Book Review: 'Sita's Ascent' by Vayu Naidu

Sita’s Ascent reads like Sita’s Descent literally as well, and not just going by the cover. When I first bought the book, I was hoping for it to read a little differently. Though, of course when I saw the cover of the book, which depicted Sita going back into the ground on the lap of mother earth, I should have known how it would read. 

Yet, I bought it hoping that it gave Sita, her due chance. The Ramayana was the first mythological book I have ever read. I remember when I first read it as a child, that I had not followed it like the Mahabharata as it lacked the sleekness of the Mahabharata. 

Sita’s Ascent claims to be Sita’s version of events. It deals with the aftermath of the war. Of Rama, of Lava and Kusa, of Valmiki, of Urmilla, of the great Ashwamedha and of Hanuman.

Yet, all these characters including the protagonist, Sita seem to be weighed down by Rama. After all, the Ramayana was his story. 

It does not show Sita as a character with strength and courage. But as somebody, who is firstly the damsel in distress, and then as the sacrificing and patient woman, that she must have been.

It fails to remind us of her true character, the same strong woman, who managed to move Shiva’s bow while playing, showing not just her physical strength but also her mental ability. 

Also, the courageous woman who willingly followed her husband into the forests of Panchavati and the heroic woman, when she transforms into a fearless icon, who defies Ravana during her forced stay in Lanka. 

Also, a lady with immeasurable patience while she awaits her husband and then goes through the fire when Rama doubts her morality. 

There are so many points at which Sita’s true character with all its essential elements could have come out, but it was sadly lacking in this book.

This bit about the time with Valmiki, the unusual birth of Kusa and her children’s fight with Rama is a small one. And so it remains. I did hope for more of Lava and Kusa, at least. Anyway, it ended and it was much awaited too. 

While it could have touched so many elements to bring out the real Sita, it just shows her as a weak victim of all the atrocities that she is put through. Therefore, the damsel in distress remains true to her character. I had hoped for a little more from the book, a certain subtlety, perhaps. Because this book, does not run its course. 

I felt that it had too many interruptions, too much justification for characters like Rama and Lakshmana. It fails to show what Vayu Naidu attempts to show. The problem, I thought lay with the manner in which it was written. Should it be the novella or play, or perhaps the performance of oral traditions, which the author is known for?

This seemed to be a melee of these elements. If the author had found an underlying theme only then could she have converted these things in her mind before she convereted it into the book. It becomes very difficult for readers to imagine anything, as not even a single element of the heroine's personality comes across.

Naidu claims in her Note, that instead of viewing Sita as the victim that I should empathise and identify with her character. 

But then again, even if I wanted to, then what was the point of the entire story, which she weaved. ‘Had Sita been a victim she would not have survived’, is what Naidu says.

But then, how would she explain so many characters in reality today, who are suffering and going through the pain and hurt, everyday which Sita was put through? And are still surviving…

Rape doesn't need discussion. It needs punishement.

I do not know whether to be thankful to the Lok Sabha or just plain angry. What does make me angry was the fact that most MPs and Ministers were missing. Only 168 members of the LS were present, though it went up to 198 during the amendment session. 

Sadly, Sonia Gandhi who seemed to be present during the long debate, was absent during the actual passing of the bill, not to mention our PM and also the Congress VP, Rahul Gandhi, among others. Not to mention the opposition too. BJP’s party president Rajnath Singh was missing from action as well.

I mean apparently, all these so called members who are supposed to represent us are missing. So, what happened? I would like to know. 

Firstly, it is happening only in the wake of what happened to the student in the Delhi bus. Isn’t it a shame that it is only now, that the government wakes up, as does the news media in reporting the same. If one has noticed it is only now, that I am reading about rapes almost every day in the newspapers. It is a crying shame that I am reading about even little children being raped every other day.

Shouldn’t they be punished severely? Should the society not want to punish these rapists? One reads everyday about children being raped, even infants. How could we let it go?  They deserve a worse punishment.

Instead, all these people were up in arms about consensual sex being down to 16? I mean why does this even warrant a discussion? Would it change anything? 

Of course, we should all be thanking our stars that the LS left the age at 18. Even worse, was the entire discussion on how to term the word, rape?  Honestly, in the wake of things, it was not even a matter for discussion. 

Having a lengthy debate about such a bill is not a matter of pride. It is a crying shame. The members should have stood together in the discussion against rape and the severest of punishments meted out for it.

Indians can be truly proud, when our representatives stand together against rape and its repercussions, when we hand out the worst punishments to such people who have gone against this law and hurt the moral fibre of not just the society but also, all the women who have been victimized.

More unnecessary discussion at the Rajya Sabha now. Whatever for?

Of Trilogies and More…

It seems to be the time for trilogies and I of course, in my desperate need to find out what would happen next, do read them. They are not of a suspenseful nature, but the thing about writing, masterful or otherwise is what draws me to them.

