For those of you familiar with Indian Epics, the story of Ram and the Ramayana should sound familiar. I love the epics and I’m always looking to learn more and more about them. For a practicing Hindu, these stories are more like religious history as opposed to just a nighttime story.
I follow Lilly Singh’s book club and came across a wonderful book called Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel. Lilly highlights South Asian authors and I love the idea so I tagged along in her group on Instagram. The first book that stands out to me is Kaikeyi (which is also what the club is currently reading).
There have been many re-tellings of the epics and different perspectives as well. It’s rare to read a story unfolded by the antagonist of the story. Kaikeyi is Ayodhya’s youngest queen and King Dashrath’s third wife. Kaushalya is the eldest and Sumitra is the middle one.
The Story of Ram
Ram, the 7th avatar of Lord Vishnu is Dashrath and Kaushalya’s son. Ram is also the eldest son of 4 princes. He is the most loved by the whole family and most by Kaikeyi. It is said that she loved him more than her own son, Bharat.
Manthara, her lady servant, influences Kaikeyi and encourages her to brainwash the King. She pushes Kaikeyi to have Ram banished in exile for 14 years so her son Bharat would be king. Ram, Sita (his wife), and Laksmana (one of his younger brothers) leave Ayodhya and move to Panchavati to live in exile.
Kaikeyi is the person to blame for Dashrath’s death. She is the reason behind Ram leaving and for the downfall of the family and the kingdom. She sets the example of the cliched “evil stepmother” which would, later on, be used as a base for many “evil” characters in later stories.
The Story of Kaikeyi, a Victim
According to Vaishnavi Patel’s book, Kaikeyi is a victim as opposed to the cause of Ram’s exile. She is presented as a feminist who is perhaps “god-touched.” Kaikeyi can manipulate people and her relationships with them by entering the Binding Plane. She manipulates the threads that bind her to other people. She vows never to do that with her children (the 4 princes).
Having lost her mother to banishment as a child, Kaikeyi grows into a woman that always seems to want to prove herself. She’s very insecure as well as thirsty for attention. Her relationships are her lifeline.
The story about Kaikeyi marrying Dashrath as only a political move differs from the original story. Here it works toward her insecurity. She spends time after the wedding solidifying her place within the kingdom as well as her relationship with the King and his two other queens.
She has a strong bond with her brothers, especially Yudhajit, who we barely hear about in the original story. Her bond with him falters once he marries her off to Dashrath. She feels she’s been used as a pawn by her brother. Yudhajit and Kaikeyi share a unique bond. He seems to be the only one that sees her for the woman she is.
Her father keeps his distance from her. Kaikeyi is dependent on Manthara and her brothers for love.
Ravana
Ravana is the famous villain of this story, according to the original. A very big devotee of Lord Shiva, Ravana, is the King of Lanka. He is very knowledgeable in politics, mathematics, and the sciences. In the original epic, he kidnaps Sita and holds her hostage for a year. Ram and Lakshmana along with the help of the monkey king Sugriva, and Hanuman, fight him in a war to rescue her.
In this narrative, he is shown at the same magical level as Kaikeyi, where he too can manipulate magic and certain outcomes. He is also in the process of building what would come to be the Pushpak Vimaan, or his flying vehicle. He is shown as somewhat of an ally and friend to Kaikeyi in this narrative.
Kaikeyi The Victim
Kaikeyi struggles with Ram as he is growing up. She teaches him to respect women and to understand that women are meant to be more than an object of submission. Ram, in this narrative, understands that he is “god touched,” rather both Kaikeyi and Ram realize that Ram is God Himself.
Keeping this knowledge a secret, Ram manipulates every one around him to serve him, to be submissive to him. Kaikeyi grows to see this while entering the Binding Plane.
Eventually, with Dashrath’s failing health, he decides to place Ram on the throne–betraying the promise he made to Kaikeyi and her family at the time of their wedding. Yudhajit threatens war against Ayodhya unless the promise is upheld that Kaikeyi’s biological son, Bharat takes the throne. Fearing the impending war, Kaikeyi pushes Dashrath to reconsider. She even pleads with Ram but fails. She is forced to use the two boons that Dashrath promises her in war. Poor Kaikeyi is a victim of misunderstanding yet again.
As we all know the rest of the story, Ram is exiled.
But in this narrative, Kaikeyi forces the exile to save the kingdom and to save Ram. Kaushalya understands this as well and agrees that Ram is yet too young to take the throne. There is much for him to learn.
Sita and Kaikeyi Allies?
Contrary to the original narrative, Kaikeyi and Sita share a closer bond because they’re both “god-touched.” Kaikeyi’s friendship with Ravana forces her to keep a close eye on Sita, only to realize that while being submissive to Ram on all accounts, she is not happy in her life. She wants to be an individual.
Ravana threatens to take Sita away because…
Sita is Ravana’s daughter (hence the kidnapping).
WHAAAAAAAT?
I know. I love how this theory blends into the narrative. Depending on what part of India you come from, there are stories that illustrate Ravana as being Sita’s father or grandfather (depending on the local tale).
This creates a bond between Kaikeyi the misunderstood victim and Sita the submissive victim.
The Darker Side of Ram
Ram is a brat in this story and while that is hard to digest, the support for understanding Kaikeyi’s conflict within the royal family, within her own family, and with herself is so beautifully presented, that as you read the book, you begin to believe that Ram is at fault. You believe that Ram’s antics left Kaikeyi a victim of hate and misunderstanding.
Ram is so “traditional” that he refuses to understand anything except the fact that he is God and is there to serve a purpose. This was a refreshing change to the narratives that I’ve come across because it forces you to question yourself, “what if this was a possibility?”
My Verdict:
If you want to introduce a “what if,” into the family and have discussions about the Ramayana, I feel this is a great conversation starter. It really makes you wonder if we learned a biased version of the story itself. While there is no reason to disrespect any faith or the original epic, this narrative does a great job of making you reconsider Kaikeyi’s role in the story. It makes Kaikeyi a simple woman, who just wants a chance in life to prove herself worthy. Manthara, her lady servant also has a refreshing part in the narrative where she is almost protective of Kaikeyi but for the betterment of not just her future but the kingdom as well. She pushes Kaikeyi to be the best version of herself because that is what her mother would have always wanted.
If you’re looking for a fresh, light read, something that will be a great way to touch base with the Epics of India, then this is your book. Grab it, devour it and give Kaikeyi the chance she deserves.
