Stree: The Women of the Ramayana

by Lalitha Balasubramanian, Jai Shukla

Unveil the hidden stories of the powerful women of the Ramayana—famous figures like Sita and Mandodari, alongside lesser- known yet equally remarkable women like Shanta and Sulochana. These women are not just supporting characters; their courage, wisdom, and strength shaped the epic in ways often overlooked in the dominant narratives of history.

Prepare to be immersed in a captivating exploration of the epic’s female characters—who they were, what they stood for, and how their stories continue to inspire generations. Stree: The Women of the Ramayana not only reclaims their place in the Ramayana but also challenges readers to see the epic through a new, more inclusive lens, forever transforming how we understand these legendary women and their lasting legacy.

278 pages, Paperback

First published November 22, 2024

Reviews

[Puja Khattri · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child, like many of my generation, I remember watching Rama Lila being performed on the stage at a neighbourhood park. Like everyone my attention was of course focussed on the main characters of this epic. But I would also think about the other characters who played small yet pivotal roles. I wondered if they too had a backstory that was never performed on the stage. Stree: The Women of the Ramayana puts a lot of my queries to rest.

Lalitha Balasubramanian and Jai Shukla set out to achieve a task no other writer has hitherto— sharing the little-known stories of the women of the Ramayana. This feat is not a small one as it offers a new, clearer perspective in which the reader sees many a character they may have been sort of familiar with, but not in great detail.

What I found truly incredible was that each story the authors narrate brings to light not just the backstory to the character but also gives us readers an understanding of why they behaved in a certain way. This book offers tribute to the women of Ramayana who are an intrinsic part of the epic and yet often overlooked.

Stree: The Women of Ramayana truly shows that all perspectives matter, as do people. In the truest sense it makes us realise that no person in this world is a side character, it is just a matter of the narrative we follow.

[Sanjeeva Maithani · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have all heard of Sita, Mandodari,Kaushalya, Keikai, Surpanakhaa and Shabree. Few of us would know about Tara, Anasuya, Urmila and Urmila. Lalitha and Jai have brought to life their stories, the one we have heard and the one that we haven't. Starting from their childhood she has shown what they were like, their aspirations, ambitions, their struggles in a male dominated world.
Sumitra, who was more interested in pursuing knowledge and wisdom, Surpanakha who was a princess betrayed by her brother or Sulochana who chose Indrajit over Indra as her husband and tried her best to get Sita back to Raam.
These are the stories everyone should read. Highly recommend!!