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Sutradhar
Sutradhar is a dramatized retelling of events, myths and legends set across the arc of Indian history. In order to be relevant to the current social climate of India and the World, the stories are written from an authentic, firmly rooted Indic perspective, exploring a wide range of worldviews, sociological schemas and philosophical approaches within the context of the narratives. The seven tales that form this collection span multiple genres, from historical fantasy to cosmic horror, and are often tinged with dark, absurdist undertones. "Our stories are the key to the continuity of Indic civilization. By continuously retelling and reinterpreting them for a new generation, we have kept alive this civilization. In this book, Ratul takes forward this important tradition - indeed, he is now part of that chain of Sutradhars." - Sanjeev Sanyal, Bestselling writer & internationally acclaimed economist “A rich tapestry of katha, rasa and niti woven on an intricate world built by the author's deep understanding of Indic philosophy and literature. Sutradhar makes for a complete reading experience that combines the author's poetical rhythmic style with a delightful story that keeps the pages turning. Ratul has opened a window to a new dimension of Indic fantasy.” - Saiswaroopa Iyer, Author "Mesmerizing prose! Stories told and untold came alive in all their splendour and vividness." - Abhinav Agarwal, Author – Predators and Prey, Curator of Indic Book Club "Set at different times in India's vast history, Sutradhar is a collection of brilliant short stories that are essentially about her people, their beliefs and disbeliefs, their desires and disappointments, their journeys through life. Ratul is an extremely gifted storyteller." - Bhavesh Kansara, Author - Twisted Threads
- GenresHistorical Fiction
280 pages, Paperback
First published April 23, 2020
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25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 11, 2022
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Interesting; got potential; needs better editing
Sutradhar is a collection of seven short stories, retellings of ancient myths and historical incidents from a new perspective. The stories vary in length, themes, and topics. From the time River Sarasvati flowed to the British rule and partition, the stories cover a vast spectrum of history.
Newton’s First: It has strong imagery and sets the tone for the book. I wasn’t sure about the intentions of a character because I have no idea which retelling this is.
The Law: My favorite. It’s about Chanakya, after all. From the IHC project to MBA, my interest in politics and laws is because of this great man.
The Lament: This is set during Asoka’s last days in this world. It has some valuable lessons to offer. The narration is gripping and suits the context.
A Mirror for the Ants: The biggest story in the book and is divided into acts. The second-best, in my opinion, though the philosophical part overpowers the imagery and narration.
A One Penny Tune: Yet another philosophical story with a lesson. Set during British rule, it holds a mirror to the then conditioning of the society.
The Offering: This was the first story I read in the book (it’s the smallest one). Emotions are strong in this one, though I found the shift a little abrupt. A longer version will have a much higher impact.
The Path of a Coward: It is set during the India-Pakistan partition and starts with a bang. The story held the same momentum until about 85%, after which it went philosophical again. Not sure how I feel about ending the book that way.
The overall writing is pretty easy to read, though it’s a little uneven at times. I couldn’t help but notice the adverbs that appear either in succession or don’t show up at all. I did enjoy the seamless interweaving of prose and poetry. The vivid imagery is a plus, though rhetoric makes it a bit too heavy (which wasn’t always necessary, imo).
The author shared his writing experience (when we spoke), and he said how he wrote the book over a few years. That explains the bumps, which can be ironed out with a thorough round of editing (missing punctuation towards the end) and some structural developments.
Overall, Sutradhar is a good collection of historical short stories with a dose of magic and philosophy. The stories have good potential to please a wider range of audiences.
One Liner: Interesting; got potential; needs better editing
Sutradhar is a collection of seven short stories, retellings of ancient myths and historical incidents from a new perspective. The stories vary in length, themes, and topics. From the time River Sarasvati flowed to the British rule and partition, the stories cover a vast spectrum of history.
Newton’s First: It has strong imagery and sets the tone for the book. I wasn’t sure about the intentions of a character because I have no idea which retelling this is.
The Law: My favorite. It’s about Chanakya, after all. From the IHC project to MBA, my interest in politics and laws is because of this great man.
The Lament: This is set during Asoka’s last days in this world. It has some valuable lessons to offer. The narration is gripping and suits the context.
A Mirror for the Ants: The biggest story in the book and is divided into acts. The second-best, in my opinion, though the philosophical part overpowers the imagery and narration.
A One Penny Tune: Yet another philosophical story with a lesson. Set during British rule, it holds a mirror to the then conditioning of the society.
The Offering: This was the first story I read in the book (it’s the smallest one). Emotions are strong in this one, though I found the shift a little abrupt. A longer version will have a much higher impact.
