Sita's Rebellion

(Rama, Sita, Lava and Kusa)

The gossip was always high here, but Rama and Sita were the talk of the town. Since Rama is the one in power, he and Sita had eyes on them at all times. When they were out amongst their people the whispers echoed around them. Not to mention the eyes that darted their way. It's like people had nothing better to do. 

"I'm not like Rama.  I won't take back someone who's slept in another man's house."

"Sita is definitely impure if she spent any amount of time with Ravana. How does Rama even look at her?"

"I don't care if Sita has "proven" her purity to Rama. I don't buy it."

It's like no one had heard of grace! No one had heard of love! The accusations don't bother Sita one bit. She knew she was pure. Rama, however, couldn't shake feeling guilty for taking her back.

Sita and Rama were celebrating their exciting news, Sita's pregnancy, but Rama just wasn't acting like himself. 

He kissed his wife. "Let's go on a trip to celebrate!"

"But we just got here? You already want to leave?" she asked. 

"Yes, pack your bags!" Rama said in the most enthusiastic tone. Sita smiled at her husband and rushed to their room to gather her things. 

"Lakshamana, my subjects think less of me for accepting Sita after being with Ravana. I cannot rule without their support. Take Sita with you to the forest and leave her." Sita returned in record time. She had her bags in her hand and was ready to go.

"I have a few things to address here. You and Lakshamana go ahead and head to the forest! I'll catch up with you two in a bit," Rama said as they were leaving.

Sita, thinking she, Lakshamana, and Rama are just going for a day in the forest, happily accompanied Lakshamana. She loved the peace and quiet of the forest. It's always been one of the best escapes from everyday life and after her time with Ravana, she needed this!

They arrive in the forest and Sita soon realized this isn't a day trip. Lakshamana explained Rama's wishes to Sita and she fell to her knees sobbing.

"Why, Rama, why? I have proven my purity to you and yet you still question me? I will spend all my days loving you, I will never love another man but you. Oh, please Lakshamana, take me back with you!"

Lakshamana shook his head at Sita. "I am sorry. I have to honor my brothers wishes."

In the days that passed, Sita doesn't move an inch. She just cried and cried and cried, every single day. One day she met Valmiki. Luckily for her, she doesn't have to live in exile alone. Soon she had two beautiful twin boys, Lava and Kusa, to raise. Valmiki taught them of their father, and they learned to love him. Meanwhile, Sita grew stronger and stronger. Rama abandoned her at the worst time. He wasn't even there for the birth of their sons! How could he? 

One day, while Lava and Kusa are singing a song about Rama, Rama hears them and becomes curious. He learns it is his son's voices from the forest. He was eager to finally meet his sons so he left to bring them home with him.

 Rama arrives and falls in love immediately at the sight of his two sons. 

"Sita, our sons, they are perfect! You have done such a wonderful job raising them. It is time you and the boys come back home with me." 

Sita stares at him blankly. 

"Father, Father, we have heard so much about you! Have you finally come for us? We wish to be strong like you one day!" The boys were running circles around Rama, excited to meet their famously strong dad. 

"I have told the boys this day would come. I told them I would support their decision either way," Sita said.

Rama looks at her puzzled. "What do you mean, "their decision"?"

Sita looks him dead in the eyes, confident in her decision. "I am not coming home with you, Rama."

Rama's mouth drops in shock. "I knew eventually you wouldn't be able to lie any longer."

"What are you talking about, Rama? Is this about my purity again? "She begins to raise her voice.

"Yes, Sita. How can it be that Ravana never laid a hand on you?"

"You won't ever believe me Rama. This is why I can no longer be your wife. I have never loved another man as I've loved you and not once have you ever had my back!" Sita is now screaming through her tears.

"So be it, I don't need you to rule," Rama's pride yells back at Sita.

She wipes her tears from her face. "Boys, what have you decided?"

Lava and Kusha look up at their mother, then over to their father, then back to their mother. 

Lava speaks first. "We both want to know our father. But our loyalty is to you, mother. You have raised us to be who we are today. So we have decided to stay with you. We could not leave your side." 

Sita kneels down and hugs her boys. "I am so proud of the both of you."

Rama is standing there, astounded. He came to bring back his family and will be leaving alone. He could never have foreseen this. 

"Thank you, Rama, for coming back for us. But it looks like we are perfectly happy here in the forest."

Rama ruled for twenty more years while Sita, Lava and Kusha spent their days in the forest. The day finally came for Rama to step down. Lava would be the heir to the throne. He ruled with Sita and Kusa by his side. And the very first thing Sita did with her acquired power was banish Rama to the forest. 

Rama lived out his days alone, surrounded by trees and wilderness in the forest. While the family he created lived a life of luxury and happiness without him.

