There was this sage or saint called Valmiki who wrote a definitive history of his times. He told the world quite emphatically that there was a God. And that whenever mankind was in trouble or in dire need of a saviour, God would come down to earth in a different avatar and solve the problem.

The legend of Lord Rama is one such avatar.

While Ram is often remembered for being the true king who vanquished evil and also the king who discovered and practised good governance, people tend to forget that his saga also gave birth to the legend of Sita, the quintessential earth child. The girl child whose life was a series of ill treatment and torture and discrimination beyond imagination. So much so that when Rama asked her to take the test of chastity she complied but soon after, she dissolved into the depths of the earth.

Sita Devi and her unfortunate role in the Ramayana has given humanity, especially womankind a whipping boy (or should I say girl) through the centuries. From the way she was married off (by the conductance of an entrance test if you please) to the way she lived her life in unnecessary exile. Right through to the time when she had to prove that she had been chaste while being in captivity. Demeaning. Demoralising. You can call it what you will but the unfairness of it strikes you immediately.

The other day I saw a news item in the papers and later online, about a lady who gave me an idea. She was this extremely agile individual who did wonderful things with her body, held a bow with her feet and actually fired off an arrow in an upside down pose that defies imagination.

Seeing her gave me an idea. If instead of Lord Rama having to show off his archery to win the hand of Sita, the story was rewritten to see Sita exhibiting her skills to win the hand of Rama, a few things could happen.

To start with the Ramayana could be renamed Sitayana. Instead of Valmiki writing the boring saga, the assignment could possibly be given to Shobha De.

And everyone could live happily ever after.

Including Ravana who wouldn’t have kidnapped Laxmana even if he was gay.