The Path of a Coward: It is set during the India-Pakistan partition and starts with a bang. The story held the same momentum until about 85%, after which it went philosophical again. Not sure how I feel about ending the book that way.
The overall writing is pretty easy to read, though it’s a little uneven at times. I couldn’t help but notice the adverbs that appear either in succession or don’t show up at all. I did enjoy the seamless interweaving of prose and poetry. The vivid imagery is a plus, though rhetoric makes it a bit too heavy (which wasn’t always necessary, imo).
The author shared his writing experience (when we spoke), and he said how he wrote the book over a few years. That explains the bumps, which can be ironed out with a thorough round of editing (missing punctuation towards the end) and some structural developments.
Overall, Sutradhar is a good collection of historical short stories with a dose of magic and philosophy. The stories have good potential to please a wider range of audiences.
July 31, 2020
Stories keep the history alive. Through stories we can pass on knowledge and learnings to the future generations and live forever.
Sutradhar is events, myths and legends set across the arc of Indian history. Stories are inspired from Indic civilization and talk about history, myths, folktales, cosmic humour and much more.
There are 7 short stories which overall explore many genres. A good pick for readers who want to start reading history and mythology.
The language is very simple. Many poetry references are given in the stories which make it an interesting read!
My most favourite story from this book was 'The Law'. Sharing few poetic lines from that story:
"Princes and Princesses,
Lovers and Enemies,
Gods and Demons,
Ghosts and Yakshas,
Kings and Slaves,
Cowards and Braves,
You will find them all In my tales tall Hear them now or forever fret
My stories you can never forget"
Sutradhar is events, myths and legends set across the arc of Indian history. Stories are inspired from Indic civilization and talk about history, myths, folktales, cosmic humour and much more.
There are 7 short stories which overall explore many genres. A good pick for readers who want to start reading history and mythology.
The language is very simple. Many poetry references are given in the stories which make it an interesting read!
My most favourite story from this book was 'The Law'. Sharing few poetic lines from that story:
"Princes and Princesses,
Lovers and Enemies,
Gods and Demons,
Ghosts and Yakshas,
Kings and Slaves,
Cowards and Braves,
You will find them all In my tales tall Hear them now or forever fret
My stories you can never forget"
November 4, 2020
Who doesn't loves short stories? The book consists of a collection of short stories which revolves around authors feelings about his place and it's priceless history.
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All the seven stories in the book is unique and reflects different genres. As we know the book consists of historical events, there are few instances which we are already familiar with but the author has given his own insight in the stories too. This wonderful book made me more interested in our roots and culture.
.
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The author must have done a lot of research and hardwork in crafting these stories. The stories are narrated very beautifully and I am sure it will be loved by all.
.
.
All the seven stories in the book is unique and reflects different genres. As we know the book consists of historical events, there are few instances which we are already familiar with but the author has given his own insight in the stories too. This wonderful book made me more interested in our roots and culture.
.
.
The author must have done a lot of research and hardwork in crafting these stories. The stories are narrated very beautifully and I am sure it will be loved by all.
August 16, 2020
Growing up I am someone who heard lots of stories from my grandparents on both sides.
Be it mythology, historical stories or fictional folk tales, I have heard it all.
This book for me was like getting back a piece of that childhood.
In short I loved the book.
Special mention needs to be made of the fact that apparently Tansen's lady love too was just as much talented as he was, the perfect rain to his thunder fire.
Be it mythology, historical stories or fictional folk tales, I have heard it all.
This book for me was like getting back a piece of that childhood.
In short I loved the book.
Special mention needs to be made of the fact that apparently Tansen's lady love too was just as much talented as he was, the perfect rain to his thunder fire.
August 10, 2020
Sutradhar is a collection of beautiful short stories where history weds fantasy. The magic realism that is woven into the narrative seamlessly sets this book apart. A combination of prose and poetry makes this book unique and there is something for everyone. Whether you are a history buff or just love literature this book is still for you!
February 16, 2021
The moment I started reading, the initial scene actually came alive in front of my eyes. And that never changed. The words simply flow with such beauty that it was like reading poetry.
The little bronze woman lying in the sand grabbed my attention and drew me into a world filled with mystery, thrills, poignance and brutal realities. The very first story literally rattled me to the core with the death of the mighty Saraswati evoking a deep seated sorrow.
Quite a brilliant achievement bcos none of us knows Saraswati, yet to make her a living, breathing entity almost was truly remarkable. The end of that story was truly CHILLING.
Another story I must mention is Chanakya. A quick, speedy narrative that was quite different from the others in style and substance. This one was a beautiful merging of history with imagination with the least number of words used to bring out the character of every individual.
