Feminine Perspective In Select Works
of
Amish Tripathi
Project Report Submitted To
Shri Vaishnav Institute Of Social Sciences, Humanities And Arts
In The Partial Fullfillment Of
Bachlor Of Arts.
Supervisor Submitted By
Pamila Neema Nitish Patel
Assistant Professor BA(Hons.)
rd
Department Of Humanities 3 Year/ V Semester
SVVV,, Indore.
Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya
2019-20
1
Introduction-
Amish Tripathi (born 18 October 1974) is an Indian author, known for his works
The Immortals of Meluha, The Secret of the Nagas, The Oath of the
Vayuputras, Scion of Ikshvaku ,Sita: Warrior of Mithila and Ravan:Enemy of
Aryavartha and many more.The first three books collectively comprise the Shiva
Trilogy and the later three are the first three books of the Ram Chandra Series .
Born on 18 October 1974 in Mumbai, India. He belonged to a middle-class family,
who encouraged the religious and worldly learning. Since a very early age he was a
voracious reader. One of his favorite subjects was history. Belonging to a
traditional bourgeois family, he had to make a career choice that would support his
family in the long run. Although he had a keen interest in history and longed to be
a historian, he did not follow his dream owing to the perpetual financial struggle
that the profession would entail. Upon graduation from St. Xavier’s College,
Mumbai, in Science, Tripathi went on to study Business Administration. He
received his MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. For fourteen
years he worked in the field of finance as marketing and product manager at
multiple firms, including Standard Chartered, DBS Bank and IDBI Federal Life
Insurance. His writing career began with a philosophical debate inspired by an
interesting piece of knowledge he and his family discovered on a television show.
They found out that there is a contradiction in the Indian and Persian religious
myths as the Indian gods were considered devas and demons asuras. Whereas, the
pre-Islamic Zoroastrian Persian myth had it reserved; ahuras were their gods and
demons daivas. The clash of the concept of good and evil in these mythologies
stimulated his interest to determine what exactly is evil. At the encouragement of
his family, he put down the philosophical thesis on paper. Shortly, the thesis was
transformed into an adventure story of a Hindu god Shiva. It took Tripathi nearly
five years to finish the book.
Amish Tripathi had started his journey from writing a Shiva Triology series. The
first novel of Shiva Trilogy is The Immortals of Meluha, was published in
February 2010. The second book in the series, The Secret of the Nagas, was
released on 12 August 2011, and the third and final installment, titled The Oath of
the Vayuputras, was released on 27 February 2013.The trilogy is a fantasy re-
2
imagining of the Indian deity Lord Shiva's life and his adventures, and it is widely
gaining popularity.
After the huge success of Shiva Triology Amish had written his second series
named Ramchandra series. The first novel of this series is Scion of Ikshvaku
which was released on 22 June 2015. Like the Shiva Trilogy this one is also a
fantasy re-imagining of the Indian Epic Ramayana.Sita: Warrior of Mithila which
was released on 29 May 2017. This was the second book of Ramchandra series.
Amish published his next book Raavan- Enemy of Aryavarta on 1st July 2019.
He has earned many awards and nominations to his credit such as Kalinga
International Literary Award 2018, Forbes Celebrity 100 List 2017, Icon of the
Year Award 2017, Pride of India 2014 and 2015, 50 Most Influential Young
Indians 2015, Society Young Achievers Award for Literature in 2013 etc.
Feminine perspective of Amish Tripathi-
Amish Tripathi’s novel shows that he believes in feminism. He shows his female
characters in his novel and there is a strong compare to their real life what we
emarginated through other literatures.
Amish have balanced feminism in his books. Though the women characters have
to suffer a lot, they shine themselves by their views and bravery. Amish portrayed
beautifully two ways of life with their own strengths and weaknesses.
In the Shiva Trilogy, Sati, Ayurvati, Krittika, Kanakhala, Kali, uma, Veerni,
Anandhmayi are the major female characters – each one of them is dexterous,
independent professional and powerful.
