Vidiya Vidiya Ramayanam - an epic injustice

This happened during my MBA days.

On this particular morning, an erudite professor, whose religious affiliation was visible on his forehead, delivered a high-powered lecture on an important topic.  After the lecture, when one of my classmates asked a very basic doubt, the professor laughed and remarked, “Vidiya Vidiya Ramayanam Kettittu Seethaikku Raman Chittappanaanaam” which may loosely be translated as “After listening to Ramayana day in and day out, someone said Rama is Sita’s paternal uncle.”  Generally, this saying is used to mock someone who didn’t listen attentively to what is being said.

I got up and told him that it's actually the other way round.  It denotes someone who listened attentively to what is being said.  He along with some of my classmates laughed at my claim. 

Then I explained...

There is a version of Ramayana wherein it says Sita is the daughter of Ravana:

Legend about Sita's birth

I have reproduced the relevant portion below:

Ravana's daughter: In Sanghadasa's Jaina version of Ramayana, and also in Adbhuta Ramayana, Sita, entitled Vasudevahindi, is born as the daughter of Ravana.  According to this version, astrologers predict that first child of Vidyadhara Maya (Ravana's wife) will destroy his lineage.  Thus, Ravana abandons her and orders the infant to be buried in a distant land where she is later discovered and adopted by Janaka.

Of course, those days, we didn't have Wikipedia to substantiate such claims.  I remember either watching a movie or reading a Amar Chitra Katha comic on Ramayana in which Ravana is shown resting on a couch.  Suddenly, a lotus emerges from his navel in which there is a girl baby.  A celestial voice prophesizes that this girl will be the cause of his death.  Since the girl emerged from his navel, it is presumed that she is his daughter.  I am yet to trace my original source material.  

Now, let's look at Rama.  

Rama had 3 brothers, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna.  During his exile, Rama befriends Guha, the boatman and says, “With you, we have become five brothers.”  Then he meets Sugriva, the vanara king and says, “With you, we have become six brothers.”  Later, Vibhishana, younger brother of Ravana, takes refuge in Rama.  Rama embraces him and says, “With you, we have become seven brothers.”  

Now, if Vibhishana is Rama’s brother, then, technically, Ravana becomes Rama's elder brother.  Since Sita is Ravana’s daughter (according to the legend), Rama then, technically, becomes Sita’s paternal uncle (Chittappa).

When I explained thus, the professor was visibly annoyed but laughed it off by mocking my interpretation.

So, from now on, whenever you hear this saying, “Vidiya Vidiya Ramayanam…”, please remember that it denotes an attentive person who listens to every word of what is being said.

Let’s correct the epic injustice done to this person 😁