The old woman, hovering between death and life spoke no words yet conveyed such a plethora of emotions and messages. At the end, the beautifully creative fleeting 'guest appearances' by Ganesha, Saraswati etc, all hinted at like well thought out puzzles- very clever indeed!
Thank you, Ratul ji for this book. It was quite a novel experience to read verse and prose interspersed.
The little bronze woman lying in the sand grabbed my attention and drew me into a world filled with mystery, thrills, poignance and brutal realities. The very first story literally rattled me to the core with the death of the mighty Saraswati evoking a deep seated sorrow.
Quite a brilliant achievement bcos none of us knows Saraswati, yet to make her a living, breathing entity almost was truly remarkable. The end of that story was truly CHILLING.
Another story I must mention is Chanakya. A quick, speedy narrative that was quite different from the others in style and substance. This one was a beautiful merging of history with imagination with the least number of words used to bring out the character of every individual.
The old woman, hovering between death and life spoke no words yet conveyed such a plethora of emotions and messages. At the end, the beautifully creative fleeting 'guest appearances' by Ganesha, Saraswati etc, all hinted at like well thought out puzzles- very clever indeed!
Thank you, Ratul ji for this book. It was quite a novel experience to read verse and prose interspersed.
November 11, 2021
A collection of stories premised on the beautiful and tragic history of our Bharatvarsha. The author has written the stories like weaving a folklore or fable but if you read it properly you will feel that may be it is how the history unfolded and we never knew.
This book captured my attention with the opening scene of its first story, I felt like I am witness to the scene in that desert where the sands of time has enveloped a whole civilization. It is a good book to introduce teenagers and YA to our history by giving the stories the touch of folklore and mysticism.
This book captured my attention with the opening scene of its first story, I felt like I am witness to the scene in that desert where the sands of time has enveloped a whole civilization. It is a good book to introduce teenagers and YA to our history by giving the stories the touch of folklore and mysticism.
July 28, 2020
Sutradhar is a very different kind of book,each and every story is so well researched and it looks like I'm reading a book of folktales where each story is about related to ancient times inspired from mythology and history. Stories are inspired from Indic civilization and I really want to admire the author's choice of subject because when all young authors write about romance and thriller , he is thinking about our ancient knowledge and wisdom which is lost somewhere in this modernization.
Writing style of the author is also very fine and interesting ,it helps readers interest intact throughout the book.The way author written each and every story is really amazing .
Sutradhar is a dramatized retelling of events, myths and legends set across the arc of Indian history. In order to be relevant to the current social climate of India and the World, the stories are written from an authentic, firmly rooted Indic perspective, exploring a wide range of worldviews, sociological schemes and philosophical approaches within the context of the narratives. The seven tales that form this collection span multiple genres, from historical fantasy to cosmic horror, and are often tinged with dark, absurdist undertones.
All stories are very good and give us a wider perspective of the events ,i liked all the stories and specially the story of lost river Saraswati and last one the path of a coward which is really very interesting.
Poetry pieces in between the stories gives us a clear vision of mood and depth of author's mindset.
Recommended to everyone specially who loves to read folktales .
Writing style of the author is also very fine and interesting ,it helps readers interest intact throughout the book.The way author written each and every story is really amazing .
Sutradhar is a dramatized retelling of events, myths and legends set across the arc of Indian history. In order to be relevant to the current social climate of India and the World, the stories are written from an authentic, firmly rooted Indic perspective, exploring a wide range of worldviews, sociological schemes and philosophical approaches within the context of the narratives. The seven tales that form this collection span multiple genres, from historical fantasy to cosmic horror, and are often tinged with dark, absurdist undertones.
All stories are very good and give us a wider perspective of the events ,i liked all the stories and specially the story of lost river Saraswati and last one the path of a coward which is really very interesting.
Poetry pieces in between the stories gives us a clear vision of mood and depth of author's mindset.
Recommended to everyone specially who loves to read folktales .
September 8, 2020
Do you remember those days when your elders used to narrate the stories of old kings and queens who ruled vast lands, and you being mesmerized by their magical words? Come on……We all remember pestering them for just one more legend and their irritating four-line story: “Ek tha Raja, Ek thi Rani, Dono mar gaye, khatam kahani!”
Sutradahar by Ratul Chakraborty is a book that will bring back all your nostalgic feelings. It is a collection of seven short (slightly long) stories based on the myths and legends of India. It is a beautiful retelling of history and mythology that takes your breath away. The author starts the book with an Ode to Mata Saraswati, which is again beautiful. The stories span over a huge timeline, right from the Harappan Civilisation to the Partition. They are sprinkled with verses and poems and the prose itself has a poetic touch to it. Each story is inspired by a different theme and yet they are all connected. They are filled up to the brim with values and knowledge.
