Topic Brainstorm: Project


Topic 1: Ravana

Ravana is known as the main antagonist in the story of the Ramayana. He is often associated with the terms evil, conniving, and terrifying. In the Ramayana, Ravana kidnaps Rama's wife Sita in order to exact revenge on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for cutting of the nose of Ravana's sister. I picked this topic because I thought that it would be interesting to delve into and try to understand more about Ravana's character. Sources say that Ravana was a great scholar, ruler, and devote follower of Shiva. However, I would like to understand what circumstances had caused Ravana to commit his actions as well as lead to his eventual demise. If I would retell a story, I would like to do it from Ravana's perspective.

Topic 2: Rama and Sita

Between the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, the Ramayana is probably my favorite Indian Epic. It is story about duty, love, sacrifice, loyalty, and how good triumphs over evil. One of my favorite parts of the Ramayana is story of Rama and Sita. In Indian culture, Rama and Sita are known as the ideal couple as they both love each other and are willing to sacrifice anything for each other. However there is one aspect of their relationship that I would like to look at more closely. After Rama kills Ravana, he brings back Sita to his kingdom where she is ordered to complete an "Agni Pariksha"(translated as trial by fire) in order to prove that she pure. Later on in the Ramayana, Sita is banished from the kingdom by Rama after people begin to doubt her character and purity. These are some aspects of Rama and Sita story that I would like to delve into. Furthermore, if I was retelling this story, I would like to tell this story from Sita's perspective. 

Topic 3: Karna

Karna is probably one of my favorite characters from the Mahabharata. His character is known for traits of loyalty, sacrifice, friendship, and duty. In the Mahabharata, Karna is abandoned in a basket on river by his mother in as he was born out of wedlock. He grows up to become a skilled warrior with incredible abilities. He becomes a loyal friend of Duryodhana and it is because of his friendship with Duryodhana that he sides with him during the Mahabharata war. One of my favorite aspects of Karna's character is his loyalty to Duryodhana and I would like to gain more information about their friendship and see their story through Karna's perspective.

Topic 4: Dharma

A concept that seems very prevalent in Indian culture is dharma. This concept is seen throughout both the Ramayana and Mahabharata as most of the characters are trying to fulfill their dharma (translated duty or destiny). For example, in the Ramayana, Rama is tries constantly trying to fulfill his dharma of being an obedient son, righteous ruler, and being a faithful husband. I would like to understand more about this concept of dharma, its origins and how one justifies their actions through their dharma. If I would use this topic then I would like to discuss the dharma of one of the characters from the epics.


                                                                  Image Details: Dharma, Source: flickr


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