Feminist retellings of mythology by Kavita Kane

Kane’s second novel, Sita’s Sister is part reality rendition of Ramayan from the perspective of Urmila, Sita’s younger sister and the wife of Lakshman. It is essentially a book that talks about all the women in Ramayana but Urmila comes out as the most influential character, who is headstrong yet calm in the face of adversity and can look at the bigger picture. She comes across as an individual who accepted her situations gracefully, whether it is of being second fiddle to the adopted elder sister Sita or submitting to the fact that her husband would remain committed to his brotherly duties over and above her. Instead of lamenting, she reciprocates by being a source of strength for her loved ones. She is one of the strongest characters in Valmiki’s Ramayana.

(Photo: Rupa Publications India)

Kavita Kane’s debut novel Karna’s Wife: The Outcast’s Queen is a poignant retelling of the epic Mahabharata from the eyes of a lesser-known character Uruvi, the second wife of Karna. The tale explores the multiple facets of Karna, the epitome of moral righteousness, who made all the wrong decisions in life owing to his loyalty to Duryodhana. Uruvi fails to forgive Karna for his transgression after the game of dice in ordering the disrobing of Draupadi. She is portrayed as a headstrong woman as a wife, trying to steer her husband clear of the evil Duryodhan and Shakuni, and as a mother, bringing up her child single-handedly and renouncing the throne of Hastinapur.

(Photo: Rupa Publications India)

Menaka’s choice chronicles the life of the most beautiful apsara in heaven, Menaka. The book is a re-telling of Menaka’s trials and tribulations in her voice. After being constantly demeaned and reduced to a role of seductress, she refuses to be subdued and finally fights for her rights and honour. Menaka demands to be seen as a woman, to be granted the same rights as ‘devis’ and not be seen as mere entertainers in Indra’s court. The book ends with an ultimate statement of empowerment where Menaka reasserts her right to choose.

(Photo: Rupa Publications India)

The novel ‘The Fisher Queen’s Dynasty‘ is the story of Mahabharata from Satyavati’s perspective, the wife of King Shantanu and the step-mother of Bhishma Pitamah. The book explores human contradictions, between sticking to morals and rising in the social ladder through deceit through the character of the Satyavati, fisher-girl who went on to become a queen. Abandoned as a baby, preyed on by a rishi, Satyavati rose in the station to become a queen and the grand matriarch of the Kuru dynasty. The trajectory of the story moves in line with the rise and fall of Satyavati’s fortunes and Bhishm’s sense of idealism. The book sets a daunting example of how one’s decisions and actions can bring consequences in somebody’s life, who is entirely disconnected from their life.

(Photo: Westland)

Through Lanka’s Princess, Kane tells the story from the vantage of Surpanakha, Ravana’s infamous sister, as more hated than hateful. Surpanakha is commonly perceived as ugly and untamed, brutal and brazen. One whose nose was sliced off by an angry Lakshman and the woman behind war but was she a perpetrator or a mere victim is what the book is all about. It unfolds the life of Meenakshi, aka Surpanakha, growing up like a neglected child overshadowed by her brothers, again facing a life of rejection.

(Photo: Rupa Publications India)