It is an absolute necessity today to have books which tell us about our history; not just the facts, because facts may be lost to history, but the essence of the story. Legends and myths are not for us to examine for silly details, but to learn from them and gain knowledge about the past. They are the base on which our whole culture stands, and we should make sure our base is strong. Ratul Chakraborty has done an exceptional job by retelling the stories in Sutradhar and deserves a lot of appreciation. The writing style is very good and the book has a deep vocabulary.
Recommended to everyone interested in knowing our past and who loves stories.
Sutradahar by Ratul Chakraborty is a book that will bring back all your nostalgic feelings. It is a collection of seven short (slightly long) stories based on the myths and legends of India. It is a beautiful retelling of history and mythology that takes your breath away. The author starts the book with an Ode to Mata Saraswati, which is again beautiful. The stories span over a huge timeline, right from the Harappan Civilisation to the Partition. They are sprinkled with verses and poems and the prose itself has a poetic touch to it. Each story is inspired by a different theme and yet they are all connected. They are filled up to the brim with values and knowledge.
It is an absolute necessity today to have books which tell us about our history; not just the facts, because facts may be lost to history, but the essence of the story. Legends and myths are not for us to examine for silly details, but to learn from them and gain knowledge about the past. They are the base on which our whole culture stands, and we should make sure our base is strong. Ratul Chakraborty has done an exceptional job by retelling the stories in Sutradhar and deserves a lot of appreciation. The writing style is very good and the book has a deep vocabulary.
Recommended to everyone interested in knowing our past and who loves stories.
August 5, 2020
Sutradhar is a collection of eight different ancient legend stories with a perfect combination with Hindu mythology which is undoubtedly brilliant. In this modern culture, I found this book very unique with authentic vintage culture. My favorite story is "A mirror for the ants", I really adore this one.
Author's writing style has medium to standard texture what introduced many unknown words and that really good for my vocabulary skill. Storylines are perfect but sometimes for some particular stories, I felt bore as from my view,it has been dragged. There was no grammatical error. I had really a great time with this book. Title "Sutradhar" is very aesthetic and classy to hear. Cover is eye-catching and beautiful indeed. I will recommend this book who are interested in short strories, something different from monotonous. There are many poems or lyrics have been written which impressed me
Author's writing style has medium to standard texture what introduced many unknown words and that really good for my vocabulary skill. Storylines are perfect but sometimes for some particular stories, I felt bore as from my view,it has been dragged. There was no grammatical error. I had really a great time with this book. Title "Sutradhar" is very aesthetic and classy to hear. Cover is eye-catching and beautiful indeed. I will recommend this book who are interested in short strories, something different from monotonous. There are many poems or lyrics have been written which impressed me
July 31, 2020
“When all has been tried, yet Justice is not in sight, It is then right to pick up the sword, It is then right to fight”
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Amazingly written short stories and for a short story lover it was just amazing. I am not a reader who is much into reading ancient times but this one came as a surprise.
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The stories are sort of retelling of our ancient times. There are 7 short stories and each one is amazing. At the beginning the author has showed his gratitude toward Ma Saraswati and that was really nice. At the start of every story are few lines taken from somewhere and that added a nice touch.
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Author has also used poetries in between the stories. But if you are thinking that these stories are small than mind you it isn't. They are just a bit lengthy. The language used is good but at times I was a tiny bit confused. I loved the stories The path of a coward and The offering. Overall I did not expect to like this book this much but i am happy that it was proved wrong.
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Amazingly written short stories and for a short story lover it was just amazing. I am not a reader who is much into reading ancient times but this one came as a surprise.
.
The stories are sort of retelling of our ancient times. There are 7 short stories and each one is amazing. At the beginning the author has showed his gratitude toward Ma Saraswati and that was really nice. At the start of every story are few lines taken from somewhere and that added a nice touch.
.
Author has also used poetries in between the stories. But if you are thinking that these stories are small than mind you it isn't. They are just a bit lengthy. The language used is good but at times I was a tiny bit confused. I loved the stories The path of a coward and The offering. Overall I did not expect to like this book this much but i am happy that it was proved wrong.
August 4, 2020
Mythology and legends are something that interests me a lot.
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This book is a collection of short stories. All these stories are sort of re-tellings from Hindu mythology and ancient legends.
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I love how beautifully the author have written theae stories, there's such a poetic touch to the stories. I love how all the stories start with good lines.
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The only thing that was a little off for me was the length of the stories, they were a bit longer for short stories.
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But other than that I really liked the book, the flow, the narration everything.
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This book is a collection of short stories. All these stories are sort of re-tellings from Hindu mythology and ancient legends.
.
I love how beautifully the author have written theae stories, there's such a poetic touch to the stories. I love how all the stories start with good lines.
.
The only thing that was a little off for me was the length of the stories, they were a bit longer for short stories.
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But other than that I really liked the book, the flow, the narration everything.
June 28, 2020
A series of stories that travel through the history of India, touching on themes of memory, righteousness, and truth. I’m sure I would have appreciated this collection more if I were more versed on the history of INdia, but even as a relatively ignorant person, I was able to enjoy them. The author has an especial gift for the horrifically vivid image—there’s a description of a river filled with dead bodies that’s haunted me since I read it.
August 21, 2020
"Sutradhar" is a collection of 7 stories revolving around the tales of our ancient mythology and legends. They are a sort of retelling of these texts from a bygone era.
What intrigued me about this book is the thematic representation of it. Each story is based on a distinct theme from each other ranging from sufferings, heroism, sacrifices, faith and a lot more. But the "Sutra (thread)" which is keeping all of them tied together is the writing style. It is so unusually good that you'll just dive into the vastness of the stories. They are extremely engrossing and well written. There were no errors and the vocabulary used is very promising. The stories are very well researched and the amount of time and efforts the author put into this book is very commendable.
The content of the book is very philosophical and profound and in context with it, the length of the stories is very overwhelming. They get very detailed at some places which are not very relevant and that makes the plot tedious.
Some of my favourite stories from this anthology are "A mirror for the ants and The path of a coward". The cover is very rustic and aesthetic.
A number of poems are incorporated between the stories which bestow a beautiful charm to the stories. Even an ode to Ma Saraswati, in the beginning, feels so personal and genuine.
I will recommend this book to every person who is interested in folktales, mythology and our ancient legends and is a lover of good language
What intrigued me about this book is the thematic representation of it. Each story is based on a distinct theme from each other ranging from sufferings, heroism, sacrifices, faith and a lot more. But the "Sutra (thread)" which is keeping all of them tied together is the writing style. It is so unusually good that you'll just dive into the vastness of the stories. They are extremely engrossing and well written. There were no errors and the vocabulary used is very promising. The stories are very well researched and the amount of time and efforts the author put into this book is very commendable.
The content of the book is very philosophical and profound and in context with it, the length of the stories is very overwhelming. They get very detailed at some places which are not very relevant and that makes the plot tedious.
Some of my favourite stories from this anthology are "A mirror for the ants and The path of a coward". The cover is very rustic and aesthetic.
A number of poems are incorporated between the stories which bestow a beautiful charm to the stories. Even an ode to Ma Saraswati, in the beginning, feels so personal and genuine.
I will recommend this book to every person who is interested in folktales, mythology and our ancient legends and is a lover of good language
August 4, 2020
Sutradhar is an enchanting collection of short stories, each of which can be defined as a brief retelling of an event, myth, or legend associated with the Indian pantheon.
What captivated me most about Sutradhar was the content and style of writing. Each of the chapters are unusual in its own way. While the first story is narrated from the second person point of view, the next one is narrated from the third person standpoint. There is a kind of melodious upheaval that occurs throughout Sutradhar. Maybe, "upheaval" sounds too extreme in this context. What I mean is, each story in Sutradhar is detached from one another, as far as the narration and style of writing is concerned. And in this discord lies a rhythm, an order which makes the book enjoyable. Next, the theme. Sutradhar deals with multiple themes in every short story. Though the general theme is that of a retelling, the prevalent thematic aspects range from sacrifice to bravery, despair, hope, and so on. Moreover, there are a lost of things happening in the language of the book. Each of the stories in Sutradhar are long, accompanied by a language which is profound and philosophical. Considering the fact that the anthology itself is based on mythology and legends, Sutradhar tries to recreate the kind of epic proportions with the usage of ornamental language and recurrent usage of verses as well.
However, amid the melodies of words and style, Sutradhar had two p(l)otholes — an overwhelming length and weight of the story, and the overuse of rhetoric. There were a handful of stories which were too heavy for its plot, and the language employed in narration was just too rich for comprehension. And this constant use of rhetoric created a monotony in these stories.
I convey my best wishes to the author for his future endeavours.
What captivated me most about Sutradhar was the content and style of writing. Each of the chapters are unusual in its own way. While the first story is narrated from the second person point of view, the next one is narrated from the third person standpoint. There is a kind of melodious upheaval that occurs throughout Sutradhar. Maybe, "upheaval" sounds too extreme in this context. What I mean is, each story in Sutradhar is detached from one another, as far as the narration and style of writing is concerned. And in this discord lies a rhythm, an order which makes the book enjoyable. Next, the theme. Sutradhar deals with multiple themes in every short story. Though the general theme is that of a retelling, the prevalent thematic aspects range from sacrifice to bravery, despair, hope, and so on. Moreover, there are a lost of things happening in the language of the book. Each of the stories in Sutradhar are long, accompanied by a language which is profound and philosophical. Considering the fact that the anthology itself is based on mythology and legends, Sutradhar tries to recreate the kind of epic proportions with the usage of ornamental language and recurrent usage of verses as well.
However, amid the melodies of words and style, Sutradhar had two p(l)otholes — an overwhelming length and weight of the story, and the overuse of rhetoric. There were a handful of stories which were too heavy for its plot, and the language employed in narration was just too rich for comprehension. And this constant use of rhetoric created a monotony in these stories.
I convey my best wishes to the author for his future endeavours.
August 22, 2020
The Indic root runs deep and strong, underlining the bed of our culture. 'Sutradhar' by Ratul Chakraborty celebrates these very Indic roots through the dramatized tales running through centuries, from the time Mother Sarasvati flowed through the land of Bharata. Can the trees of civilisation ever separate from its roots?
Breathtakingly beautiful narration. When I thought of reading this short story compilation, I didn't expect it to be so profound. It carried me through so many different times and described to me in beautiful, decorated language the tale of my ancestors. I loved the poems along the passage. The narration is so good that I felt a serene calmness while reading it. The retellings left me awed. Being a lover of historical fiction, this made me delve further into the genre.
There were a few typos in certain sections but they weren't as imposing. I loved every bit of this collection. This book is for seasoned readers, and will take some time to complete as it brings about an air of contemplation.
Overall, history lovers or fiction lovers, this book is calling out to you.
For more such detailed reviews, check out my bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mystic_tale...
Breathtakingly beautiful narration. When I thought of reading this short story compilation, I didn't expect it to be so profound. It carried me through so many different times and described to me in beautiful, decorated language the tale of my ancestors. I loved the poems along the passage. The narration is so good that I felt a serene calmness while reading it. The retellings left me awed. Being a lover of historical fiction, this made me delve further into the genre.
There were a few typos in certain sections but they weren't as imposing. I loved every bit of this collection. This book is for seasoned readers, and will take some time to complete as it brings about an air of contemplation.
Overall, history lovers or fiction lovers, this book is calling out to you.
For more such detailed reviews, check out my bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mystic_tale...
August 22, 2020
Sutradhar by author Ratul Chakraborty is a collection of stories of mythology and history related to India.
Broadly put book contains 7 chapters and hence 7 stories, but in each of them there are more than one story. Stories of Sindhu river, Chankaya, Ashoka, Aurangzeb and more are present. Some of the stories we know already some are new, some add insights to the life over that period of time. Some new characters are introduced and story is narrated from their point of view, making the story more amiable to readers, there are subtle changes in the stories which gives a fresh flavour to them.
Author's narration skills is the main highlight of the book. Once we start reading we don't feel like keeping the book away. Poetries inbetween the stories are like cherries, makes the reading more interesting. Plot flows easily, language is lucid. Would have loved to see a bibliography page, if the subtle changes in stories made were authentic. Stories can be read at ease as they are not interrelated.
Enjoyed reading each of them and would recommend to all.
Broadly put book contains 7 chapters and hence 7 stories, but in each of them there are more than one story. Stories of Sindhu river, Chankaya, Ashoka, Aurangzeb and more are present. Some of the stories we know already some are new, some add insights to the life over that period of time. Some new characters are introduced and story is narrated from their point of view, making the story more amiable to readers, there are subtle changes in the stories which gives a fresh flavour to them.
Author's narration skills is the main highlight of the book. Once we start reading we don't feel like keeping the book away. Poetries inbetween the stories are like cherries, makes the reading more interesting. Plot flows easily, language is lucid. Would have loved to see a bibliography page, if the subtle changes in stories made were authentic. Stories can be read at ease as they are not interrelated.
Enjoyed reading each of them and would recommend to all.
August 10, 2020
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
📚 Book Review
Title : Sutradhar
Author : Ratul Chakraborty
Language: English
Edition : Kindle
Pages : 282
🎭 India has a rich heritage of history. It has one of the most oldest civilizations of the world. Indian heritage and culture is vast and vivid because of the religions, customs and traditions. To keep history alive stories are told and retold generations after generations. It is a beautiful gift by our older generations for us.
🎭 Sutradhar is written by Ratul Chakraborty. It has a collection of seven stories. Each of them are of substantial size. It is a dramatized retelling of events, myths, and legends set across the arc of the Indian history. The book belongs to historical and mythological genre.
🎭 The storyteller tries to retell ancient stories in a modern way. The author has started the book with An Ode to Ma Saraswati which glorifies the reading of the book. Although it is an adaption of Indic Civilisation, it is more interesting and makes the readers more curious while turning the pages.
