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Ramayana: Epic of Ram, Prince of India
Generations of poets have delighted in taking up these scenes and daubing them with fresh colour. Romesh Dutt's translation is one with a difference where the writer homes in on core incidents and strings them together. To the first time reader it provides a general acquaintance with incidents in the tale, besides a sample of the poetic beauty of the work.
- GenresClassics
342 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 31, 2024
Every poet has his own panache since every poet varies from others in his ways of articulating his ideas. It is rightly said, "Style is the man". Consequently, it is necessary to make an analytic study of the style of a poet to know what he thinks and how he expresses himself.
Dutt has chosen to write the Ramayana, the story of Rama, previously written by several poets in several languages, and recited, explained and elaborated by several Pandits before large congregations. When a poet thinks of writing it, in spite of its great popularity, he certainly has to discover some new meanings which he wants to express in his own way. It is thus, necessary to see how Romesh Dutt distinguishes himself from others.
The author has admitted in the ‘Introduction’ to his work that the Ramayana surprises by its enduring popularity. The Saga of Rama has engrossed generations of readers. There is little doubt about its literary merit which is one of the important reasons for its survival. He admits there are innumerable translations of the original work composed by the robber-turned ascetic Valmiki. The author justifies the new translations saying that they are reinterpretations of the original work, giving new meanings. Therefore, each new translation gives new light to the readers.
Rama's story has been recited by Romesh Dutt in his own way. He adopts a narrative style because several episodes in Rama's life are to be narrated. But Romesh Dutt has omitted the initial parts of story, related to the birth of Rama, perhaps because he doesn't think there is heroism of any sort in the birth of anybody, though he admits at places that Rama was an incarnation of God.
Dutt appends an Epilogue to his work and says that the Ramayana is an epic like the Greek epics lliad and Odyssey, since the Ramayana describes 'the wanderings and adventures of a prince banished from his country as does the Odyssey Dutt has very correctly said that the Ramyuna, like the Odyssey, presents "the most graphic and life-like picture of the civilization and culture, the political and social life, the religion and thought of ancient India."
Dutt further says that the Ramayana has been written and re- written by different poets of different places in India and abroad, but the main story is 'the creation of one mind'. The Ramayana, written centuries before Christ, describes the glorious culture that existed then "The Kausalas of Oudh and Videhas of North Nehar were perhaps the most cultured. Their monarchs were famed for their piety as well as their prowess. It was due to benevolent governance that 'the priests distinguished themselves by founding schools of learning'. Their elaborate commentaries on Vedas were handed down from generation to generation. The glory and grandeur of life as existed then became subject for an epic and was sung by several poets of succeeding ages.
The fundamental shortcoming of Dutt is in his omission of the part dealing with the birth of Rama and his brothers. Dutt obviously does so, as he fails to see anything in it that can add to Rama's image of a godly, heroic man. Dutt has also omitted the account of Rama's childhood and upbringing though Tulsidas and other poets have designated it in detail because the coming events cast their shadow before or child is the father of man. Wordsworth wishes his childhood love of nature to continue till the end. The schoolday's made Shelley remained 'mad', revolutionary all his life. Anyway, the other poets have chosen to depict childhood of Rama in great detail.
Therefore, to conclude, if a reviewer were to make a very dispassionate assessment of Dutt’s rendition, he’d have to say that Dutt’s effort is far from an Epic. This book simply suffers from a dearth of grandeur.
It can however be read as a tale of Rama's heroic deeds.
Dutt has chosen to write the Ramayana, the story of Rama, previously written by several poets in several languages, and recited, explained and elaborated by several Pandits before large congregations. When a poet thinks of writing it, in spite of its great popularity, he certainly has to discover some new meanings which he wants to express in his own way. It is thus, necessary to see how Romesh Dutt distinguishes himself from others.
