RAM: A GOOD HUSBAND? (Pages 66-78) by Ms. Poornima Arora* and Dr. Shuchi Srivastava** in THE ENGLISH RESEARCH EXPRESS / ISSN:2321-1164 (Online); 2347-2642 (Print)

Rama in India is held to be the embodiment of all the great human value that could be contemplated for the sustenance of a great human society. In public estimation, he was an ideal son, an ideal brother, an ideal friend and above all an ideal king. However, he is charged with the stigma that he was not a good husband for having banished his wife, Sita. So the following actions of Lord Rama was questionable: -ama in India is held to be the embodiment of all the great human value that could be contemplated for the sustenance of a great human society. In public estimation, he was an ideal son, an ideal brother, an ideal friend and above all an ideal king. However, he is charged with the stigma that he was not a good husband for having banished his wife, Sita. So the following actions of Lord Rama was questionable: - Rama gave priority to his parents over Sita. Rama asked Sita for Agni Pariksha (A test of immolation). Rama abandoned Sita for the sake of washer man’s objection. Rama gave priority to Kingly duties over Sita..Rama asked Sita for the fire-test again. It was not the lack of his love for Sita or suspicion about her conduct but his extreme sense of duty as a son to his parents and as a king to his subjects that got the upper hand. It was an error of judgement to overlook, the would be plight of exiled Sita who, apart from being very dear, was pregnant. In any case, it was a cruel act and as per general public opinion Ram, as husband, failed in his duty to his wife. He was a husband who, being captive of his own image, could not do otherwise and therefore, despite that cruel act deserves our sympathy and not condemnation for his duty as a husband.Keywords: great human value, great human society, public estimation, ideal son, good husband, test of immolation etc.