Reading Notes: Narayan's Ramayana Part A

Narayan's Ramayana Part A

Queen Kaikeyi, One of King Desaratha's Wives
Source: Google Image

I am really enjoying, so far, the way the stories have all come together. There were many stories in Part A of Narayan's Ramayana, but the novel structure of the book intertwines all of the stories into one big narrative. This has allowed me to follow Rama's journey with ease and connect each story to each other. One of the reason's I chose this version of the Ramayana was because I knew I would struggle with remembering characters and plots if I were reading several separate stories each told in their own separate universe. This version of Ramayana, however, sets all of the stories in the same setting and has allowed me to not only remember the characters' names and roles easily, but connect them with anticipate their next step. 

With that being said, my favorite story so far has to be that Kaikeyi's betrayal to her own family. It is the last story described before Rama's exile, and it is one of heartbreak. In this version, her favorite minion over hears Rama is going to be king and convinces Kaikeyi that this will be the end of her since her own son Bharatha will not be taking the throne. She is quickly engulfed in the idea that Rama's kingship is the beginning of her demise and she forces her husband to exile him and crown her son instead. Because her husband made an unbreakable promise to grant her any wish when she saved his life many years ago, he was caught in a dilemma that caused him so much grief it nearly killed him. 

I found this story the most interesting because it is filled with so many lessons. Kaikeyi represents jealously and its ugly head; her minion represents the dangers of gossip and evil thinking; Rama represents resilience as he refused to let this change in events depress him and he dutifully obliged to his second mother's wishes. I look forward to reading about his exiles and the many adventures I am sure he is going to encounter. As for Kaikeyi and Bharatha, I am interested to see how the nation turns out under their rule. 

Bibliography: The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose of the Indian Epic, R.K. Narayan