The author has admitted in the ‘Introduction’ to his work that the Ramayana surprises by its enduring popularity. The Saga of Rama has engrossed generations of readers. There is little doubt about its literary merit which is one of the important reasons for its survival. He admits there are innumerable translations of the original work composed by the robber-turned ascetic Valmiki. The author justifies the new translations saying that they are reinterpretations of the original work, giving new meanings. Therefore, each new translation gives new light to the readers.
Rama's story has been recited by Romesh Dutt in his own way. He adopts a narrative style because several episodes in Rama's life are to be narrated. But Romesh Dutt has omitted the initial parts of story, related to the birth of Rama, perhaps because he doesn't think there is heroism of any sort in the birth of anybody, though he admits at places that Rama was an incarnation of God.
Dutt appends an Epilogue to his work and says that the Ramayana is an epic like the Greek epics lliad and Odyssey, since the Ramayana describes 'the wanderings and adventures of a prince banished from his country as does the Odyssey Dutt has very correctly said that the Ramyuna, like the Odyssey, presents "the most graphic and life-like picture of the civilization and culture, the political and social life, the religion and thought of ancient India."
Dutt further says that the Ramayana has been written and re- written by different poets of different places in India and abroad, but the main story is 'the creation of one mind'. The Ramayana, written centuries before Christ, describes the glorious culture that existed then "The Kausalas of Oudh and Videhas of North Nehar were perhaps the most cultured. Their monarchs were famed for their piety as well as their prowess. It was due to benevolent governance that 'the priests distinguished themselves by founding schools of learning'. Their elaborate commentaries on Vedas were handed down from generation to generation. The glory and grandeur of life as existed then became subject for an epic and was sung by several poets of succeeding ages.
The fundamental shortcoming of Dutt is in his omission of the part dealing with the birth of Rama and his brothers. Dutt obviously does so, as he fails to see anything in it that can add to Rama's image of a godly, heroic man. Dutt has also omitted the account of Rama's childhood and upbringing though Tulsidas and other poets have designated it in detail because the coming events cast their shadow before or child is the father of man. Wordsworth wishes his childhood love of nature to continue till the end. The schoolday's made Shelley remained 'mad', revolutionary all his life. Anyway, the other poets have chosen to depict childhood of Rama in great detail.
Therefore, to conclude, if a reviewer were to make a very dispassionate assessment of Dutt’s rendition, he’d have to say that Dutt’s effort is far from an Epic. This book simply suffers from a dearth of grandeur.
It can however be read as a tale of Rama's heroic deeds.
April 13, 2026
Long ahh epic written in verse. Rama is righteous, the manifestation of Vishnu himself. But is he really righteous? Accepted his exile because his father hold him so, because the boon that Kaikeyi asked. Granted. He left with his brother, Lakshmana, and wife, Sita, the manifestation of the earth goddess. Pretty girl. Slim and wanted by Ravana to be his wife, Ravana is bad as they say. But is he really? He didn’t touch Sita when she said no. When saved after killing Ravana, she was tested in fire to prove her purity. She proved it, but people still doubted her. Insane right? Rama wanted her to take the test again but Sita doesn’t want to and know that this is insane, so she told Rama to do what he thinks is best. He wanted her gone. He put her in exile and became sad. Sita went to the forest and had their babies—twins! Yay! But when Rama found out and wanted to get back to Sita, she needs to get tested…AGAIN! Like bro…so she decided that she’d rather not be with him and go back to earth. At the forest, she asked the earth goddess that if she ever was pure, swallow her whole, and she was. Rama was lonely and sad. Lmao. He deserves it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2025
It is more accurate to call this an adaptation and a condensed abridgement than a translation. It is very much of its time and reads more like a Victorian era musical poem than a translation of a great ancient world epic. The rhymes and tight rhythms are forced and monotonous in their artificial rhythmic structure that reads more like an outdated light Gilbert and Sullivan opera than a great heroic epic. More often than not they obscure meaning rather than enlighten the reader.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews