Interestingly, the sentiments expressed in the interviews I gathered are very similar to those expressed in a folk song from Avadh, UP. In this woman's song, Sita, though hemmed in on all sides and betrayed even by Lakshman, who leaves her in the forest on false pretenses, rejects Ram even more strongly than some modern educated women do. The story as unfolded here shows Ram ordering a reluctant Lakshman to banish Sita out of the kingdom. This is the one issue on which Lakshman, Ram's devoted brother, differs strongly and expresses his disapproval of Ram's resolve to send Sita away, but still has to reluctantly obey the King Ram. On the way, Sita is thirsty and asks for some water. Lakshman leaves her sitting under a sandalwood tree saying he will be back soon with some water for her, but never returns. She is heartbroken at this treachery. In the forest when she is crying helplessly, ascetic maidens provide her support and care. After the birth of her twin sons, she sends the customary gifts through the barber for Raja Dashrath, her mother-in-law Kaushalya and brother Lakshman and tells the barber, "but do not go to my husband." When Ram learns through Lakshman that his wife has given birth to sons, he is stunned with remorse and grief. He sends Lakshman to fetch Sita. Sita refuses point blank: "Go back to Ayodhya, brother in-law, I will not go with you." (Devra jahu lavti tu Ayodhya ta hum nahi jabe). The sage Vashisth admonishes her saying: "Sita, you who are so wise, renowned for your understanding, have you taken leave of your senses that you have forgotten Ram?" Sita replies:
Guru, you who know what I went through but ask me this questionSome years later, Ram meets his sons by accident and questions them:
As though you know nothing,
The Ram who put me in the fire, who threw me out of the house
Guru, how shall I see his face?
Guru, I will do as you say,
I will walk with Lakshman a step or twain
But I will never in my life see the face of that heartless Ram again
And may fate never cause us to meet again.
Whose sons or nephews are you, Oh children?Luv and Kush reply:
From whose womb did you take birth, Oh twin boys?
We are the grandsons of Raja Janak and the beloved sons of Sita.Thus Sita, in her rejection of Ram, goes to the extent of giving her sons a matrilineal heritage _ they claim Janak and not Dashrath as their grandfather and do not even own their own father. And when Ram comes repentantly to take her back, this is how the folk song deals with Sita's reaction:
We are the nephews of Lakshman -
And we know not the name of our father.
Sita Rani sat under a tree, and combed her hair, combed her hair,For a full translation of this folk song, see Manushi No.8, 1981. Manushi content is reproduced on India Together with permission. Click here to visit the Manushi home page
"Oh queen, leave now your heart's anger and come to live at Ayodhya,
Oh Sita, without you the world is dark and life utterly fruitless."
Sita looked at him one moment, her eyes filled with anger,
Sita descended into the earth, she spoke not a word. (Singh, 1986)4