In the Ramachandra series, Sita, Kaikeyi, Kaushalya, Sumitra, Manthara are the
major female characters.
3
Review of related literature-
1.Rakesh Prasad Pandey Research Scholar, Department Of English and Prof.
Shubha Tiwari, Prof. & Head, Dept. Of English. Analytical Representation of Sita
and Concept of Rajdharm in Amish Tripathi's Sita: Warrior of Mithila has
reseacghed that in the Ramachandra series, Sita: Warrior of Mithila is the second
book of Amish Tripathi. Sita is the protagonist of the novel and Ram, Lakshman
and avrious characters are minor characters. Unlike Valmiki’s Ramayana, sita
expressed the idea of the welfare state and how a leader can ensure the well-being
of loved ones. Sita of Valmiki in Ramayana is a solid and wonderful lady who did
not reserved far from bringing matters into her own hands, a quick to our
impression of the front line lady. Where Amish Tripathi’s Sita considers fight
among lady rights. Sita of Amish Tripathi in the novel is wonderful in association
with the Sita depicted by Maharshi Valmiki in Ramayana to the degree genuine
case of present day society of India.
Sita was very curious to get bow of Ruler Shiva has a spot attached with
Janaka which was very difficult to lift for serious and exuberant male, even. In
Ramayana Sita is a young woman of land where as in Sita: warrior of Mithila is a
young woman of road because Sita’s mother Sunaina got Sita on the road of a
forest in a pouch where a vulture is saving the pouch from wolves. Valmiki’s
Ramayana and Amish Ttipath’s Sita has same work in the Swayamvar of Sita but
in Amish tripathi’s Sita shows more cleverer for this condition of swayamvar than
Valmiki’s Sita. A portrayal of female characteristics in both writings are similer.
In Valmiki’s Ramayna, Sita is sensitive and has solid confirmation where as Sita of
Amish Tripathi is adaptable lady of present day occasions.
2. Deshmukh, Dwivedi & R. & J.P. (2017). Deconstructing feminist ethics in
Amish Tripathi's Shiva Trilogy. IUP Journal of English Studies in observe that in
Shiva Triology Amish Tripathi first writing was “Immortals of Meluha” where
Sati, Ayurvati, Krittika, Kanakhala, Kali, Uma, Veerni, Anandhmayi are
introduced as a female characters. Sati’s character in the novel is quite contrast to
that of the myths. In this novel Sati is considered as she born with bad karma and is
a person who is punished for her previous birth bad deed. Shiva’s love for Sati
brings in a hope of miracle to be happy for the rest of her life. Sati live all the
deprivation behind and she dedicated all her soul for Shiva’s love but sati never
4
wanted her bad deeds affect Shiva’s life as she is vikarma. Sati is a multi- talented
and follower of Dharma, being the daughter of the emperor Daksha she never over
lured the law to her favour, she believed following Dharma she can be righteous to
the meluhans. She is a great warrior being a vikarma she wasn't allowed to touch
anyone but nothing could stop her from protecting her citizen. She was a skilled
sward fighter, even shiva envayed and adored her sword fighting skills, he always
appreciated her posture and perfection while he saw her practicing.
There is one female character also present called Ayurvati; she is the first female
introduced in the novel, she is a head state doctor, she is consider very skilled and
experienced in the field of medicine and also highly respected by the Meluhans.
Ayurvati saved sati from death bed. She was a dedicated and committed doctor
who always accompanied Shiva and Sati in their battle field. In this novel the
author has shown both women and men in equally strong and traditionally modern,
there has been long support from the family and society in improvement if their
position and status. They are encouraged to set a new role and accept new
challenges on their way and set as an example for the future generation.
3.In view of Dr. Manisha Dwivedi H.O.D. Dept. of English from Dr. C.V.
Raman University Kota, Bilaspur (C.G.) highlights Amish Tripathi’s views
where he says “I make my women characters very strong”.
