Sita: Daughter of the Earth is a popular Indian graphic novel that is based on the Hindu epic Ramayana. It is published and distributed by Campfire Graphic Novels in the year 2010. The full colour 96 Pages graphic novel is created by Saraswati Nagpal and illustrated by Manikandan. Saraswati Nagpal, the author of Sita: Daughter of the Earth was born in 1980 in Dubai. Initially she wrote plays, stories, and poetry during her days in high school and college and eventually struggled hard to start writing graphic novels. Manikandan has portrayed Ravana and other characters in a different and innovative manner. Sita: Daughter of the Earth retells the story of Ramayana from the point of view of Sita and how she grew up and eventually married Rama, the Prince of Ayodhya. The graphic novel contains top notch illustrations with vibrant colours presented through gripping and narrative panels.
Content of Sita: Daughter of the Earth
The main plot of the graphic novel Sita: Daughter of the Earth is adapted on the story of Ramayana that is in the ancient era when gods and goddesses walked with the mortals. The character of Sita is a caring, compassionate and intelligent princess of the kingdom of Videha. In a Swayamvara ceremony, princess Sita was married to prince Rama of Ayodhya. A short period after her marriage, Sita, along with her husband Rama and brother-in-law Lakshmana, was compelled to go on exile fro 14 years in the forests of Dandaka and Panchavati. Sita`s journey in life takes her from happiness to suffering.
Sita had to sacrifice the luxury of royal comforts and live in the forest in a harsh life, where danger frequently lurked in every shadow. In the course of the story, Sita is abducted by Demon King Ravana of the Kingdom of Lanka. Ravana forms an evil plan and hides her away in Lanka. Rama, along with Laksmana, and helped by Hanuman and the Vanaras, sets off on a quest to rescue his wife from the clutches of the demon Ravana. Finally Rama faces-off with Ravana and defeats him in a grand battle.
After the couple returned to their kingdom, Sita was again forced to a life of exile and was rescued by Rishi Valmiki. Sita stayed with him in his hermitage and gave birth to 2 sons, Lava and Kusha. Sita raised her children alone, who eventually were united with their father. After they were accepted by Rama, Sita took refuge in the arms of her mother Bhumi (Earth).
Sita: Daughter of the Earth is a touching tale of love, honour, and sacrifice which reveals Sita`s strength in a merciless world.
