Sita.. She who chose herself..

Sita. Princess of Mithila, Queen of Ayodhya, the true daughter of the Earth.

One of the bravest humans in the world..

The character of Sita is one of the most profound ones, which teaches a lot to those who seek to learn from. Contrary to popular belief, she was not a meek, submissive woman or the “adarsh naari”, as most people would wish to believe (and want the women in their houses to be the same) She was bold, bold beyond belief, and showed the world that being bold does not mean being a revolt.

Wise: Sita was wise to put to good use the circumstances presented before her. Be it a yagna (sacrificial ritual) where she used the opportunity to sharpen her knowledge, or the forest which she observed the ways of nature, which would come to help her in her later years, Sita was wise to make use of every opportunity.

Commitment towards her marriage: When Sita married Rama, he was the crown prince. Upon becoming his wife, she would have no trouble adapting to the royal lifestyle (she was Mithila’s princess). However, as Rama was banished to the forest to live for fourteen years as a hermit, Sita had no second thoughts abandoning the palace life to go with him to the forest. The forest life was tough, still she preferred togetherness in the wild, rather than regal separation. She placed her marriage before her comfortable lifestyle.

Presence of mind: When Sita was kidnapped by Ravana due to a series of unfortunate events, she initially panicked (only natural). Then, she removed her ornaments and threw them on the ground, providing a trail. This could explain why Rama and Lakshmana had trouble in knowing her whereabouts initially. the trail she provided helped the brothers to track her, along with other help.

Extreme self-control: Sita was repeatedly wooed by Ravana to become his wife, even the queen of Lanka. It was her extreme self control, and the love for her husband, with which she stood strong and firm on her marriage. One needs nerves of steel to exhibit such strength and dedication.

Long term vision: Sita was subjected to the agnipariksha (trial by fire), which was definitely an insulting practice even then as it is today. She underwent it, not to prove to the world that she was pure, but to finish off all the procedures as fast as possible, put the past back, and to begin a new innings of life, as the Queen of Ayodhya. Doesn’t everyone of us endure something or the other, at some point of time, just that it can be done with, and peace can be maintained?

A brave mother: Sita single handedly gave birth to and reared twins, without any one’s help or care. She was left alone in the forest, where she was lived in a hermitage. And what wonderful fearless boys she raised!! They did not fear taking the proverbial bull by the horns, did not flinch when they came face to face with the mightiest king of those times, and effortlessly decimated those who defeated Ravana himself.. And why would they not?? After all, they grew up watching one brave woman.

Self Respect: Sita was not a docile character which many wish to believe. She was a strong woman who put her respect before anything else. When Rama asked her to do the agnipariksha once, she obliged. When she was “asked to be abandoned” in the forest again, by Rama via Lakshmana, she did not appeal to get back home. She did not use her pregnancy to be the reason for her appeal. She did not go back to Mithila. If Rama had decided to leave her by stealth, so be it. She would live her life in the forest with her newfound freedom. And when Rama asked her to endure an agnipariksha a second time, she refused. No outburst of anger or grief, no emotions were displayed. She just walked off. She chose to go inside the earth (take her own life) instead of living under constant scrutiny and the whims of those times. Don't even the nicest of people have their own boundaries?

Madam Cool: She was a cool player, who played her cards wisely. She did not budge when the society judged her. Maybe, the only things she was a victim of was unfortunate circumstances that led to her kidnapping, and to the “societal impurity”. Too bad, she lived in a society where a woman's purity was (and sadly still is) judged by her interactions with the members of opposite sex. However, her attitude enabled her to be the victor and not the victim. She knew when to talk, and when to walk away. She had never needed to prove her point, and never cared to. She had reared her children well enough to even challenge the undefeatable king of India (Rama himself), so she figured that she could free herself from all worldly responsibilities.

Strong: When she felt that the society was too regressive and her husband was following the society, she threw the society away and walked away. Even if that meant walking away from her husband. The husband with whom she endured her hardships. The husband whom she had loved. The husband whose progeny she bore. She would give her life for him, but if that would mean compromise on her self-respect? No Thanks. At that moment, she reflected what she always was-the embodiment of womanhood. The woman who dared to be herself.

Because, time and again, she chose herself. And that is why, she stands the test of time..