According to her Amish Tripathi, is a recognized contemporary Indian fiction
writer for his highly renowned Shiva Trilogy. His Shiva Trilogy being rejected by
20 publishers became the fastest selling book series in the history of Indian
publishing. Amish has portrayed the status of female characters in his writings
which equivalently enjoyed by the women in vedic age. Amish shows the status of
women refers to her position in the network of social role stucture, privilegegs,
rights and duties. The status of Hindu women in India has been fluctuating.
Amish successfully show the female character of his novel similar to the Rig-
vedic society which was free society. Female were as free as their male
counterparts. At that time education was equally open for both boys and girls. Girls
studied the Veda and fine arts which is very true in case of Ayurmati who is Lady
and an experienced professional doctor who is adept in the prescription of
5
medicine as well as in the conduct of surgery. Women shared an equal standing
with their men. There were women teachers, scholars, Brahmavadins and highly
respected rishis. There were women warriors with bows and swords. Woman take
particiapte in battel with their man as well. There is a mention of a certain warrior
Queen Vishpla who lost her leg in battle and was fitted with a metallic prosthesis;
she returned to battle and continued to fight. In ‘The Immortals of Meluha’ Amish
have portrayed Sati as the female fiercest warrior. When Shiva visited the temple
and met Sati for the first was suddenly attacked by the unknown enemy there
Shiva considering Sati as female tried to protect her but he got surprised by
looking at that Lady in the pose of trained warrior protecting herself as well as her
attendant. On being attacked ‘Shiva drew his sword and stretched out his left hand
protectively, to pull the object of his fascination behind him. She however deftly
side-stepped his protective hands, reached into the folds of her angvastram and
drew out her own sword. Surprised, Shiva flashed her a quick, admiring smile.’
(pg.51, Amish, Immortals).
Sati was also very good in dancing as vedic woen mastered in several disciplines
of fine arts that included vocal and instrumental musicc and dance. In general
women were not discriminated against merely on grounds of gender. They were
given the equal rights of administration too.
4. Meera.Mand, Anjali.S.Nair and Meera B. in Concealed Countenances: A Re-
Conceptualization of Sita in Amish Tripathi’s Sita: Warrior of Mithila and Volga’s
Liberation of Sita view that myths are the traditional stories passed on from
generations which have remained alluring mysterious and influential. The fluidity
of the myths helps the writers to reshape and modify them so as to make it realistic
gaining more transparency to the characters and incidents. Feminism is concerned
with the rights for women in political, social, economic, medical and personal
struggles for women’s equality. Though there are many heroines in the real world,
these ventures hadn’t made as big impression in the intellectual spheres.
Sita is no exception, who is considered an epitome of ‘ideal womanhood’. Sita’s
origin is dubious as she was found from earth and disappears back to her mother
earth. She was a child abandoned by her biological parents and was raised by King
Janak of Mithila. We don’t know what would have happened to her if she was not
found by him. Thus the episodes in Sita’s life were out of sheer luck or bad luck.
6
From pre modern times women are subjects of conquests as in the representation of
Ramayana where Sita surrenders to the choices made by her life. While Ram is
known under the title “the ruler of Kosala” Sita is not addressed as Queen or
Princess. She is often belittled as the wife of Ram. Thus, women lacked identity
but at the same time they were happy and privileged to be named after their
husbands Sita’s identity remained an enigma till she was married to Ram. She
gained more individuality when she chooses to go with Ram in exile to the forest,
and gives up a privileged life for her husband. Her perceptions and views towards
life evolve from the circumstances she encountered through her life’s journey.
Even when Sita was abducted by Ravan she was representative of a weak woman
who weeps helplessly for her husband. But none tries to view a strong and willful
woman who also questions some of the choices that are made for her towards her
end.
Rationale:
Indian cultural traditions are male dominated, hardly giving any scope to women to
exercise their fulfillment of desires and development of identity which they claim
of their own. There are two areas of study as far as woman writing is concerned-
one is how women is described in the male-dominated society in his literary
works, and the kind of revelation they make about their own role and the second is
to study the way of their expression.
Amish Tripathi attempts to give due space to women in human society where she
is marginalized since time immemorial. His works present evolution of women,
emergence of her as a combatant and quest for her better position in the world.
