Urmila and Surpanakha are marginalized female characters in the Ramayana that author Kavita Kane brings voice to in her novels. Kane's novels Sita's Sister and Lanka's Princess portray Urmila as a strong character in her own right rather than just as Lakshmana's wife, and portray Surpanakha's transformation from a kind princess to the vengeful demoness she became. The document discusses how Kane uses mythology fiction to explore the perspectives of misunderstood characters and give voice to the voiceless, concluding with questions around the cultural significance of retelling myths from new perspectives.

2. The Marginalized and the Misunderstood :
Urmila and Surpanakha
Prepared by
Vaidehi Hariyani
(Research Scholar)
Department of English, MKBU
19th September 2018
PhD Coursework Exam

3. Author:-
• Kavita Kane is an Indian writer.
• She is known for writing
Mythology-fiction.
• All of her books are based on
Indian mythology.
• Her bestselling novel is Karna's
wife: the Outcast Queen.

4. •Subaltern theory takes the perspective of the "Other"
as the one who has had no voice because of race,
class, or gender.
• This theory is based on deconstruction as Derrida has
proposed it.
•Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak in her work “Can the
Subaltern Speak?” comes out with voice for the
oppressed.
Subaltern Theory

5. Urmila
Always known as
Lakshmana’s wife or Sita’s
Sister

6. Sita’s Sister – Kavita Kane
• One of the most overlooked characters.
• Significant contributor to the events of the story.
• She also went into exile into the palace, so that
Lakshmana can fulfill his promise.
• Highlights the environmental changes in Mithila as
well as Ayodhya.
• Comes out as a strong character here and has voice
as well as presence.

7. Great among men, O King be gracious enough to give your equally accomplished
two daughters in marriage to Rama and Lakshmana who are born in the family of
Ikshvakus kings possessing the purity of race right from the beginning. They are
highly virtuous, heroic, and truthful. They have chosen your daughters as their
brides"
Marriage did not hold much interest
for Urmila but it was a social
discipline she would have to conform
it. She would rather seek knowledge
instead of a Suitor. (Kane)
आदिवंशववशुद्धानां राज्ां परमधर्मिणाम ्।
इक्ष्वाकु कु लजातानां वीराणां
सत्यवादिनाम ्।।1.70.44।।
रामलक्ष्मणयोरर्थे त्वत्सुते वरये नृप।
सदृशाभयां नृपश्रेष्ठ सदृशे िातुमर्िर्स।।1.70.45।।
(Sarga 70- Shloka 44-45) Balkanda

8. Surpanakha
Mainly known as
Rakshasi or Ravana’s
Sister or an Evil women
whose nose was cut by
Lord RAMA and
Lakshmana.

9. Lanka’s Princess- Kavita Kane
• Life of Princess Meenakshi.
• Regularly neglected by her
mother and brothers, and
reprimanded by her father.
• The slow transformation of
kind and compassionate
Princess Meenakshi into the
cruel and revengeful
Surpanakha.

10. • Rama's face was lovely, Surpanakha's was hideous. Rama had a slender
waist, she had a huge belly. His eyes were large, hers were deformed. His
hair was black and beautiful, hers was copper colored. He was lovely in
appearance, she was ugly. His voice was sweet, hers was shrill. He was
young, she was dreadfully old. He was positive, she was perverted. Rama
was well behaved, she was wicked. Rama was just and loving while she was
overcome by lust. (This) demoness said to Rama :
सुमुखं िुमुिखी रामं वृत्तमध्यं मर्ोिरी।
ववशालाक्षं ववरूपाक्षी सुके शं ताम्रमूधिजा।।3.17.10।।
प्रीततरूपं ववरूपा सा सुस्वरं भैरवस्वरा।
तरुणं िारुणा वृद्धा िक्षक्षणं वामभाविणी।।3.17.11।।
न्यायवृत्तं सुिुवृित्ता वप्रयमवप्रयिशिना।
शरीरजसमाववष्टा राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।3.17.12।।
Aranyakand (Sarga 17- Sholka 10,11,12)

11. Conclusion
• Voiceless are getting Voice.
• Misunderstood are given a space.
Why it is necessary to retell myths?
What is its cultural significance?
These questions will be tried to
answer through my research further.

12. Works Cited:-
• Barry , Peter. Beginning Theory An Introduction to Literary and
Cultural Theory. Second. University Press, 2002.
• Kane, Kavita. Lanka's Princess. New Delhi: Rupa Publications Pvt. Ltd,
2017.
• Kane, Kavita. Sita's Sister. New Delhi: Rupa Publications India Pvt. Ltd,
2014.
• Ramakrishnamacharyulu, K.V., et al. Valmiki Ramayana. 2002. 1 6
2018 <https://www.valmiki.iitk.ac.in/>.

13. Thank You