Book excerpt: Though the story of Rama is much loved and well known, questions remain: Why did Rama agree to go to vanvas-was it only to obey his father or was there more to it? What was the relationship between Rama and Seeta? Was Seeta a pitiable, oppressed woman or an assertive woman with her own mind? Is the Ramayana inherently misogynist? What led to the downfall of Ravan? Ramayana Unravelled attempts to draw out insights from the epic as narrated to Rishi Valmiki to answer these and other such questions. It also explores other aspects of the Ramayana such as the events of Rama's youth that shaped his values as a king, Lakshmana's character, Hanumana's wit and the making of the nala-setu.