The idyll of Rama and Sita comes to an end as the race of the Rakshasas had to be destroyed and the peaceful course of this perfect love was to interrupted.
The story of Shurpanaka who triggers the upheaval in the lives of Rama and Sita is well known. She saw, fell in love with the godlike Rama, proposed and was rebuffed and ridiculed by Rama. She in revenge and to remove the cause of his disregard for her, attempted to carry away Sita. The ever vigilant Lakshamana punished the Rakshasi by cutting off her nose and ears.
As I thought about this episode, a plastic surgery with a different purpose, I chanced to see a documentary on tribal life and found a parallel in it. Later I located the story in the web!
Apatani ladies, in Arunachal pradesh, who in the past were considered so beautiful that they had to have their nose disfigured (with a bamboo plug) to prevent neighbouring tribesmen from kidnapping them. The picture tells us that it was the practice till very recently!Not clear whether Shurpanaka met Rama as herself, who is facially unpleasant one, pot bellied one, wry-eyed one, coppery-haired, ugly featured one, brassy voiced one, deplorably oldish one, crooked talker, ill-mannered one, uncouth one, abominable one (VR), or as a beautiful girl, being able to change her appearance at will!
I see speculations on this, but to me more relevant was the behaviour of both the brothers. They made fun of her and confused her already befuddled mind. The punishment meted out to her was also brutal. It seems in those tribal times, while pretty women had to be protected in as many ways as possible, the unattractive ones had to fend for themselves. Also Shurpanaka was a widow, as her husband was killed by her brother Ravana, the most powerful Rakshasa of those times.
Life surely was not so simple! Is it really any different today?
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