Revealing Anxieties and Insecurities of Different Characters of the Ramayana: A Subversive Reading of the Telegu Folk Song “Lakshmana’s Laugh”

Abstract

The existence of countless versions of the Ramayana reflects its massive cultural influence among the general population as well as its tradition of plurality, which has not only enriched mainstream literature, but also added valuable pearls to the folk tradition of the subcontinent and beyond. The folklores humanise the gods and the so-called grand characters of authoritative versions, concentrate on what was missed out in popular narratives, bring to light different aspects of women’s issues, question Rama’s values, sympathise with Sita’s plight and narrate tales related to her wedding, her relationship with Kaushalya, her bittersweet banters with her sister-in-law, and also prioritise the previously ignored characters like Shambuka, Shanta, Urmila, Surpanakha, delineating interesting tales such as the story of Urmila’s sleep, Surpanakha’s evil ploy for sending Sita to lifelong banishment and so on. Oral songs relating several scattered but significant incidents of the Ramayana are an intrinsic part of the Telegu culture. One such song is "Lakshmana’s Laugh", which, under the pretext of Lakshmana’s sudden bursting into laughter, foregrounds the inner conflicts and insecurities of the socalled virtuous figures in mainstream versions, including gods. The sub-themes of this song include Rama’s characterization as a terrible brother, Urmila’s suppressed sexuality and Lakshmana’s indifference to his wife even after a prolonged separation. This paper uses "Lakshmana’s Laugh" as the primary source and intends to make a comprehensive analysis of the core theme and subthemes of the song to point out how the folk narrators, though not in a radical manner, have subverted the traditional mythmakers who have put these characters (e.g., Shiva, Rama, Hanuman, Vibhishana, Bharata) on a pedestal, suggesting that no one is perfect and how these characters, though aware of their follies and limitations, try their best to conceal them.