This book contains the following stories:
The Ramayana is an ancient Indian epic that tells the story of Prince Rama's quest to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana. Along with the Mahabharata, it forms the Hindu Itihasa. The epic is divided into seven books or sections, and it is rich with characters, adventures, and moral lessons. Here's a basic plot outline:
Book 1: Balakanda The story begins with the birth of Rama, the prince of Ayodhya, and his early years. It introduces the characters, including Rama, his brothers (Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna), his father King Dasharatha, and his stepmother Queen Kaikeyi. Rama's marriage to Sita is arranged.
Book 2: Ayodhyakanda Rama is declared as the heir to the throne, which angers Queen Kaikeyi who had earlier secured two boons from King Dasharatha. She demands that her son Bharata be crowned king instead and that Rama be sent into exile for fourteen years. Rama willingly accepts the exile and goes to the forest accompanied by his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana.
Book 3: Aranyakanda The story shifts to the forest, where Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana live as ascetics. They encounter various sages, demons, and creatures of the forest. One of the most well-known episodes in this book is the kidnapping of Sita by Ravana, who takes her to his kingdom of Lanka (modern-day Sri Lanka).
Book 4: Kishkindhakanda Rama befriends Hanuman, a devoted monkey warrior, and forms an alliance with the monkey king Sugriva. They help Sugriva reclaim his kingdom from his brother Vali. Hanuman embarks on a journey to Lanka to locate Sita.
Book 5: Sundarakanda Hanuman reaches Lanka, finds Sita, and delivers Rama's message to her. He then wreaks havoc in Lanka to demonstrate Rama's strength and determination. After his mission is accomplished, Hanuman returns to Rama with information about Sita's whereabouts.
Book 6: Yuddhakanda Rama, along with an army of monkeys and bears, prepares for a battle against Ravana to rescue Sita. A fierce battle takes place, and Ravana's forces are defeated. Rama confronts Ravana in a climactic battle and ultimately kills him. Sita undergoes a trial by fire to prove her purity, emerging unscathed.
Book 7: Uttarakanda Rama and Sita return to Ayodhya after their exile. However, doubts about Sita's chastity arise among the people due to her time spent in Ravana's captivity. Rama, despite his love for Sita, reluctantly banishes her to the forest. She seeks refuge in the earth, and a divine voice exonerates her. Rama and Sita are reunited, and their rule is marked by prosperity.
The Ramayana is not just a tale of heroism and adventure but also a source of moral and ethical teachings. It explores themes of duty, honor, loyalty, and the triumph of good over evil.
A Little Princess
Hodgson Burnett's tale of a wealthy little girl sent to boarding school in London who falls out of favour when Daddy's wealth disappears is a lesson in coping with changing fortunes. Sara Crewe is sent to a girl's boarding school whilst her her wealthy father, Captain Ralph Crewe, goes off to fight in the Boer War. Sara is initially treated like a princess at the school due to her wealth and status. She is well-loved by her classmates and Miss Minchin, the headmistress, who showers her with attention and luxurious accommodations. Pretty and rich Sara is the favourite of all, but still manages to be kind and thoughtful. When news comes that her father is dead and the money gone, Miss Minchen, the boarding mistress, does not feel she can throw Sara out so she makes her a housemaid, shifting her to the attic with the existing maid. Sara's imagination keeps both her fellow maid and herself sane. In the rooftops they befriend the Indian servant of the man who lives next door. It is through this friendship that Sara is discovered by the friend of her father and rescued from the clutches of the evil boarding mistress. And the servant girl is saved too (although Burnett still keeps her in her place as Sara's servant...).