Going back to move forward (Roots and shoots)

As a child, I watched the Mahabharat on Sundays on a local Indian channel called Doordarshan. And while I loved sleeping in on weekends, I made an exception for this magical story. My love for mystical, long stories started at that time.

Over time, some of the tales started to feel dated and one-sided. Indian mythological fiction, a genre that has reignited interest in these stories, has been gaining prominence over several years. While diving into these books, I was struck by the comforting familiarity of those childhood stories, like an old friend you can pick up with regardless of the time passed. Now grown up and dressed differently, yet warm and welcoming, these stories are in your DNA because you have heard them many times.

As the world becomes more complex and truths become blurred, I find myself seeking the comfort of these stories, which I had heard so many times while growing up. There is a grounding in these stories; hearing them retold from characters who previously didn't have their viewpoints expressed provides a deeper understanding of the tale. It makes you appreciate the story even more and understand actions you would question.

Reading these stories now retold from a different perspective helps me bridge the gap between the wonder and innocence of simpler times with the multi-layered complex perspectives of a more mature comprehension of people. It helps me to ditch the black-and-white thinking of my childhood while still appreciating the timeless beauty of those tales that shaped my understanding of my culture. Sometimes, you must go back to move forward, explore your roots, make sense of them, and find the different perspectives hidden in plain sight. That's when you can rebuild from the shoots that emerge from the new understanding.

My book reviews on Indian Mythological Fiction

Lankas Princess by Kavita Kane:

Told from Surpanakha, Ravan's sister's point of view, the story fleshes out her pivotal role that led to the war between Ravan, the king of Lanka and Ram, the exiled prince of Ayodhya. In this retelling, she is not just the seductress trying to win over the exiled princes but also the unwanted child, the overshadowed sibling, the deserted daughter, the powerless wife and the bereaved mother. Her wooing of the princes is a deliberate act to start the war that would lead to the decimation of her entire family and clan. The story poses questions on whether she was the puppeteer in this story, leveraging her brother's weaknesses to avenge perceived wrongs she had to suffer or was the puppet, the victim of her family's ambitions. What happens when someone powerless feels wronged and uses manipulation to get 'justice'? The lessons from the story feel relevant today as they showcase the cost of revenge.

The Mahabharata Secret by Christopher C Doyle

The story is revealed through clues left by a murdered scientist for his nephew via an email missive. The story starts with a discovery in 244 BC by King Asoka and his courtier, leading to an elaborate cover-up spanning centuries to the present day. What's the secret hidden in the Mahabharat and has implications even for today's world? Who is looking for this secret, and why was it covered up? These all form the basis of this thriller. This is a satisfying and clever read on the lines of the Da Vinci code. It also showcases the enduring relevance of this tale as we pore over all that seemed ahead of its time in this story.

The Forest of Enchantments by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Another masterful retelling by Chitra Banerjee Divakarunis is the story of Sita, who symbolises selfless suffering and is the archetype of the perfect wife in India—someone who follows her husband selflessly and believes his word is law. Sita placed on a pedestal for her sacrifices is challenging to relate to.

This retelling focuses on Sita's decisions and explores her motivations in her journey to becoming a goddess. And understanding her motivations, the motivations of someone who truly loves, makes you understand and relate to the woman who has become such an icon.

The story also explores love and its many facets and how this compels us to do things we never thought we could or would. Whether that's the narcissistic love of a mother like Kaikeyi, who seeks to realise her own ambitions through her child, the obsessive love of a suitor like Ravan, who is willing to go to war for the one woman he can't have, or the dutiful love that Ram shows towards his parents wishes and the welfare of his subjects. Each character's actions are based on love, and they are willing to stake everything for this. But it's Sita, whose compassionate and principled love makes us understand how important it is to temper blind love with judgement.

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

The wicked stepmother is a familiar trope across cultures. The tale of Kaikeyi, who exemplifies this trope by banishing Ram to the forest for 14 years so her son could be king, is a beloved favourite in India. The warrior queen who used her boons to extract the ultimate betrayal from her husband was a never-questioned tale. However, author Vaishnavi Patel's retelling gives a voice not just to Kaikeyi but to the other mothers in this retelling. What possessed Kaikeyi to banish a son so clearly meant to rule? Was ambition at any cost her ultimate sin, or were other motivations guiding her decisions? A beautifully layered story exploring the threads that bind us to each other, clashing with the desire to leave the world a better place.