Sita as the centralising force of the Ramayana — Interview with Vaishali S

You have contributed to the Indica anthology Shared Roots. Could you talk about your journey as a writer?

My journey as a writer began when I was 15 years old. In the 11th standard, when I was 15 years old, I started composing the Ramayana. I completed when I was 19. When I was 24, I started composing another version of the Ramayana. This was completed when I was 25. This is my first published short story. It is called Unsent Letters.

I am a voracious reader. I have written poems in school. I publish poetry in my blog and share on social media. I like reading books on Indian puranas — Ramayanas, Bhagvatham. I don’t use the word mythology I use the word puranas.

Your experience in participating in the Indica India-Cambodia Anthology Shared Roots?

The journey began in 2021. I was newly married at that time, and this is the first story I sent for publication. I have to thank Ratul Ji for making me a published author today. I owe him tonnes of gratitude. For background research for this story I referenced the Anita Bose book, “Ramayana — Footprints in South East Asian Culture and Heritage” I read what she had written about Cambodia. After reading this book I found out that my favourite Ramayana had a huge role to play in Cambodia.

Could you talk about cultural heritage as a shared experience between nations?

I am a humble person and a simple student of life. I am happy to know that Indian culture influenced Cambodia, that the Angkor Wat is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. In Cambodia there are paintings depicting the Ramayana. My favourite epic Ramayana is called Reamker in Cambodia.

This is the story I found in Anita Bose’s book, “From the scripted chronicles of Chinese travellers, we can gather that the nations of Kambhoj and Siam were collectively referred to as Funan by the Chinese. Funan was ruled by a queen. Later a Hindu, following the advise of the deities, obtaining a bow in a divine dream, set off for business in that country. This Hindu was identified as ‘Hu En Tien,’ who was also famous as ‘Koundinya’.” I belong to Koundinya gotram. When I read Anita Bose’s book I realised he had a role to play in Cambodia.

Which aspects of shared Indo-Cambodian culture did you explore in your short story?

I explore the Reamker. The story is about a woman in a state of mental depression, she becomes fond of Cambodia and visits various places in Cambodia. She realises the greatness of Indian culture in Cambodia. She connects the dots and sees the shared roots between Indian and Cambodia.

Themes in your short story?

The basic theme involves the Reamker. It is about a woman in a state of depression who travels to Cambodia. I explore Indian culture in Cambodia and the shared roots between India and Cambodia. Ratul Ji is the back bone of the story.

The importance of creating shared cultural narratives liked Shared Roots?

In ‘The tales of Indosphere’, we can explore the shared culture of India and Cambodia and greatness of Indian culture outside India. It is very important that Indians must be aware of Indian culture, the youth and children must become aware of our culture and Sanathan Dharma.

What inspires you about the Ramayana?

Lord Rama is himself the greatest inspiration. He is the ideal in every way — Maryada Purushottam — he is the ideal son, ideal son, ideal brother and ideal enemy. Being ideal in every way is what inspires me about the Ramayana. Many of the characters like Sita and Hanuman are ideal. The main inspiration in Lord Rama.

Every time I read the Ramayana, it gives a new inspiration. Every time I read the Ramayana it is as if I am reading it for the first time. The entire Ramayana is my favourite. Every bit is my favourite. My most favourite part is when Lord Rama lifts the bow of Shiva and marries Sita. Every Indian must be aware of the greatness of our culture. Sita is the strongest female in the Ramayana. Ramayana the also known as Paulystya Vada. Valmiki originally wanted to call the Ramayana ‘the story of Sita’.

There is a quote in the Adbhut Ramayana which goes “Yadha Yadha hi Dharmasya Glanir Bhavathi Suvrata Abhyutthanamadharmasya tada prakrtisambhavah” — “Whenever there’s a decline in Dharma and an upsurge of Adharma, the Sacred Feminine will incarnate. She will protect us and defend Dharma.”