So we are into the two-dozenth retelling of the Ramayana. I have written before about how I've told Puttachi the Ramayana in different stages, adding on layers and sub-stories with each retelling. And since the last post, we've progressed, and so have her questions.
If you remember, last time, she'd asked me
This time, she asked me:
She: Amma, when Hanumanta went to find Sita, he offered to take her back with him. Why didn't she go?
Me: She wanted Rama to come and defeat Ravana and then take her back.
She: I think Sita is quite silly, Amma. She should have gone with Hanumanta. See, war could have been avoided. So many people were killed in the war, such a waste. All that would never have happened if Sita had gone with Hanumanta.
Me: (Smiling at her logic.)
She: (eyes lighting up) Ohhh.. Amma... I think I know why!
Me: Why?
She: Perhaps Valmiki* just liked long stories..... like I do!
*Valmiki wrote the Ramayana.
If you remember, last time, she'd asked me
Did Lakshmana also try to lift the bow? If he had, do you think he would have been able to lift it? Then he would have married Sita, no?
Why didn't Lakshmana's wife Urmila also go to the forest? Wasn't she bored? She should also have gone.
This time, she asked me:
She: Amma, when Hanumanta went to find Sita, he offered to take her back with him. Why didn't she go?
Me: She wanted Rama to come and defeat Ravana and then take her back.
She: I think Sita is quite silly, Amma. She should have gone with Hanumanta. See, war could have been avoided. So many people were killed in the war, such a waste. All that would never have happened if Sita had gone with Hanumanta.
Me: (Smiling at her logic.)
She: (eyes lighting up) Ohhh.. Amma... I think I know why!
Me: Why?
She: Perhaps Valmiki* just liked long stories..... like I do!
*Valmiki wrote the Ramayana.
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6 comments:
Wish Sita was as sensible and thoughtful as Puttachi, I agree, she should have gone flying away with Hanuman :)
Puttachi has an amazingly sharp mind that is as creative as it's logical! Wow! No other words.
Marvelous! The juxtaposition of the comments - one assuming the story as real and one realising that someone wrote the story is very endearing!
My son has these kinds of conversations with his elder sister. At the Taj, they gossiped endless about the story behidn the Taj, and I was most amused to hear them play-acting later a conversation between Shah jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, and in their storyline, she did not die, and they lived happily after in the Taj Mahal!!
Loved her logic.
Love to hear intelligent Puttachi through you
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