Author's Note:

As I'm sure many of us were, I was tired of Rama not trusting Sita. She was kidnapped by a scary man. Please tell me how any of that was her fault? He questioned her purity over and over again and no matter what she did, it was simply never enough for him. I thought it was CRAZY that he banished Sita to the forest simply because his subject didn't approve of his decision to take Sita back. If the love he felt for Sita was real, he would have chosen her over being the ruler. In this story I wanted to empower Sita to break free from Rama.  I wanted Rama to suffer in the same way he made Sita suffer. And while he may not have shown his pain, you know that watching his family walk away from him crushed him. I also loved the picture I chose because it shows the boys loving on Sita and Rama just in the background almost waving "bye". It was too perfect for my story!

Bibliography: 

Bibliography: 

Sita Sings the Blues 2008

Nina Paley

Reading Notes: Pattanaik Calendar Art, Part A

(Elephant Head)

I thought this video was so interesting. I really am fascinated with the Indian culture. It is amazing how in depth everything goes. Even the simplest things have meaning to them. Ever god is so unique and each serve a different purpose. Each detail on every god is a symbol for something. I like the the Indian culture has reasons for their traditions. I feel that in many cultures a tradition is just a tradition and there's not explanation for why or how it started. Indian culture, to me, seems more like a fantasy. I know that to those who claim the culture this is all very real to them. A human with an elephant head? That is something completely normal in Indian culture. To me that's something I'd see maybe in a Disney movie. But I love this about Indian culture, the sky is the limit. It is captivating. I learned so much more about the culture just from this one thirty minute video over the Indian Calendar Art!

Bibliography:

Title: Seven Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art 2009

Author: Devout Pattanaik 

Story Planning: Sita's Rebellion

I thought this week I would try the new story planning option. I really like this idea because sometimes I feel I haven't really developed my story fully when I write it. Here I will brainstorm some ideas for my story this week. 

I would really like to write about when Rama chooses to banish Sita the forest. I think it's crazy that Rama treats Sita in this manner. All she has ever been is loyal to him and he has shown no loyalty to her. Here are my two ideas.

1. Rama does not banish Sita to the forest. 

Maybe Rama could just choose to rule with Sita by his side and not worry what society might think of him. Another idea would be to actually have Rama step down from the thrown in order to be with Sita. I would really like to see some sacrifices being made on Rama's part for Sita. If he was really so in love with her he shouldn't have to worry how society views him, even though he is king. 

2. Rama still banishes Sita but she doesn't come back with him from the forest. I could have Sita fall out of love with Rama. When Rama comes to the forest to retrieve Sita and his two sons I would still have her prove her purity to Rama but she will not be going home with him. In my opinion Sita has done so much for Rama and always thought the world of him but Rama more than once has questioned Sita's integrity. I think it's time to be able to see Sita stand up for herself. Maybe I could even split up the brothers. Maybe one will want leave with Rama and one will wish to stay in the forest with his mother Sita. 

Of course, I always like happy endings, but life doesn't always work out that way. I think it would be interesting to give the story a twist that the readers don't expect. And who knows, the more I think about it maybe I will have Sita cheat on Rama. That could get pretty interesting. 

(Rama and Sita)

Bibliography:

Sita Sings the Blues 2008

Nina Paley

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues, Part B

I was surprised by how much I liked this film. It really isn't my typical style but I think I found it so odd that it was intriguing. I liked that in the end the connection was made with the modern day couple and The Ramayana. The whole time I couldn't figure it out, besides the fact that they were in India for part of the film. I really liked being able to watch The Ramayana in a film. This allowed me to focus a lot better than when I read it. I am not much of a reader but I do really liked films! I feel like I could definitely make a unique story out of Sita's time in the forest while she was pregnant. I feel like Sita faces a lot of unnecessary ridicule after she is taken by Ravana. I would like to make a story where Rama stands up for Sita more instead of just banishing her to the forest! 

(Sita and her sons)

Bibliography: 

Sita Sings the Blues 2008

Nina Paley

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues, Part A

(Sita Sings the Blues)

I typically am not a huge fan of cartoons like this but I actually didn't mind this one. I liked how colorful it was and I really enjoyed the commentary. It was comical to me how they struggled to get the story straight between the three of them. I thought it was weird that Lakshamana wasn't in this cartoon. In Narayan's Ramayana he was there in the forest with Sita and Rama. I was a it confused with the correlation between the people who moved to India and The Ramayana. That part didn't make much sense to me. Overall though, I really liked the first half of the movie. It kept me interested the whole time and gave me an even better understanding of The Ramayana. 

