2014 and has 320 pages.

Everyone knows Ramayan. How Kaikeyi sent Ram to forest for Vanvas (वनवास) and how Sita and Lakshman voluntarily spent 14 years with Ram in the forest. But very little is known about Urmila, Lakshman's wife and Sita's sister; who spent all those years alone in Ayodhya.

Kavita has highlighted a character that is mostly ignored by history. How was Urmila? What did she feel when Lakshman left her? How did she cope? What did she do for 14 years? What was her contribution?

The book is about Urmila. Her life was divided distinctly in three parts. One before marriage, One during Ram's Vanvas and one after their return to Ayodhya. Author has covered first in detail, second in time leaps and third in epilogue. Second part should have got more page space.

Urmila is one of the most unfortunate characters of Ramayan. Sita was with her husband, Urmila was away from Lakshman. It was very easy to portray her as a tragedy queen and cry horse about the injustice meted out to her by making the book melodramatic. However author has commendably avoided such temptation and portrayed her in a different light.

Author has portrayed Urmila as the binding force of the house. She is fiercely loyal to her loved ones, has quick temper, is a learned pandit, is a good painter, is hopelessly in love with Lakshman, doesn't shy from speaking out her mind and has firm opinions.

Urmila asks some difficult questions to Raghuvanshi's and gurus on Chitrakoot (चित्रकुट) parvat, when Bharat and everyone else goes to request Ram to come back to Ayodhya. This section is a masterpiece of argument. Author has put forth arguments by Urmila that have no answers. Her anguish and anger are genuine.

Author has glorified Kaikeyi and her actions in the book unnecessarily. Unnecessarily not because I did not like it, but because it digresses from the topic of Urmila. The story or its impact would not have altered without it.

Characters of four sisters Sita, Urmila, Mandavi, Shutkirti and Lakshman, Kaikeyi, Kausalya, Sumitra are very well developed. Bharat and Shatrughna remain under developed. The story is nicely paced with occasional slow down. End seemed a little hastened.

Sita plays a very small part in the story of Urmila in this book, but still the book is called Sita's sister. Probably only because Sita is more famous, but it's unfair to Urmila. It appears to be a populist, rather than meaningful, title. Was it done to match with her previous book 'Karna's wife'?

Good book. Recommend reading.

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