Week 9 Reading Notes: Ideal Indian Women Part A

Damayanti and the swan (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Savitri has a radiance worthy of a goddess. Still, her dazzling beauty so impressed the possible suitors that no one asked her to marry. After fasting and purifying herself, she went to her father, who was sorry to see her without a husband, and told her to go and find the man of her choice. And she did. I feel like Savitri knows what she wants, and she’s confident. When she finally returned from her quest, she chose a young man named Satyavant, son of Dyumatsena, king of the Salva. He was blind, had lost his kingdom, which had been taken over by a neighbor. Unfortunately, this handsome, peaceful, gentle, benevolent, modest, and resolute young man was promised to die in one year. This news did not discourage Savitri, who was determined to remain faithful to her commitment and husband. Later, she saved her husband.

It would be interesting to write about how she’s coping with her husband’s inevitable death or how she’s coping with the recovery.

 

The way I imagined Damayanti is very cliché. I see her relationship with Nala as the high school sweetheart one. Nala is the popular jock, and Damayanti, the popular cheerleader captain. They’re obviously elected as the prom king and queen. And then, they go to the same university, both in a sorority and fraternity. I know that their story is not as romanticized, but it’s just how I imagined their story in the 21^st century – and of course, without the four gods’ choice.

 

Bibliography: Ideal Indian Women by Sunity Devee