The Other Woman

There was an old fellow of Lyme
Who lived with three wives at one time.
When asked, 'Why the third?'
He replied, 'One’s absurd,
And bigamy, sir, is a crime.'

Polygyny is a male trait. It is a biological imperative. Males need to spread their seed far and wide. Females need a strong mate to help raise their offspring, so they choose the best possible mate and tend not to stray. This is so for animals and humans.

Kings and noblemen had multiple wives and odalisques. These multiple marriages were mostly political alliances. What better way to ally with another kingdom than by marrying the princess? Even Yudhishtira, my favourite character in Mahabharata, had a second wife, a political expedient.

Now, monogamy is the norm. There is legislation that makes monogamy the only option. Where once it was perfectly acceptable for a man to have many wives if he could support them, it is now illegal to have more than one wife.

But that doesn't mean human nature changes. Men will still indulge in multiple relationships if they have a chance to do so, whether it is a one-night stand or a long-lasting affair. Literature and films have explored this theme of fascination for the forbidden, time and again. Adultery, affairs and eternal triangles are stock themes.

One woman is then, the Other Woman. She is usually called the home-breaker. She is frowned upon.

Whenever I consider the Other Woman, I think of Rangajamma.

She was a courtesan and court poetess. She was accomplished in arts and could compose spontaneous poetry. Her Mannarudasa Vilasam was a blatantly sycophantic deification of her king, Vijayaraghava Nayaka. She caught the fancy of the king, enchanted him with her wit, and he took to spending all his time with her, making her his unofficial wife.

The Queen was miffed, and sent a snippy message. Rangajamma's amused reply was an extempore poem.

"E vanital mamum dalapa nemipano? Tamaaruduvaarugaaro? Valapinchu nerperungaro? Tama kougitilona nundagaa raavademiraa vijayaraaghava yanchiludoori balmiche deevarakattenai penagi deesukuvachitinaa talodari?"

"Why need any woman take my name? Is she not a woman? Does she not know how to beguile? Have I broken into her house and wrested him away from her embrace like a shrew?"


Cheers!