अयोध्येचा रावण आणि लंकेचा राम

by Dinkar Joshi, Sushma Shaligram (Translator)

If you haven't read it till today, start reading it now. It is not just another attempt to present the wellknown epic in a new cover and words. It is a totally new revelation of the mindsets of both Rama and Ravana. We being Indians, are well aware of Ramayana, the great epic. There will not be any household unaware of the epic. The various authors of the various religions have penned down this great epic with different angles. There are more than 300 such angles which cast a light on this great epic. The overall gist of all these is one and the same: the birth of Rama, his great work at the very young age, his marriage to Sita, Kaikayee's curse, Sita's kidnapping, death of Ravana followed by Rama's return to Ayodhya. Most of these stories have painted Rama as the glorious one, the one abiding by all the rules and regulations of the society while Ravana as the mighty yet very arrogant demon. This book lightens the other aspect of Ravana's deeds which were never thought of earlier. It is true that he abducted Sita. But what is painted is his lust. This book looks at the entire incident with another angle. Ravana was the child born to a demon mother and a Maharishi; yet he and his kindred were deprived of further education. This made him angry to such an extent that he vowed to prove that he was no less than all the mighty warriors of that time including the gods. It was with this feeling in his mind he did what is so well known as 'Sitaharan'. When he thus kidnapped Sita he was very well aware of the consequences. He knew that a war was always unpredictable. He was not sure of victory. Still, his love for his kindred and the denial that they all had to suffer for ages made him do what he did.

140 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Manav · Rating 4 out of 5]

The conversation between Lakshman and Ravana is very interesting and amazing. Rest of the book gives different voews and insights about the thought of Ravana before the great war, which is also very good. The book describes the incidents which would have happen as if things occured without divinity i.e. if we keep the divinty aside how would Ravan had thought off and acted in those circumstances.
Overall the book is worth reading.

[Prasad Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well after reading several books on Mahabharata in relation with aftermath of war, this book on Ramayana looks very basic.
However Dinkar Joshi ji has some unique style and the very 1st conversation between Ravan and Laxman is some the best philosophical statements seen in recent time.
Recommended for reading.

[Rahul Chogle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost in details

The headline captures attention but the content serves a different perspective. Almost 80% of the book is naration of what happened. And not, why it happened. It would have helped to focus on why something happened
A great idea wasted.