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Ramayana #5
Bridge of Rama
The original Ramayana— The ill-fated Sita is now the prisoner of Ravana, king of rakshasas. To win her back, Rama and his loyal vanar friend Hanuman have assembled a vast army. Desperate, and using only their wits and bare hands, they must build a rock bridge across the ocean to Lanka. Even as they toil, Sita is sentenced to death by her captors. Her only hope now lies with Hanuman. Meanwhile, Hanuman discovers the shocking secret of his true identity, and his faith in Rama triggers extraordinary new powers. He is quickly dispatched to Lanka, to the homeland of the rakshasa demon race, in one final attempt to rescue Rama’s beloved and to prevent a terrible, tragic war.
448 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2005
About the author
Ashok K. Banker
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 31, 2010
Definitely the book I had hoped for after the first four. The relationship between Ram and Hanuman is more developed and Book 5 puts the action back on stage where it belongs. Can't wait to see where Book 6 takes us.
December 1, 2023
"Bridge of Rama" by Ashok K. Banker immerses readers in the captivating continuation of the epic Ramayana. The story unfolds with Sita's unfortunate captivity by Ravana, the powerful king of rakshasas. To rescue her, Rama and his steadfast ally Hanuman mobilize a massive army, facing the formidable challenge of constructing a rock bridge across the ocean to reach Lanka.
The novel intricately weaves together elements of adventure, mythology, and suspense as Rama and Hanuman confront their adversaries with only their wits and strength. The urgency intensifies as Sita faces a death sentence from her captors, adding a layer of desperation to the mission!
Banker masterfully explores the character of Hanuman, revealing a shocking secret about his true identity. Hanuman's unwavering faith in Rama unleashes extraordinary powers, setting the stage for a dramatic climax. Dispatched to Lanka, the homeland of the rakshasa demon race, Hanuman embarks on a final, daring mission to rescue Sita and avert a catastrophic war. The narrative seamlessly blends traditional mythology with inventive storytelling, providing a fresh perspective on the timeless tale of Ramayana. Banker's vivid descriptions and well-drawn characters bring this ancient epic to life, captivating readers with its richness and depth.
"Bridge of Rama" is more than a mere retelling; it's a riveting exploration of heroism, sacrifice, and the enduring power of faith. Banker's narrative prowess and deep understanding of the source material make this book a compelling addition to the literary legacy of the Ramayana!
The novel intricately weaves together elements of adventure, mythology, and suspense as Rama and Hanuman confront their adversaries with only their wits and strength. The urgency intensifies as Sita faces a death sentence from her captors, adding a layer of desperation to the mission!
Banker masterfully explores the character of Hanuman, revealing a shocking secret about his true identity. Hanuman's unwavering faith in Rama unleashes extraordinary powers, setting the stage for a dramatic climax. Dispatched to Lanka, the homeland of the rakshasa demon race, Hanuman embarks on a final, daring mission to rescue Sita and avert a catastrophic war. The narrative seamlessly blends traditional mythology with inventive storytelling, providing a fresh perspective on the timeless tale of Ramayana. Banker's vivid descriptions and well-drawn characters bring this ancient epic to life, captivating readers with its richness and depth.
"Bridge of Rama" is more than a mere retelling; it's a riveting exploration of heroism, sacrifice, and the enduring power of faith. Banker's narrative prowess and deep understanding of the source material make this book a compelling addition to the literary legacy of the Ramayana!
December 30, 2019
good book to read
February 7, 2014
When I was doing B.Lit, we learnt that Greek tragedies were meant to be cathartic. For me, Bridge of Rama was.
In essence, Ramayana is a very familiar story. It is a story that I love and Rama is a character/deity very close to my heart. And yet, as I read the fifth part of this series, not for the first time did I regret not reading the original, if only to know how much of this series is the writer's imagination and how close it is to the original.
Though I take pride in the 'many hats I wear' line, usually, I have time to switch between roles. But once in a while, a period of scampering for my various hats happens and it was so in Jan and Feb - I had to juggle between the roles like a juggler playing with many balls. I was stressed and worried about not discharging my duties satisfactorily - to myself and to the people I had made various commitments.
I am glad that in all that hurry-burry, I did not sacrifice reading and had the privilege to read Bridge of Rama.
It anchored me. It reminded me that being under stress in itself was not too bad so long as we are aware of the state we are in and act calmly. That ordinary mortals can perform powerful feats drawing strength from their faith. That even the extraordinary are ordinary at heart, suffering the same dilemmas and doubts. It is their perseverance in the face of such misgivings that they become extraordinary. It stressed that fear can be crippling; overcoming fear does not necessarily remove the threat itself, but it helps us handle the hurdles with a clearer mind.
I will complete the series, of course, and I wait eagerly to know how Banker will deal with Sita's exile after the coronation. So far, he has amazingly interwoven situations, set the ground for the drama to unfold and introduced twists that make the characters fascinating and the story intriguing. I hope to see the series carry through its promise in the remaining few parts.
In essence, Ramayana is a very familiar story. It is a story that I love and Rama is a character/deity very close to my heart. And yet, as I read the fifth part of this series, not for the first time did I regret not reading the original, if only to know how much of this series is the writer's imagination and how close it is to the original.
Though I take pride in the 'many hats I wear' line, usually, I have time to switch between roles. But once in a while, a period of scampering for my various hats happens and it was so in Jan and Feb - I had to juggle between the roles like a juggler playing with many balls. I was stressed and worried about not discharging my duties satisfactorily - to myself and to the people I had made various commitments.
