[Book Review] Vimuktha by Volga

"Dharma parirakshakulu yadha stithi vadulu, nyayam kosam porade valladi pragathi sheela tirugubatu"
(Those whose seek to protect dharma are status quoists, people who fight for justice are progressive rebels)
This is a line from the preface of this book. This line describes the book perfectly. Mythology has perpetrated severe injustice over Dalits and women in the name of dharma and karma. In the light of modern values, it is necessary to revisit these and draw necessary lessons. That's what the author does in this book. She fights with the conventional narration which is unfair and presents instead a narrative that is just.


What's the book is about:

It's a collection of short stories. Plot of each story is fictionalized version of female characters in Ramayana. Author tackles the deep rooted patriarchy and gender bias in our epics that is generally shown as acceptable under some disguise of purity, duty or karma.

How are the stories?

In each of the story Sita meets one of the female characters like Shoorpanaka who got her nose cut which is case of disproportionate punishment or Ahalya who was turned to stone while Indra, the real perpetrator goes scot-free and Renuka, who is attacked by her own son Parushurama on word of his father. Each one provides their narrative about the incidents. They are shown to react to their  incidents not softly and weakly as women are usually shown but boldly and strongly, and it has transformational effect on them. They develop much better understanding of life, greater sense of maturity and more respect for themselves. They analyze gender roles and power equations as they existed during those times and call out the patriarchy that is deeply rooted in the celebrated epic. 

Sita, thanks to these interactions, is shown to deal with her own problems in a much better way than in conventional story line.

Positives:

-> Writing style is very good. In short length of the stories, author manages to make her point and does it beautifully.
-> It talks about stories you already know and pushes you to think in new dimensions  
-> Characters are well designed. They oppose patriarchy, reject biased gender roles and conduct themselves with independence, dignity and intelligence in a way that can inspire people of today's world
-> Value system that author bases her story on is one of equality, dignity and justice instead of patriarchial, deterministic, and inequal one as seen in the classical narration

Conclusion:

For people interested in gender equality, this one is a must read. It inspires us to question orthodoxy, patriarchy and enables us to examine the contemporary gender roles and power structures with a better wisdom.