After spinning alternative tales around Hindu mythological characters like Shiva and Ram, Amish Tripathi's latest book 'Sita- Warrior of Mithila' portrays the main female character of Ramayana in a stronger and braver role.

Written in a “multi-linear narrative”, the second book in the 'Ram Chandra Series' tells the story of Sita, the princess of Mithila, from long before she was born, leading to her life after getting married to Ram.

Offering Sita an identity of her own, Tripathi has developed the protagonist, which is different from her conventional portrayal as a coy and obedient wife of Ram, as she rises from an ill-tempered princess to a strong-headed warrior and military strategist.

Instead of focusing on her relationship with Lord Ram, 'Sita- Warrior of Mithila', Tripathi turns the spotlight on Sita's relationship with her mother Sunaina.

Her relationship with her sister Urmila also forms an important part of the narrative.

It gives a glimpse of Sita taking hold of the reins of Mithila when her father Janak gets occupied with spirituality.
Besides Sita, other female characters are also painted in colours of strength and valour.

Be it Samichi, who rises from the slums to take the position of a high-ranked chief in the male dominated police force of Mithila, or Manthara, a powerful businesswoman taking revenge from Ram for the injustice done to her, each woman is independent and intense in her own right.

Vivid descriptions of the warfare and the battle scars make the narrative gripping.

Tripathi, who has planned four books in the current series, says that it was the new style of writing that took him so long to release the book.

Three of these books will simply tell the “backstory” of the three main characters — Ram, Sita, and Raavan– while the fourth will bring together all the narratives to a culmination.

“I have been inspired by a storytelling technique called hyperlink, which some call the multi-linear narrative. In such a narrative, there are many characters; and a connection brings them all together.

“The three main characters in the Ram Chandra Series are Ram, Sita, and Raavan. Each character has life experiences which mould who they are and their stories converge with the kidnapping of Sita. And each has their own adventure and riveting back-story,” the author says.