I am glad that in all that hurry-burry, I did not sacrifice reading and had the privilege to read Bridge of Rama.
It anchored me. It reminded me that being under stress in itself was not too bad so long as we are aware of the state we are in and act calmly. That ordinary mortals can perform powerful feats drawing strength from their faith. That even the extraordinary are ordinary at heart, suffering the same dilemmas and doubts. It is their perseverance in the face of such misgivings that they become extraordinary. It stressed that fear can be crippling; overcoming fear does not necessarily remove the threat itself, but it helps us handle the hurdles with a clearer mind.
I will complete the series, of course, and I wait eagerly to know how Banker will deal with Sita's exile after the coronation. So far, he has amazingly interwoven situations, set the ground for the drama to unfold and introduced twists that make the characters fascinating and the story intriguing. I hope to see the series carry through its promise in the remaining few parts.
October 13, 2012
In a series, there is always a possibility that the story will slow down. This is specially true in a series that is longer than a trilogy. I saw some of this slowing down in the book 4 and was ready to be disappointed in this book too.
Somehow, the author also seems to have sensed this slowing down and he does a very neat trick. He starts playing around with his two central characters. In this case, that's Rama and Ravana. He begins this at the end of the previous book. This book is more devoted to Ravana and the incredible focus on his character means that I've almost come to admire Ravana almost as much as I did Rama in the first few books.
You understand at some point in this book that the Ramayana is not nearly as black and white as it is made out to be in popular culture in India. Rama is not Mr. Clean nor is Ravana that quintessential villain. The author does well to bring this out through Hanuman. I am not sure if I should be glad or concerned that I realised this before he puts it in thoughts later in the book.
The character development of Ravana in this book has been awesome. The story line does get struck at places in engineering, architectural and natural descriptions which were briefer in the earlier books. There is a touch of the mystical here that the author seems afraid to completely express and I think the author is constrained in doing this. Perhaps, he tries to present Rama and Ravana in a realistic light, as it was originally hoped in the Ramayana and not in the modern avataristic light that these characters are percieved today. All in all, a good book.
Somehow, the author also seems to have sensed this slowing down and he does a very neat trick. He starts playing around with his two central characters. In this case, that's Rama and Ravana. He begins this at the end of the previous book. This book is more devoted to Ravana and the incredible focus on his character means that I've almost come to admire Ravana almost as much as I did Rama in the first few books.
You understand at some point in this book that the Ramayana is not nearly as black and white as it is made out to be in popular culture in India. Rama is not Mr. Clean nor is Ravana that quintessential villain. The author does well to bring this out through Hanuman. I am not sure if I should be glad or concerned that I realised this before he puts it in thoughts later in the book.
The character development of Ravana in this book has been awesome. The story line does get struck at places in engineering, architectural and natural descriptions which were briefer in the earlier books. There is a touch of the mystical here that the author seems afraid to completely express and I think the author is constrained in doing this. Perhaps, he tries to present Rama and Ravana in a realistic light, as it was originally hoped in the Ramayana and not in the modern avataristic light that these characters are percieved today. All in all, a good book.
May 17, 2016
'Bridge of Rama' is one action-packed masterpiece, set at the prelude of the battle that defines the story itself. Besides building the mythical bridge, we are faced for the first time with the superhuman strength of Hanuman, who in a sense is the story's true hero, placing Rama and Ravana as the two opposing parts of the duality of nature, like ying and yang, balancing each other out. Hanuman himself understands this duality and finally grasps Ravana's secret, which can bring him down. We are also faced with the infinitely wise Jambavan, whose words seem to remind me of Firenze, the centaur in J. K. Rowling's world. The Bear king's words and antics are an welcome addition to the story. A nice book by the by !
October 15, 2010
When I started reading the Ramayana series by Ashok Banker, I am sorry to say ..I had a bookish idea of what Ramayana was all about. I knew the stories in it, but only after reading this series, do I understand the essence of this great epic.
When I read these books for the first time I always used to side with Laxman's argument but only after re-reading them do I understand the greatness of Rama and the importance of Dharma in the story. and what a great story it is! echoing so clearly accross millennia of changing paradigms and morals.
Jai Ramji ki!
When I read these books for the first time I always used to side with Laxman's argument but only after re-reading them do I understand the greatness of Rama and the importance of Dharma in the story. and what a great story it is! echoing so clearly accross millennia of changing paradigms and morals.
Jai Ramji ki!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2013
An excellent continuation of the Ramayana series by Ashok Banker, heading towards the culmination of the epic.
Hanuman looms over others as the champion of Sita, at his Lord Rama's behest, while the vanar and bear armies cross over to Lanka.
Good read definitely.
Hanuman looms over others as the champion of Sita, at his Lord Rama's behest, while the vanar and bear armies cross over to Lanka.
Good read definitely.
August 3, 2011
the magic is wearing thin as compared to the first two books. I am hooked none the less.
September 10, 2011
Best book among all the five among the ramayana series I've read till now...
Hanuman pulls the story from the beginning till the end...end...Oh my God...what a crescendo...
loved reading it...
Hanuman pulls the story from the beginning till the end...end...Oh my God...what a crescendo...
loved reading it...
October 16, 2012
Imaginary Treat!
February 27, 2014
Lovely and yet an alternate version...
June 11, 2015
False
June 10, 2009
Nice... but an oversimplification?
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews