Himanshi Parmar wrote a paper on June 10th, 2022 about deconstruction and analyzing the Ramayana through a deconstructive lens. The paper discusses key points about deconstruction according to Derrida, including that it aims to analyze texts and break assumptions about single meanings. It then provides an overview of the Ramayana, describing it as a Sanskrit epic about Prince Rama. The paper goes on to deconstructively analyze several aspects of the Ramayana, such as Sita's swayamvara implying a male-dominated society, Sita's kidnapping portraying her as both ideal wife but also weak character, and the depiction of Rama, Lakshmana and

1. Himanshi Parmar

2. Date - 6/10/2022
Day - Thursday
Time- 02:00 - 04:30
Name - Himanshi Parmar
Semester - 3 (Three)
Roll Number - 8
Email. Id. - himanshiparmar3004@gmail.com
Enrollment number - 4069206420210025
Paper number - 204
Paper name - Contemporary Western Theories and Film Studies.
Subject Code - 22409

3. What is
Deconstruction.
Points to ponder
What is
Ramayana.
Derrida and
Deconstruction.
Deconstructive
Study of ‘The
Ramayana’.

4. What is deconstruction?
According to Oxford Dictionary, "Deconstruction means a method of critical
analysis of philosophical and literary language which emphasizes the internal
workings of language and conceptual systems, the relational quality of
meaning, and the assumptions implicit in forms of expression."
The term Deconstruction was originated by the French philosopher Jacques
Derrida in the 1960s.
The seeds of Deconstruction sprouted from Martin Heideggar (1889-1976).
Derrida took reference from Heideggar's project that he wanted to translate
into French from German.
According to Jacques Derrida, “Deconstruction is not Destruction ”.

5. Deconstruction doesn't mean to break something, but it is about to analysing
something in smaller parts and in a deeper way.
Deconstruction by dividing the text into parts, try to break the assumption that
text does have one particular meaning.
Deconstruction is a form of Literary and Philosophical analysis.
In the 1970s the term was applied by Derrida along with Paul de Man, J. Hillis
Miller, and Barbara Johnson with other scholars.
The term started being use in various fields from 1980s like areas of the
humanities, social science,philosophy,literature,law, psychoanalysis,
architecture, anthropology, theology, feminism, gay and lesbian studies, political
theory, historiography, and film theory.

6. What is ‘The Ramayana’?
~ Ramayana is the first Sanskrit epic poem by Valmiki.
~ It consists of 24,000 shlokas and seven cantos (kaṇḍas).
~ Ramayana is dated variously from 500 BCE to 100 BCE.
~ It is composed of about 480,002 words, being a quarter of the length of the full text
of the Mahabharata or about four times the length of the Iliad.
~
The Ramayana is the story of a prince, Rama of the city of Ayodhya in the Kingdom
of Kosala and Dashrath. Whose wife Sita is abducted by Ravana, Demon king of
Lanka.

7. Deconstructive study of Ramayana
1] Sita ‘Swayamvara’
~ King Janaka, the ruler of Mithila, organises a 'swayamvara' for his daughter
Seeta, the princess. However, he challenges the suitors to string Pinaka, the bow of
Lord Shiva.
~ Rama wins the competition and marries Sita.
~ Male dominated society.

9. As a child, Sita used to play with the arrows of lord Shiva that even great kings could not
lift. Hence her power is introduced to us.
~But Her dialogue while her kidnapping is contrasting with her action.
न व्यपत्रपसे नीच कर्मणानेन रावण।
ज्ञात्वा ववरविताां यन्ाां चोरवयत्वा पलायसे।।3.53.3।।
O mean Ravana, are you not ashamed of kidnapping me when I was separated (from my
husband)? (Aranyakanda, Sarga-53)
~ Husband as a protractor.
~ Weak character
2] Sita’s Kidnapping

10. ~ Sita as an ideal Wife, Daughter, Daughter in law, Mother and Woman.
~Sita as a sweet-talking Woman.
~ A woman who maintains peace even in trouble.
~ Her misbehavior with Lakshman.
इच्छवस त्वां ववनश्यन्तां रार्ां लक्ष्मण र्त्क
ृ ते।।3.45.6।।
लोभात्त्वां र्त्क
ृ ते नूनां नानुगच्छवस राघवर््।
(It is possess me that you wish Rama's death. You do not rush to him certainly because of greed for me.)
अनायामकरणारम्भ नृशांस क
ु लपाांसन।।3.45.21।।
अिां तव वियां र्न्ये रार्स्य व्यसनां र्ित्।
O ignoble, cruel Lakshmana, you are a disgrace to your family. I think this great disaster of Rama is a
pleasure to you.

11. 4] North - South Conflict
~ Rama, Lakshman, Sita, as a Colonizers.
~ Tribal people of South as a Colonized people.
5] Hanuman as Lakshman’s Saviour
~ Lakshman was Fainted and Hanuman Bring part of
mountain from north to save him.
~ For tribal people, Mountain is like their father And
Hanuman is a thief who cuts off a part of the mountain
and carries it away.

12. 6] Rama Murdered Vaali

13. 7] Rama fails as a good husband and father.
~ Sent her wife to forest.
~ Ordeal of sita.
~ ‘Ashvamegh yagna’ by Rama and Sita's idol instead of sita.
8] Ordeal of sita.
~ If Sita has to undergo the ordeal, why not Rama?
~ Patriarchal society.
~Male dominance

14. Citation
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Ramayana". Encyclopedia
Britannica, 27 May. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ramayana-Indian-
epic. Accessed 6 October 2022.
Valmiki. “Welcome to Valmiki Ramayana: Valmiki Ramayanam.” Welcome to
Valmiki Ramayana | Valmiki Ramayanam, IIT Kanpur , Aug. 2005,
https://www.valmiki.iitk.ac.in/.

15. Thank you