🎭 The author's story is a key of continuity of Indic Civilisation. The author and his fathers and fore fathers has kept alive their own civilisation by continously retelling and interpreting these stories as this has been their family tradition.
🎭 The author has inserted poems in between the stories which is indeed appreciable. The author's narration is smooth and is easy to understand. I would like the author to publish more books of this genre.
Ratings : 4.5 /5
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
📚 Book Review
Title : Sutradhar
Author : Ratul Chakraborty
Language: English
Edition : Kindle
Pages : 282
🎭 India has a rich heritage of history. It has one of the most oldest civilizations of the world. Indian heritage and culture is vast and vivid because of the religions, customs and traditions. To keep history alive stories are told and retold generations after generations. It is a beautiful gift by our older generations for us.
🎭 Sutradhar is written by Ratul Chakraborty. It has a collection of seven stories. Each of them are of substantial size. It is a dramatized retelling of events, myths, and legends set across the arc of the Indian history. The book belongs to historical and mythological genre.
🎭 The storyteller tries to retell ancient stories in a modern way. The author has started the book with An Ode to Ma Saraswati which glorifies the reading of the book. Although it is an adaption of Indic Civilisation, it is more interesting and makes the readers more curious while turning the pages.
🎭 The author's story is a key of continuity of Indic Civilisation. The author and his fathers and fore fathers has kept alive their own civilisation by continously retelling and interpreting these stories as this has been their family tradition.
🎭 The author has inserted poems in between the stories which is indeed appreciable. The author's narration is smooth and is easy to understand. I would like the author to publish more books of this genre.
Ratings : 4.5 /5
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
November 10, 2020
Full review on my blog:
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2020/11/bo...
Sutradhar is a collection of seven short stories which are based on the myths, legends and folktales of the land, of ancient Indian civilization. These are retelling of stories we would have heard from our ancestors as folklore and are themed across genres majorly revolving around history and mythology.
The stories are not like typical short stories and each have a considerable length. The author has researched the content extensively and that is visible in the detailing in the stories. The poems and quotes shared in the middle these stories also adds to the reading experience.
The cover could have been better designed as it is abstract and does not precisely give a gist of the stories inside. The stories also start a bit slow and take a while for the reader to get an understanding of what each of them is trying to convey. Added to that, a bit of editing as places could have made the book crisp and more engaging.
If you like to explore stories around Indian folklore, about the ancient Kings and the stories of this land, then pick this one.
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2020/11/bo...
Sutradhar is a collection of seven short stories which are based on the myths, legends and folktales of the land, of ancient Indian civilization. These are retelling of stories we would have heard from our ancestors as folklore and are themed across genres majorly revolving around history and mythology.
The stories are not like typical short stories and each have a considerable length. The author has researched the content extensively and that is visible in the detailing in the stories. The poems and quotes shared in the middle these stories also adds to the reading experience.
The cover could have been better designed as it is abstract and does not precisely give a gist of the stories inside. The stories also start a bit slow and take a while for the reader to get an understanding of what each of them is trying to convey. Added to that, a bit of editing as places could have made the book crisp and more engaging.
If you like to explore stories around Indian folklore, about the ancient Kings and the stories of this land, then pick this one.
June 11, 2021
Sutradhar is collection of 7 different stories based on different time in history. I have not read much in English literature. But till now I have missed the poetic touch in the English books that I have read. But in this book the author has not simply narrated the story, but has enriched the stories with poetic touch and enchanting imagination. In the beginning , the book looks usual but when I progressed, I really enjoyed reading.
With recent revelation that Ashok was a Buddhist before Kalinga War, I was expecting some flaw from author part regarding this, but I am happy that I was wrong and the author has researched well in history before writing. Regarding Alexander and Porus war, I had read somewhere that in that war no one came victorious and whatever we learn that Porus was defeated and presented before Alexander and treated like king, the basis of this story is from foreign account. I think author has presented Indian view about this story.
I find my inability about how to write good review, but this book I enjoyed reading. Great work Ratulji.
With recent revelation that Ashok was a Buddhist before Kalinga War, I was expecting some flaw from author part regarding this, but I am happy that I was wrong and the author has researched well in history before writing. Regarding Alexander and Porus war, I had read somewhere that in that war no one came victorious and whatever we learn that Porus was defeated and presented before Alexander and treated like king, the basis of this story is from foreign account. I think author has presented Indian view about this story.
I find my inability about how to write good review, but this book I enjoyed reading. Great work Ratulji.
November 1, 2020
Sutradhar by Rahul Chakraborthy is a collection of 7 short stories belonging to the historical and mythological genre, the stories are a retelling of the various ancient Indian stories,events and personalities.
