Not a Damsel but a Defender: Sita’s Stand for Gender Equality in Warrior of Mithila

Abstract

Amish Tripathi’s Sita: Warrior of Mithila offers a compelling re-envisioning of one of Indian mythology’s most revered female figures, Sita, repositioning her not merely as a passive symbol of virtue and obedience, but as a formidable warrior and strategic leader. In doing so, Tripathi significantly departs from traditional renderings of Sita in Valmiki’s Ramayana, challenging longstanding patriarchal frameworks that have historically circumscribed the roles and representations of women in ancient Indian epics. This research article critically examines Tripathi’s narrative as a deliberate act of mythopoeic intervention—one that reclaims and reconfigures mythological space to foreground questions of gender, agency, and empowerment. Through a close analysis of the novel’s narrative structure, characterisation, and thematic patterns, the study investigates how Tripathi reconstructs Sita’s identity in alignment with contemporary feminist sensibilities while still situating her firmly within the moral and metaphysical framework of Indian mythology. The paper explores how the protagonist’s portrayal as a self-determined, intellectually astute, and physically adept figure not only disrupts traditional binaries of femininity and masculinity but also redefines heroism itself. Furthermore, this article considers the broader implications of this retelling for current discourses on gender equality and cultural reinterpretation. It argues that Tripathi’s text does not simply modernise Sita for popular appeal; rather, it participates in a critical cultural project of rescripting canonical narratives to accommodate the evolving aspirations and ideological commitments of contemporary society. In doing so, Sita: Warrior of Mithila serves as a productive site where mythology and feminist thought intersect, creating space for empowered female representations that resonate with modern readers while remaining rooted in Indic narrative traditions.