Page 72 - Education World September 2021

Books

her brothers to the forest Sita plays an important Sita is spared the igno- tradition); Mula Matani’s
and on return becomes the role in Rawana’s death. miny of the second ordeal battle; the Lakshman-
queen. Marrying a sister This too is original. She and her tragic departure rekha; Sita’s single son
did not invite any social reveals to Hanuman how with Madhavi as recount- and how she acquires a
stigma. Valmiki does not Rawana can be killed: ed in Valmiki’s version. second son; Badayasa’s
tell this story. smite the small head ‘as In HSR, the grand scale battle (Bhashmalochana of
In HSR, Hanuman big as a candle-nut’ behind of Ramayana is lost, but Krittivas), etc.
is Rama’s son. Rama his right ear and steal the it represents the popular For this first translation
and Sita, tired, jump enchanted sword from form of the Rama saga. It into English of the
into an enchanted pond Mandu-daki. He will not has a plethora of inter- Hikayat Seri Rama, the
and become monkeys. die but will be unable to esting local stories and world readership will
Climbing a tree they stand up. Doing so Rama mixed-up non-Valmiki be grateful to Aveling
make love. Laksamana then stabs him brutally traditions knit tightly in who has been acclaimed
forces them into another with a sword after he falls. these 287 pages, such for his commitment
enchanted pond where Still he does not die. HSR as Rawana’s birth and to the international
they regain humanity. The is silent about Rawana’s ascesis; Rawana as peace- understanding of Malayan
nurse, Baya Bata, helps death. maker among his fighting literature. It is a straight
Sita spew a jewel from In HSR, Rama nei- relatives; Rama slaying translation without any
her mouth which Baya ther returns to Ayodhya great monsters and subdu- explanatory notes.
Bata (Pavana?) flies away nor gives Langkapuri to ing four angry princes; the Writers Workshop has
with and puts in the open Vibhishana. He himself conflict between Maha- done an excellent job in
mouth of Anjati Dewi rules at Langkapuri, gets rishi Mahaganta and the producing this volume.
(Anjana). She gives birth everyone married and rakshasa king Jaya Sang; Sturdily bound, well-print-
to Hanuman, an ape with a settled. Finally, he retires Rama’s monkey army ed, without noticeable
human head, ears adorned to a hermitage and spends defeating Jaya Sang’s printers’ devils, this book
with earrings. This is a forty years with Sita, relatives; Hanuman’s is worth possessing.
HSR original, not found Laksamana and Hanuman amorous escapades (a to- SHEKHAR SEN (The
elsewhere. peacefully before dying. tal deviation from Indian Book Review)

72 EDUCATIONWORLD SEPTEMBER 2021