Scheherazade’s Isomorphic Replication: The Narrative Praxis as an Exigency for Sustaining Survival and Political Authority in Amish Tripathi’s Sita: Warrior of Mithila

Abstract

In the evolving landscape of contemporary feminist literary criticism, the reimagining of classical myths provides a fertile terrain for exploring the dynamics of agency, power, and identity. Amish Tripathi’s Sita: Warrior of Mithila represents a significant departure from traditional narratives of the Ramayana, presenting Sita not as a passive emblem of chastity and obedience, but as a proactive agent navigating complex social, ethical, and political landscapes. This paper argues that Tripathi’s Sita exemplifies a modern manifestation of narrative sovereignty, drawing compelling parallels with Scheherazade of One Thousand and One Nights, whose storytelling ensures both survival and empowerment. By employing narrative as a strategic and transformative tool, Sita asserts control over her own fate, negotiates her political environment, and challenges patriarchal structures that seek to limit her autonomy. Through a detailed analysis of her embodiment, ethical agency, and rhetorical engagement, this study examines how Sita’s physical and intellectual capacities are interwoven with her moral and political authority, redefining the parameters of female heroism in mythological storytelling. Furthermore, the paper situates Tripathi’s work within the broader framework of feminist mythography, interrogating how the reconstruction of Sita’s identity destabilizes conventional gender norms and amplifies the discourse on female subjectivity in Indian mythology. By juxtaposing textual analysis with feminist theoretical perspectives, this research highlights the ways in which narrative, embodiment, and political acumen converge to position Sita as both a survivor and a sovereign, ultimately demonstrating that the act of storytelling itself can serve as a radical instrument of empowerment, resistance, and self-determination.