My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Tripathi has done it once again- restructured ancient mythology to suit modern preferences- making history so much more colourful and sensible!
The first in the Ram Chandra series, it perceptibly has Amish’s magical storytelling. Indians undeniably grow up listening to
stories from ancient epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Some read the
original version while others read it year after year. In fact, there are times when Hindus dedicate
an entire month to read the Ramayana (that concluded on August 16, this year,
according to Malayalam calendar). Being a Malayali, I keenly observed my
grandmother reading it bit by bit every single day and finally flipping through
the last 5-8 pages today. It is said that reciting Ramayana during this month
leads to blessings being showered upon the next seven generations by the
almighty.
Keeping the myths aside, I did think of it from a new angle.
It is probably said so because of the wisdom shared in it that echoes with present
situations as well.
But not all have the patience to muster up the courage to
read mythology. Some find it boring and too unrealistic, thanks to the televised
programmes on TV that most Indians grew up watching. But the less genuine looking
bows and arrows in those programmes apart, there is so much that Amish shows
the reader. He humanizes the so-called “Gods” and then lets the reader decide
why they were placed on such pedestals in the first place.
Amish breathes life into Ram, Sita, Lakshman and the other
characters and the kingdom of Ayodhya, Mithila and Lanka. Readers would be captured
by the sheer brilliance of architecture and intelligence that took place while
planning cities of olden-days.
The way Amish merges the past and present together is indeed
a craft. Critics may say that he has distorted history by way of bringing
instances of Mahabharata in Ramayana in the part where he wrote about Sita
Swayamvar. But it must be kept in mind that he never claimed it to be the real
version.
It remains an essential read for the dose of
philosophy tinged with humour, suspense and a warm feeling that leaves the reader
wanting for more. This surely seems to be another feather in Amish’s hat with
the previous ones sitting proudly, added thanks to his Shiva Trilogy.
What caught this reviewer off guard was his art of merging
current issues into his story as well as providing very clear-headed solutions
to them, providing food for thought to a person who would not in his living
hours have got a moment off to think about “dharma” or “karma”. But that is
what he always does- he makes one think, deeply. Glimpses of the Nirbhaya
gangrape case flashes into the mind of the reader during an instance in the
story. His weaving of the modern into the ancient is worth appreciation. Coming
to that, he makes the ancient look not so ancient anymore.
His writing seems to be his way of standing up against
inequality and gender bias. Cheers to Amish for presenting a mythological epic with
copious doses of present issues sprinkled, often challenging, faced by the
society in the 21st century.
This is the first in the Ram Chandra Series and the disappointment when reading "To be continued..." is regretted.
To be continued... ;)
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