Why is the Ramayana epic one of the most popular oral traditions?
An epic that most Indian children have grown up with.
Since I can remember, I have lived the story of the Ramayana through Amar Chitra Kathas (comics), as a bed time story told by my mother and grandmothers, as stories performed in dance productions, and even in real life comparisons – "Be an obedient son like Rama….., "Don't behave like a rakshasi [demoness] like Shurpanaka!"
Over the years of growing with epics such as the Ramayana, I have come to regard the stories as more than complex and drama-filled narratives, but rather as deeply layered life lessons.
Due to the universality of their messages, mythology and traditional epics are important cultural tools that are passed through the generations.
I, being American born, but also very well acquainted with my rich Indian heritage, am always consciously and subconsciously finding the links between the culture of my heritage and the culture of my environment.
The most enjoyable and satisfying way to discover these links is artistically, through my dance.
The story of the Ramayana is not just the story of Lord Rama and his valorous deeds. It is the story of so many people, whose lives were affected through the various incidents, and whose own decisions and actions were the catalysts for those incidents, which form "The Ramayana" as we know it.
Stree Katha, is a tribute to three such people. The stories of three powerful women, three tragic heroines, all of whom in some way or another played a large role in shaping the The Ramayana. The stories of three women who have lived in our imaginations for centuries, yes, but who live as a part of each and every woman today.
My exploration of these women - their personalities, decisions, and actions has turned into depth analysis of femininity, its societal implications then and today, and its subsequent effects on the human psyche.
The three women I have chosen for this production are Keikeyi, Shurpanaka, and Sita. Although the story of Sita is commonly the most explored, the focus given to heroine Keikeyi is uncommon, and the treatment of Shurpanaka as a woman of substance is extremely rare.
Keikeyi: an individual of beauty, affection, intelligence, and strength, who unfortunately found the need to validate her status in relation to a man. Her story is that of a power-driven individual, perhaps similar to a high-status corporate woman today, who put aside her personal values and conscience to maintain her position of "power."
Shurpanaka: the equivalent of a modern, liberated woman who does not hold herself to the societal expectations of feminine beauty or behavioral conduct. She believed that her beauty, femininity, and individuality lay in her power within, an inspirational motto! Yet her confidence and candid approach was frowned upon by society then and even today….
Sita: considered the "ideal woman" – a symbol of beauty and quiet strength, but most importantly a loyal wife, and woman of dignity and restraint….the epitome of society's expectations. Possibly the most tragic heroine, she made all the "right" decisions out of complete respect and self-less love for her husband. Isn't it ironic that her integrity was questioned time and again?
Stree Katha encourages us to consider the stories of these women, and through them, examine our self-imposed societal expectations. Are these expectations fair? Do they stand in the way of our happiness? Do the stories of these women still happen today?