And unfortunately, I did not find the good trilogy. Of course, this is going to be a little odd, because not only am I mentioning a brilliant author (Jeffrey Archer) but also a mediocre one (Amish).Archer and Amish struggle after the first book. That's the funny thing about trilogies. The author has to maintain the pace, emotion and the need to read the next one, whatever the reason may be.

Archer failed to do it his second book, and in the third one he manages to pick the reader's interest before dropping the ball. Same with Amish. His first book draws the audience in thanks to firstly, the subject and secondly, the suspense. I looked forward to the second one, but it did not live up to expectations.

Wonder how JK Rowling did and Archer too, earlier? The second book had to have a subject, and the subtle characterisations, which draw the reader in, making you, feel as if you are a character. Basically, you have to ‘own’ the book.

While I mentioned that Archer was brilliant in his first book and was hoping for the end in the first one itself, it did not work too well in his mind. The second book, ended with the promise of the third one, ‘Best Kept Secret’. Unfortunately, Archer is right. This book would have ‘best been kept a secret’.

It almost felt like a third rate Hindi soap opera especially, with Giles Barrington’s wedding to Lady Virginia. You have the usual nonsense about a woebegone love story, a marriage, and a divorce. I am yet to find out why this entire episode was created, built and ended.

Of course, you do see Harry Clifton go from a mediocre writer to a clever author, Emma Barrington go from an innocuous housewife to a brilliant woman, showing every bit of the woman she was in the second book, ‘Sins of the Father’. 

And now, in this book, you are also further introduced to Sebastian Clifton and the book ends with well, not the end but unfortunately a promise of another one. Should I mention the fact that I did not ask for them in the first place? Or just feel bad that I would end up buying the next one, as well? You win, Archer!!

And the next was the ‘Oath of the Vayuputras’. I really enjoyed ‘The Immortals of Meluha’, but again, unfortunately he was quite bad with the second book, ‘The Secret of the Nagas’. Amish does pick up pace, with the last one, managing to build a little suspense, but he just goes on and on. His book loses the swiftness, which it promised at the beginning of the book. 

Much as I enjoyed the adventures of Sati, who in the end, does show her skill with her combative tactics and her martial cleverness, which she showed in the first book, before her frozen demise. (Literally, frozen because I thought that’s what happened to Amish’s writing skills.)

Amish lost it completely when he imagines her rise up from her frozen self, when she comes alive as ghost in front of Ganesh and Kartik.  Creepy and funny too! But it ended and that was brilliant. However, Archer does not make the oath in his Clifton Chronicles. Two more sequels to wait for. Hopefully, they would be better. Sigh…

PS : I also think that Amish might write the Mahabharata again, I truly wish him all the best and hope that he has managed to retain the skill he showed in his first book.

I’m gonna blame the authors and book for this third rate review. :)

Time...

Time passes like that now...

Of course, summer months, seaon of rains, the cold winter period added to it, a restless mind and a heart seeking adventure. I cannot believe its been so many years.

Seven years, its been since I started writing blogs too. Not very regularly, as we all well know.

A yearning, a deep rooted desire.

A longing, a deep hearted craving.

I do not know how,

Yet there it is.

I can see it, can feel it

I do not question anymore

I cannot question anything.

It will come...my time will come...

Mythology, Realism, Magic! Take your pick...

Lately, I have been reading quite a bit of mythology or what I call a whole new world of modern mythology. Have noticed quite a few themes about the authors who have been delving into this world of magic mixed with science and reality.

We have come a long way from the time that Valmiki and Veda Vyasa wrote the Ramayan and the Mahabharat. And we would always have the erstwhile C Rajagopalcharis, Ashok Bankers and the Devdutt Patnaiks of course, equally wondrous and fascinating, but what makes the newest breed of authors different?

The Shiva Trilogy by Amish Tripathi, Govinda by Krishna Udayasankar, Asura by Anand Neelakantan or even The Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi are all different in their own right. They are adventuring into a new world of the not so godly gods, in all their avatars, but with a mixture of fascination and respect, I’m presuming, towards not just the text, but the entire theories in themselves.

There is all the talk of plots, adventures, action thrillers and even romance and sexual liaisons, all described with the same dexterity and ease, which one finds in the modern day novel, which probably has nothing to do with mythology. In fact, the language used in books by Amish, Neelakantan and Udayasankar; a mixture of modern terms and the age old words is fascinating.

What is it that makes them absorbing? It was probably the humour, which Amish writes with, or the anger which Anand Neelakantan shows towards Rama’s world, or it could be the smooth mannerisms of Krishna, which is put forward by Udayasankar and Sanghi.

There is a whole new set of opinions, whether it is creative storytelling or intelligent retelling. Call them what you will, interpretations or imagination they definitely make good reads. 

