Ever wondered how Rama and Sita endured their long distance relationship while Sita was held captive by Ravana? Arshia Sattar does the wondering for you in her forthcoming book. Drop by at NCPA Today to listen to the author reading excerpts from her work

Author Arshia Sattar explores the tragic love story angle of Ramayana in her forthcoming book. Pic/Ashish Rane

For 25 years, Valmiki's Ramayana has been part of author Arshia Sattar's life, "in larger and smaller doses". She has previously translated The Valmiki Ramayana and now she delves into the tragic love story of Rama and Sita in her forthcoming book of essays, tentatively titled Lost Loves: Exploring Rama's Anguish in The Valmiki Ramayana. The author will read excerpts from her book at an event organised by Chauraha this evening.

The book is based on a rather radical interpretation of Ramayanau00a0- a very personal period of separation. What prompted you to explore this aspect of the text?
I don't think this is a radical interpretation at allu00a0- it's simply another layer of interpretation and pleasure that the text offers us. It's a layer about being human (rather than only being divine) and I find the human aspect of the story very compelling. What could be sadder than being separated from the one that you love the most?

How did you get so involved with Rama and Sita and their tragic love story?
I am deeply involved with the text. It' been a part of life in larger and smaller doses for 25 years u2014 I have to be involved with it and care about it and have opinions about it and want to share it. If you spend that long with any story, it's going to reveal more and more about itself as time goes by. Finding a tragic love story hidden in there was only a matter of time. As for getting involved in the story, who can resist tragic love? More than their separation, their viraha, it is the loss of love itself that is truly tragic.