Objectives:
1. To evaluate patriarchal bondages in contemporary era.
2. To review feminine position in old Indian period called Tretayug.
3. To evaluate the development of character of Sita as a warrior.
7
Research Methodology:
In order to achieve the objectives of the research work to be held, a qualitative
research will be done. The methodology for the research work will be descriptive
analytical.
This methodology will broadly emphasize the collecting of data in relation to the
theme of the research work which centers on Feminine perspective of characters,
quest for identity and Socio-psychological Concerns.
The Division of Chapters:
The proposed chapterization will be as under:
Introduction :
Chapter I: - Social Issues in Ancient Indian Society
This chapter will focus on the social relationships of the characters of her novels in
the contemporary society.
Chapter II : Amish Tripathi as an artist of Feminine values
This chapter will exhibit feminine values in the novels of Amish Tripathi.
Chapter III: - Traditional versus Post modern perspective toward female’s position
This chapter will discuss about the traditional and modern inclination towards
female’s position.
Chapter IV: - Emergence of Sita as a Warrior
This chapter will exhibit the evolution of character of Sita.
Conclusion
8
Tools for data collection:
The selected novels and reference books will be discussed in light of the concerned
aspects of the research and will be descriptively analyzed to achieve various
objectives of the research. Textual study of the novels would be undertaken. The
information will be accessed through various articles, books, internet and
interviews.
9
References:
Primary Sources:
Tripathi, Amish. The Immortals of Meluha. New Delhi: Westland ltd, 2010. Print.
Tripathi,Amish. Ram: Scion of Ikshvaku, Westland Press, New Delhi, 2015. Print.
Tripathi, Amish.Ram Chandra Series: Sita: warrior of Mithila.Westland Press,
New Delhi, 2017. Print.
Secondary Sources:
Mand, Meera, Nair,S,Anjali, B.,Meera. Concealed Countenances: A Re-
Conceptualization of Sita in Amish Tripathi’s Sita: Warrior of Mithila and Volga’s
Liberation of Sita.IJITEE.ISSN:2278-3075, Volume-8. Issue-7C May 2019.Print.
Dwivedi, Manisha. Reflection Of Vedic Age In Women Character Of Amish
Tripathi’s ‘The Immortals Of MeluhA’. Vol. 4. Issue.2. 2017: 256-258.Print.
Pandey,Prasad,Rakesh. Tiwari Shubha. Analytical Representation of Sita and
Concept of Rajdharm in Amish Tripathi's Sita: Warrior Of Mithila.
IJELLH.ISSN:2321-7065.Volume 7, Issue 4, April 2019:935-948.Print.
Kumari Neha, Kumar Rajesh. The Correlation of Myth and Feminism as Presented
in Amish Tripathi’s.The Criterion: An International Journal in English Vol. 8,
Issue-IV, August 2017 ISSN: 0976-8165.Print.
Velvizhi M. Revived Reverence: A Reading of Reminiscence in Amish Tripathi’s
Shiva Trilogy. Language in India www.languageinindia.com ISSN 1930-2940 18:2
February 2018.Print.
Deshmukh, Rakhi, Dwivedi, Jaya.Deconstructing Feminist Ethics in Amish
Tripathi's Shiva Trilogy. IUP Journal of English Studies. Print.
Shiny.S.V. Rig-Vedic Replications of Feminism in Amish Tripathi’s The
Immortals of Meluha. IJELLH (International Journal of English Language,
Literature in Humanities) Vol. 7, Issue 3, March 2019.Print.
10
Anjanamol, P. New Image of Women: A Comparison between the Heroines and
Other Female Characters of Amish Tripathi and Jaishree Misra. Language in India
www.languageinindia.com ISSN 1930-2940 18:3 March 2018.Print.
Chandana, B. Social Reformation, Love and Feminine Virtuosity in the Novel ‘The
Immortals of Meluha’ by Amish Tripathi. JETIR June 2019, Volume 6, Issue 6
www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162).Print.
11