I was interested to know of the hint of romance between Draupadi - Krishna in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s 'Palace of Illusions' and Govinda - Panchali in Udayasankar's Govinda. Also, the father/ daughter linkage of Ravana and Sita in Neelakantan’s 'Asura'. Or even the whole concept of the nuclear weapon and the Brahmastra, in Sanghi’s 'The Krishna Key'.

Of course, we might have heard in passing of these interesting facets to the story, but in these narratives, these plots are given a little breathing space, actually a whole new room, so as readers, we are allowed bits of our own imagination to take wing.

Book Review : 'Govinda' by Krishna Udayasankar

If you haven’t read the regular Amar Chitra Katha versions and your knowledge of the other Mahabharat versions is not well… sufficient, then you might be wasting your time reading this one. Krishna Udayasankar’s ‘Govinda’ is probably just another version of the epic.

What makes it different, are firstly, the simple yet almost lyrical language with which she writes it. One can almost see ACK volumes come up in the book; there were times when I almost stopped reading because I remembered how the scene played out in the comic. 

Firstly, the names. Govinda Shauri is of course, Krishna. Draupadi, who becomes the unlikely hero of the book is simply known as Panchali. Then of course, we have the Dharma, Bhim, Partha, Nakul and Sadev with the usual cast of characters, like Veda Vyasa, who is addressed as Krishna Dwaipayana. 

And a few surprises too. There are the Firewrights, First Born, the Secret Keepers, which are all characters, essential to the story of this book. Sounds straight out of the Lord of the Rings, doesn’t it? (The similarities are breath-taking but in another blog, perhaps)

We are introduced to the ‘fact’ that Rukmavati or the erstwhile Rukmini is not really Govinda’s wife, but his heir’s, Pradymna’s. One sees the fact that Govinda is not married nor will be, but his love for Panchali is very much there.  

It is not a fresh thought, especially if you have read Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s version of Draupadi’s Mahabharat, ‘The Palace of Illusions’. Yet something about the sequence of events grips one’s mind. Panchali’s role in this book has grown from the earlier shier versions into becoming not just another character, but a bow and a sword wielding heroine. 

She does not remain in the background as you are used to reading, but is the person to look to for politics and administration as you see her delving into her inner emotions of not just love but he affection and her intelligence, which shine through. 

There is the growth of Shikandin, from the half man/half woman character into a completely different role, of Govinda’s close friend, and also a warrior and a father of Yudhamanyu. It is probably best if one read this book, as a Mahabharata, which could/might have been. 

Logic, psychology, philosophy and science are all subjects which one has heard of, but never really associated them with Mahabharat per se.

Or where else would you see the Brahm weapon, which should come up again. And definitely Asvattama’s wider role, in the latter books, I’m guessing. Here’s looking forward to the rest of the Aryavarta Chronicles, and Udayasankar’s version of events. 

Book Review : 'Asura: Tale of the Vanquished - The Story of Ravana and his People' by Anand Neelakantan

What makes Anand Neelakantan’s ‘Asura: Tale of the Vanquished’ special? Is it the never ending prose, with which he describes Lanka’s emperor? Is it the words he uses to perhaps understand the man and his times? Or perhaps it is his views on the state of the country, the causes, and their results?

No. It is not. 

What truly makes it special is the effort with which, it was written. And the subject, which makes it all the more interesting. Ravana makes not just a subject in the book, but he carries it forth albeit, a little precariously. His views are put forth with a sense of justice, making him not the villain as he was always portrayed, but as a man, with all the views, values, and the ability to drive him over the edge, on which he stood.

The story begins with watching him die. The End. But with very poignant words, when Ravana says with true regret, “I only wanted to return to my childhood and start over again, every single damn thing, again, again and again…”

He goes on to describe who he was, what happened and what could have happened. The one thing that struck me is how much it reminded me of a history text book, pages and pages of history almost being lectured to me. There are pages, I felt could have been done away with.

But still, I read on. So many parts of mythology, which I did not know, never read and probably was  never interested in. Rama’s society takes on an evil note, but so does Ravana’s. I met characters all over again. Characters, whom I wold not have read about, or given any importance to in the Ramayana. But while reading the Ravanayana, you are forced to give them all another thought.

Of Ravana’s wife, of his sister, of his friend, of his sons both illegitimate and otherwise. And of Ravana’s first born, of his daughter, Sita. I was interested to know of so many wonders of Lanka, of the wonders of medicine, architecture, and arms, and contraptions like the Pushpaka Viman. It had me in awe.

A good book, with so much potential falls short. Falls short by its length, and one can see that the author’s words in a few areas are so ill-written, that it reads as if it were a lecture. I think that the book could have been written, if the author had forgotten to lecture his audience. Though it is well meant and is almost close to every human being’s thought process, it loses its essence.

Yet, I bought it and read it.

Because of the protagonist. Curiosity got the better of me, and I could see the reasons behind the decisions. The decision of a man and his words, “…, God is a very personal thing and prayer needs to be spoken silently in my heart.”