[Book Review] ‘Sita: Warrior of Mithila’ by Amish Tripathi

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amish is an IIM-educated banker-turned-author. The Shiva Trilogy was his debut series. He combines his knowledge of history, the puranas and philosophy to create fast-paced thrillers steeped in folklore and history.

REVIEW

Sita: Warrior of Mithila is the second book in the Rama Chandra Series, written by Amish Tripathi. The book picks up where book one in the series, Ram:  Scion of Ikshvaku, left off. It begins with the kidnapping of Sita. Amish vividly describes what Sita was doing at the time and how she was overpowered by Raavan and his brothers. The big secret as to why Sita was kidnapped by Raavan is also revealed.

From the second chapter onward, the story shifts to the childhood of Sita. The story where King Janak and Queen Sunaina stumble upon infant Sita has been beautifully penned down by the author. It is quite different from the stories we have heard about Sita’s birth. The difficult times Mithila finds itself in have been very convincingly portrayed as the reason why Janak and Sunaina were traveling to a distant temple.

The novel depicts Sita as a brave princess with beauty and brains. All the stories associated with Sita’s infancy have been duly described in the book, albeit from a different perspective. Sita is shown to be blessed with a multifaceted personality; she comes across as a mature girl, far from the image we have of Sita as a demure princess. The stories underlining her governance skills and her caring relationship with her family are quite heart-warming. They provide the readers with an insight into Sita’s innate traits.

The depictions of Sita’s education in Shvetaketu’s gurukul and how she met Hanuman are particularly engrossing. Hanuman and Jatayu play significant roles in the plot; they are portrayed as brothers to Sita, protecting her from every adversity that comes her way.

Amish follows his characteristic multi-linear or hyperlink method of storytelling, wherein different characters in the story are explored with various back stories and are eventually brought back together with the help of a common link.

The narrative reaches its peak when Sita visits Agastyakootam to meet Rishi Vishwamitra. The ethereal world is described beautifully through the eyes of Sita. Vishwamitra is another important character in the story. His motives, though, are unclear. His relation with Raavan and Rishi Vashishta is intriguing and kept a secret.

The novel has a myriad of characters and the author gives a brief introduction to them right at the beginning of the book. Going through it helps the readers connect with the characters and understand their background.

The plus points of the novel are its gripping story and a fast-paced narrative. Readers will find it hard to keep the book aside without completing it. On the downside, repeating stories from the first installment, using a few complex biological terms here and there, and introducing a plethora of characters takes the shine away from an otherwise wonderful read.