LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 25:3 March 2025
ISSN 1930-2940

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Rediscovering Urmila:
A Feminist Retelling of a Forgotten Heroine with Reference to Kavita Kane’s Sita’s Sister

Saranya. M., M.A., PGDCA., (PhD) and
Dr. P. Bagavathy Rajan. M. A., M.Phil., PhD


Courtesy: www.amazon.com

Abstract

Traditional mythological narratives often marginalize female characters, reducing them to secondary roles that emphasize sacrifice and obedience. Kavita Kane’s Sita’s Sister reclaims the voice of Urmila, a character largely overlooked in Valmiki’s Ramayana, granting her narrative agency and intellectual depth. This paper explores how Kane’s reinterpretation challenges patriarchal constructs by portraying Urmila as a woman of resilience, wisdom, and emotional strength. Unlike traditional depictions that render her passive, Sita’s Sister presents Urmila as a silent yet powerful figure who exercises personal autonomy in the face of adversity. Through an analysis of her intellectual and emotional agency, this study highlights how Urmila’s choices serve as an act of resistance against the societal norms imposed upon women. Additionally, the paper draws parallels between Urmila and other silenced mythological women such as Draupadi’s forgotten daughters, Mandodari, and Ahalya, emphasizing the importance of feminist revisionist mythology in reclaiming lost voices. By centring Urmila’s narrative, Sita’s Sister subverts traditional gender roles, presenting a nuanced portrayal of feminine strength that redefines the role of women in mythology.

Keywords: Kavita Kane, Sita’s Sister, Feminist Revisionist Mythology, Urmila, Narrative Agency, Silent Resistance, Mythological Women

Throughout history, mythology has played a pivotal role in shaping cultural perspectives on gender roles, often reinforcing patriarchal ideals that dictate the behaviour and status of women in society. The Ramayana, an important epic in Hindu literature, primarily focuses on the heroic journey of its male protagonist, Rama, and his devoted wife, Sita. While Sita embodies the virtues of loyalty and sacrifice, the narrative largely sidelines other female characters, relegating them to the background and limiting their agency. This portrayal has historically contributed to a narrow understanding of femininity, one that glorifies subservience and highlights the importance of women only in relation to their male counterparts.

However, in recent years, women writers such as Kavita Kane, Chitra Banerji Divakaruni, and Sarah Joseph have emerged as powerful voices in the literary landscape, employing a framework of feminist reinterpretation of these ancient myths. By revisiting and reimagining the narratives of these characters, they challenge and rectify the entrenched patriarchal views that have long defined femininity within these stories. Their work promotes gender consciousness, actively confronting and dismantling gender stereotypes that have persisted through centuries of storytelling. According to literary critic Alicia Ostriker, employing revisionist mythmaking serves as a potent method for redefining women’s identity, allowing for a reclaiming of agency that has often been stripped away in traditional narratives. This facet of feminism is crucial in re-examining the portrayals of women who have faced collective and historical struggles, providing a platform for their voices to be heard and respected.

However, in recent years, women writers such as Kavita Kane, Chitra Banerji Divakaruni, and Sarah Joseph have emerged as powerful voices in the literary landscape, employing a framework of feminist reinterpretation of these ancient myths. By revisiting and reimagining the narratives of these characters, they challenge and rectify the entrenched patriarchal views that have long defined femininity within these stories. Their work promotes gender consciousness, actively confronting and dismantling gender stereotypes that have persisted through centuries of storytelling. According to literary critic Alicia Ostriker, employing revisionist mythmaking serves as a potent method for redefining women’s identity, allowing for a reclaiming of agency that has often been stripped away in traditional narratives. This facet of feminism is crucial in re-examining the portrayals of women who have faced collective and historical struggles, providing a platform for their voices to be heard and respected.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Saranya. M. M. A., PGDCA., (PhD)
PhD Research Scholar (PT)
Government Arts College
Udumalpet- 642126, Tamilnadu
saranyamanickam1998@gmail.com

Dr. P. Bagavathy Rajan. M. A., M.Phil., PhD
Research Supervisor
Department of English
Government Arts College
Udumalpet 642126, Tamilnadu
engpbrresearcha@gmail.com
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