Trust Amish to turn a well-known story on its head and get away with it as well. That's why we see Ram, the eldest son of King Dashrath, the apple of his eye by all accounts, depicted as the one least favored by him - just because he was born at the same time Dashrath was defeated by the Lankan king Ravan in the battle at Karachapa. That's why Manthara is a rich merchant lady instead of a lowly maid in the palace. And that's why Sita is a brave warrior who also happens to be the prime minister at her father's kingdom instead of a meek shy wife following every one of her husband's orders. What can I say? I like this version much better.
I have always preferred Mahabharata over Ramayana - because, let's face it, it is more practical, more suited to Kaliyuga than the painfully straight-laced Ramarajya. I have never understood the King who abandoned his wife just because someone in the kingdom was doubtful about the paternity of the children the Queen was carrying. And I absolutely hated the Queen who made her husband go after a deer for its skin and got herself kidnapped. On top of it, she sacrificed her own life to prove her faithfulness to him instead of reducing him to a pile of ashes with a mighty curse when he dared to cast aspersion on her. As far as I am concerned, the men of Ramayana are too ideal and the women too meek, except of course Kaikeyi. But then she is the quintessential vamp - not up to any good.
So I devoured Amish's version of the ageless tale with glee abandon. Prince Ram is painfully straightforward here as well but I could identify with his need to obey rules. Well, most of the times - because I totally approved of Prince Bharat's methods of punishing the guilty in the Roshni case (a very painful reminder of the Nirbhaya case!). He also has very clear ideas about marriage - which are so relevant in today's times. I liked the independent, brave and intelligent Seeta. I also appreciated that Amish refrained from changing some of the very basic characteristics of this tale - the scheming nature of Kaikeyi and the love between the four brothers. Lakshmana and Bharat are well-known characters from the original epic because the former accompanied his brother and sister-in-law in exile and the latter looked after the kingdom only as an emissary of his eldest brother. But we don't get to read much about Prince Shatrughna. Amish, however, has also managed to build a pretty comprehensive character of him.
I am looking forward to reading the next novel in this series because I want to see how Amish builds up the character of the mighty Lankan king - Ravana.
I have always preferred Mahabharata over Ramayana - because, let's face it, it is more practical, more suited to Kaliyuga than the painfully straight-laced Ramarajya. I have never understood the King who abandoned his wife just because someone in the kingdom was doubtful about the paternity of the children the Queen was carrying. And I absolutely hated the Queen who made her husband go after a deer for its skin and got herself kidnapped. On top of it, she sacrificed her own life to prove her faithfulness to him instead of reducing him to a pile of ashes with a mighty curse when he dared to cast aspersion on her. As far as I am concerned, the men of Ramayana are too ideal and the women too meek, except of course Kaikeyi. But then she is the quintessential vamp - not up to any good.
So I devoured Amish's version of the ageless tale with glee abandon. Prince Ram is painfully straightforward here as well but I could identify with his need to obey rules. Well, most of the times - because I totally approved of Prince Bharat's methods of punishing the guilty in the Roshni case (a very painful reminder of the Nirbhaya case!). He also has very clear ideas about marriage - which are so relevant in today's times. I liked the independent, brave and intelligent Seeta. I also appreciated that Amish refrained from changing some of the very basic characteristics of this tale - the scheming nature of Kaikeyi and the love between the four brothers. Lakshmana and Bharat are well-known characters from the original epic because the former accompanied his brother and sister-in-law in exile and the latter looked after the kingdom only as an emissary of his eldest brother. But we don't get to read much about Prince Shatrughna. Amish, however, has also managed to build a pretty comprehensive character of him.
I am looking forward to reading the next novel in this series because I want to see how Amish builds up the character of the mighty Lankan king - Ravana.
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