Epics in India and elsewhere have always been a rich reservoir of tales. Time and again, different perspectives emerge from the re-readings of these ancient tales, inspired by the challenges thrown up by the vicissitude of contemporary life. As Workman has observed “…the literary attractiveness of mythology is due to its enduring depiction of significant and sometime very uncomfortable relationships, some admittedly between man and his environment, but others of at least equal importance between man and his fellow men, and between man and his deities” (Workman 1981: 36). Sarah Joseph’s Oorukaval (2008) translated as The Vigil (2014) by Vasanthi Sankaranarayanan relooks into the story of the Ramayana through the eyes of Angadan, the son of Vali. Joseph narrates the story of a once prosperous land ruined by the political ambition of a powerful few thereby problematizing the justice and valour of Raman, who is hailed as maryada purushottam.
In the Kishkindakand in Valmiki’s Ramayana, Ram kills Vali, the ruler of Kishkinda to give the kingdom to Sugriv, his younger brother who was banished from the land for scheming against Vali. Sugriv claims it is a misunderstanding but Vali throws him out and takes his wife, Ruma as one of his women. Sugriv, with the help of Hanuman, …show more content…
Even when the half-wit from Muchili ominously commented that “I don’t believe she is within him”, Raman seems to move heaven and earth in search of Sita. Raman’s lament for Sita brings memories of Iya, washerman Toppan’s daughter. But unlike Raman, Angadan is not able to recall her face or body. He laments: “I remember only you, just you!” (214) Angadan later is shocked by the way Raman treats his rescued wife. Raman’s nonchalance makes him suspect the very validity of his earlier pining. The logic of having one wife so that he can do justice to her unlike his father Dasarathan, fails miserably
In the Kishkindakand in Valmiki’s Ramayana, Ram kills Vali, the ruler of Kishkinda to give the kingdom to Sugriv, his younger brother who was banished from the land for scheming against Vali. Sugriv claims it is a misunderstanding but Vali throws him out and takes his wife, Ruma as one of his women. Sugriv, with the help of Hanuman, …show more content…
Even when the half-wit from Muchili ominously commented that “I don’t believe she is within him”, Raman seems to move heaven and earth in search of Sita. Raman’s lament for Sita brings memories of Iya, washerman Toppan’s daughter. But unlike Raman, Angadan is not able to recall her face or body. He laments: “I remember only you, just you!” (214) Angadan later is shocked by the way Raman treats his rescued wife. Raman’s nonchalance makes him suspect the very validity of his earlier pining. The logic of having one wife so that he can do justice to her unlike his father Dasarathan, fails miserably