Ram on Ram

Lately, Ram Jethmalani has been in news for saying that Lord Ram was not a good husband. It has hurt the sentiments of all Hindus who have raised hue and cry. Today's paper says "Seer offered Rs. 5 lakhs to whoever spits on Jethmalani for calling Ram a bad hubby" (don't ask me which Seer, I have no idea).

All this has set me thinking. I always had this doubt and it has reared its ugly head again. True, Lord Ram has been a obedient son, an ideal ruler and might be an ideal father. But what about his duty as an husband? Did he really fulfil it? They say he was an ideal husband because he didn't remarry but is that the only requirement of an ideal husband?

Naticharami or simply put "till death do us apart" is part of Hindu marriage ritual. Isn't the husband supposed to take care of his wife, come what may? He is supposed to forgive her short-comings and support and lead her on the righteous path. And in case of Sita, the short-coming was not hers to begin with.

A wife who followed you to your exile, stood on your side when you were facing hardships, is this how one repays her? A friend, who stands by you in tough times, gets a better treatment, shouldn't a wife be on-par if not above that treatment. Ok, since he was from royal family and had an obligation towards his family and kingdom, he made her take the "agnipariksha", before accepting after rescuing her from Ravana. Shouldn't that count? Why leave her in the forest, just because some of his subjects had doubts? As an husband, isn't he supposed to shut their mouths, not by abandoning her but by being on her side? So if he couldn't convince others, shouldn't he have rejected the crown and kingdom and left with Sita? It turns out he was just as power-hungry as the next guy!!!

I am not saying Ram was not great or anything, just that he was not that great a husband, if you ask me.