Rescripting Womanhood through Myth in Amish Tripathi’s Narrative

This paper critically examines Amish Tripathi’s Sita: Warrior of Mithila as a transformative feminist text that reclaims the mythological figure of Sita from the margins of traditional patriarchy and repositions her as an empowered, autonomous, and pragmatic agent of change. Situated within the framework of Indian mythology and philosophical traditions, the study explores how Tripathi subverts long-standing patriarchal archetypes by constructing Sita as a warrior, stateswoman, and ethical thinker. Drawing upon indigenous concepts such as the purusha–prakriti dyad, the narrative challenges the binary and hierarchical gender constructs often reinforced in mainstream Ramayana retellings. By aligning Sita with prakriti, the ever-changing, creative force of nature, and presenting her partnership with Ram (purush) as a model of cosmic balance, Tripathi advances a culturally embedded feminist paradigm rooted in harmony, not conflict. Through textual analysis and comparative mythological references, the study reveals how Sita: Warrior of Mithila not only disrupts conventional representations of womanhood but also redefines Indian feminism as a dynamic synthesis of tradition, myth, and contemporary relevance. In doing so, it proposes that mythic retellings can serve as potent tools for feminist reimagination and cultural renewal.