O dear, O dear! The ebullient Ms Perera's attempts to adapt the mythological tale 'The Ramayana' for modern day in her novel 'Do The Right Thing' just proves how impossible the task really is. All the usual suspects are there: Sita has been transformed into flawless beauty-cum-top-management-consultant Chita who cannot see the devilish intent of Ravana (Sam Raven) in stealing her away from dutiful husband Shyam (Rama). Even brother-in-law Lakshman is present in the form of good-looking-but-guileless Lucky.

Thankfully Perera spares us the myriad of mythical animal characters, although I was trying to spot which character would be monkey-god Hanuman - able to jump across vast seas in a single leap. In the original tale Hanuman's role is critical in freeing Sita from the imprisonment in Ravana's island lair Lanka, but trying to find a contemporary version might have been a little contrived in 'Do The Right Thing'.

The intent of the book, I presume, was to explore not only 'The Ramayana', but also the difference between 'right' and 'righteousness'. The author's dedication to Anyusha and Tushara, admonishing them to "Be right, not righteous" sets the scene. Certainly the topic is a contemporary one. As belief in religion declines, is society setting to great an emphasis on being "right" than being "righteous", i.e. socially correct versus being morally virtuous?

In Perera's tale she uses 'The Ramayana' tale as a foil to argue her case that being "right" is more important than being "righteous" in Western Culture. But this fails to highlight why "righteousness" has been held in such esteem in Eastern philosophy for so long. Bound as it is with "duty" and "honour" is "righteousness" now completely out of fashion?

Ultimately, Perera's book adheres too closely to the structure of the original 'Ramayana' tale, failing to argue to point of either case in the "right v righteousness' philosophical debate. This merely results in showing just how ludicrous Hindu mythology appears when set in a modern day context. As the original is well-known, I hope that I am not revealing the plot when I say that the slaying of Raven is absurd and the Shyam's denial of his sons - Rustem and Sashi shows a peculiar brand of piety that the original character would never have displayed.

Perera's tale has a self-absorbed Chita, interested in stretching her virtue to limit whilst at the same time challenging the reader to denounce her flirtatiousness in her dealings with Sam Raven. Everyone knows that accepting expensive gifts like a fur coat from an admirer, and then protesting that you were unaware of his intent is hypocrisy. She does not stop there. Chita accepts expensive travel and holidays in his skiing lodge while arguing that it was imperative to her job and, anyway, her husband did not mind. Chita's character is deeply flawed and in no way reflects the purity of Sita's. She wonders how "Shyam, of all people, could have behaved like that" when he leaves her. In the next breath acknowledging that she is implicated in Sam's death because "he'd lied and schemed and cheated, but every step of the way she had foolishly given him the benefit of the doubt where someone else might have known better".

Husband Shyam, in turn, has none of the strength of character that Rama has. Let us not forget that, in the original tale, the trio are banished into the forest because of the jealousy of Queen Kaikeyi who wanted the Ayodhya throne for her own son, the second-born Bharata. Even when Bharata invites Rama back to rightfully claim his throne, the latter is loath to renege on the promise made by his dying father that gave the crown to his brother. Rama is all about righteousness, even when this affects his own personal happiness. Shyam on the other hand is just weak. Unable to accept that his wife is attracted to Sam Raven, he puts up no fight in trying to keep her with him, being prodded out of apathy by his brother Lucky only when all seems nearly lost.

Like the original, however, he is beset with suspicion that Chita has deceived him with Raven. He rescues her, slays Raven and then returns to India leaving her to bring up their two sons. In the original Sita proves her innocence by throwing herself into a funeral pyre only to have fire-goddess Agni return her from the flames claiming her to be pure and telling Rama that he should keep his wife. In 'Do The Right Thing' however, Shyam does not do the right thing. Perera merely has Shyam leave and Chita become a single-mum, struggling to bring them in trendy North London!

'The Ramayana' does not have a fairy tale ending, but in this book Perera tries hard to give the reader the happy ending that romantic novels need. But with a naïve, shallow Chita (Sita) and spineless Shyam (Rama) as the two lovers, the reader probably does not care what happens in the end.

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