Bibliography:
Sita Sings the Blues 2008
by: Nina Paley 

Week 8 Growth Mindset

I definitely think that I have a lot more to work on with Growth Mindset. And hey, I guess that's a good thing cause that means I am using a Growth Mindset. I am, and have always been, a professional procrastinator. Lately though, it seems to have reached an all time high. I have forgotten about two exams in the last couple weeks and that's a bit frightening. I wanted to push myself to us a planner this semester and while I started out strong, I've slowly abandoned my planner. It's really difficult for me to develop a routine for myself cause I've never lived off a routine. I truly do want to work on this though. I'm sure school would give me a lot less anxiety if I could just stay focused on the task at hand and get things done. I feel I've made it pretty clear that I'm pretty far from achieving a Growth Mindset but the whole purpose is to use that to propel me and inspire me to reach that goal. For the second half of this semester I'm going to try to fill out my planner thoroughly so I don't miss anything. I'm also going to attempt not to put things off till the very last second. This post is actually being written earlier than usual for me. I typically don't start any homework till at least after 10pm. I know it's really terrible. I hope I can really hone in areas in my life where I can apply Growth Mindset because I think it would be very beneficial to me!

Ps. Meet Suri, she's my new fur-daughter. Basically my entire body is covered in scratches because I am her only playmate but I still love her. Oh, and she thinks she has to eat everything I eat, here she is trying to steal my Panera mac n cheese!

(Personal Photo of my new kitten Suri)

Story: Vyasa and The Shy Girl

Vyasa was quiet in school. He always stood on the outskirts, watching. Most everyone, especially the girls, were repulsed by him. He didn't dress well and may have skipped a shower or two in his day. But he did have one friend, well, if you can call her that. They didn't talk but they were always together. Both outcasts, they had that one thing in common. Vyasa didn't even know her name, but he never minded her company. She sat with him every day at lunch. They ate in silence while all the other high schoolers chatted away about the latest gossip. No one ever really paid the two any mind, and that was a-okay with them.

There was a school winter dance and since it was his senior yea, his parents forced him to go. Vyasa was relieved to see his friends face when he walked into the school. They greeted each other with a smile, no words. For the entirety of the night they were wallflowers. Watching their classmates dance and catching the occasional corner make-out sesh. You could say they were more of chaperones than students at this point. After a night full of punch, terrible music and more grinding than they cared to see, the dance was finally over. Afterwards, Vyasa finally spoke to his friend. 

"My names Vyasa, what's your name?"

"I'm Suri." She said quietly. 

They smiled at one another then got into their separate cars and went home.

The next day at lunch Suri asked "Did you have fun last night?"

"I mean, it was okay. At least it was entertaining. Did you?"

"Oh it was definitely not boring. But I'm glad I didn't have to stand against that wall alone." She looked up from her sandwich and smiled. 

"Yeah, it was nice to have some company. It always is." Vyasa smiled back at her. 

For the next couple weeks they began talking more and more. Slowly, they began to open up to one another. Vyasa had never really had many friends because he had never learned how to interact with others. He was forced to be on his own at a very young age. The isolation he experienced in his past had turned him into an extreme introvert. But he was finally learning what it was like to enjoy another human being. One day he finally asked her on a date to a drive in movie theater and of course, she said yes. 

Vyasa drove a truck so he loaded the bed with pillows and blankets and even remembered to bring snacks along! He was really getting the hang of this whole social life thing. From the start of the movie Vyasa had been eyeing Suri's hand. He wanted so bad to reach for it, but how? He had never done anything like this before. Finally halfway through he did it. He intertwined his fingers between hers and was surprised at how much better it made him feel. Suri laid her head on his shoulder and they stayed like this for the rest of the movie. 

"Thanks so much for coming with me tonight Suri, it was a lot of fun." Vyasa said as he was saying goodbye to her on her doorstep. 

"Of course. You know, I always enjoy your company." She stood up on her tippy toes and kissed his cheek, "Get home safe Vyasa, I'll see you tomorrow."

Vyasa was on cloud nine. He had never felt this way. All he had known was the feeling of rejection. No girl had ever shown anything but disgust for him. But Suri, she adored him. When his head hit the pillow that night it was full of sweet dreams and his stomach was teeming with butterflies. There really was someone out there for everyone. 

Author's Note:

This week I suffered from major writer's-block. I don't like this story that much. I wanted to write something about Vyasa and the three women who bared his sons, but I decided to focus mostly on Vyasa and the servant girl. She was the only one out of the three who happily welcomes Vyasa. The other two were terrified of him, due to his appearance but the servant girl accepted him completely. I thought this made for a sweet story. Although I feel I veered too far from the original story-line. I don't know, my brain is mush and hopefully next week I can write a better story! 

Bibliography: The Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution by Epified TV (India)

Reading Notes: The Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution- Part A

(Vyasa)

I really liked these short YouTube episodes of The Mahabharata. I am a visual learner so the narrations during the episodes were very helpful to me. I get sleepy when I read and my mind wanders but when I have someone read something to me, I find it's a lot easier for me to focus and hone in on details. I was able to clear up parts of Mahabharata that were fuzzy for me after the first time I read through it. The characters were also a lot easier to keep straight with the illustrations. Though the names are still confusing and most I cannot even pronounce! This week I think I might write about Vyasa and the three women, Ambika, Ambalika and the servant girl, who bared his three sons. I find the story very interesting and will have to think of a clever way to make it my own.

Bibliography: The Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution by Epified TV (India)