The stories are mostly philosophical and have a very deep and enriched texture of Indian culture,history,beliefs,myths,spirituality etc.
The addition of poems add a lovely touch to the book.
The plot was parallel,however it felt too stretched at times for basic events.
The writing style kept the stories connected,
Various narrative techniques are used in the stories to break the monotony for the reader.
The takeaway from this book is something that'll surely need your time,acceptance and patience.
Overall,a good read for people who are into the history/mythological genre.
MY RATING : 3.5/5
The stories are mostly philosophical and have a very deep and enriched texture of Indian culture,history,beliefs,myths,spirituality etc.
The addition of poems add a lovely touch to the book.
The plot was parallel,however it felt too stretched at times for basic events.
The writing style kept the stories connected,
Various narrative techniques are used in the stories to break the monotony for the reader.
The takeaway from this book is something that'll surely need your time,acceptance and patience.
Overall,a good read for people who are into the history/mythological genre.
MY RATING : 3.5/5
Read
November 3, 2020What does Sutradhar really means?
It means Leader. The book title is apt for the stories which lay inside the book. The book consists of short stories which are mostly based on historical phases regarding the King such as Shivaji, Priyadarshani Ashoka and sages such as Chanakya.
The stories are well versed and well researched. The grip of the author on the language is very powerful and that is the very advantage that makes this book soo intriguing to read.
This book is like our grandparent's who will narrate to us those decade's ago stories where rulers ruled with the sense of Dharma and the people of the kingdom flourised.
This book was a very good read for me and I would definitely recommend people to read through if you love reading historical stuff.
The book gives us insight into alot of human values and philosophies in the form of small poetry and quotings.
It means Leader. The book title is apt for the stories which lay inside the book. The book consists of short stories which are mostly based on historical phases regarding the King such as Shivaji, Priyadarshani Ashoka and sages such as Chanakya.
The stories are well versed and well researched. The grip of the author on the language is very powerful and that is the very advantage that makes this book soo intriguing to read.
This book is like our grandparent's who will narrate to us those decade's ago stories where rulers ruled with the sense of Dharma and the people of the kingdom flourised.
This book was a very good read for me and I would definitely recommend people to read through if you love reading historical stuff.
The book gives us insight into alot of human values and philosophies in the form of small poetry and quotings.
August 10, 2020
"Sutradhar" by Rahul Chakraborty is a collection of seven different ancient legend stories with the combination of Hindu Mythology and Indic philosophy.
The book is well researched.
The stories are dramatized as a retelling of events of ancient times, myths and legends of the Indian history.
My Views:
The title is perfectly apt to the book and the cover is attractive.
I really liked the lines at the beginning of the stories and the poetries in between the stories.
The language of the stories is good.
Stories narration is good but for some stories, it could have been better.
Some stories are lengthy and boring for me.
Recommended this book to those who like to read History and Mythology.
August 15, 2020
It was a very unique read. This book is not for everyone because the length of the book is not in tune with the content. Tye content is heavy and to summarise in the shortest way possible the author has retold myths and legends we are aware of in a way we can relate in the 21st century. Each one is well researched. I will not recommend it to a beginner at all. The intertwined prose and verse gave a great effect to the read. Each story has a different perspective and a different rhythm and tone to it. Thus while reading it doesn't feel monotonous. A One Penny Tune was my favorite. I loved the cover. It reminded me of the river beside Princep. If you are looking for something different but grounded in culture, this might be your read.
August 7, 2020
.
.⚜️. About the book : Sutradhar
.
.
.⚜️.author : Ratul Chakraborty
.
.
.⚜️.pages : 282
.
.⚜️.format : kindle
.
.⚜️. Publisher : notion press
.
.
.〽️. This story is about : the story had
Different morals
and ethics
about the way of
life and certain
aspects was
about the past
of kings and
how they
overcome
their fear of
life and it was
also related
to some of
the philosophical
features .
.
.
.💢.the main ideas : it tells us about
different civilisation
about kings who
faced life with great
difficulties with
dignity with their
swords and also
the Indus -
Saraswati civilisation
which had brought
into contact with
different cultures
all over the world .
.
.
🔅.summary : welcoming the torrential
down pour which was
accompanied by
cataclysmic thunder boult
that rend the sky ,
overflowing it’s banks
with wild abandon - a
display of might that
echoes with the Rig vedas on this day
.
.
➿. Devasthi was governed by a council
of elders - who collectively acted
as the all - powerful guardians of
traditions .
.
.➿. Along side there were thousands
of smaller bronze effigies -
on for each mother in the
city .
.
.
.🔔. The point of view towards
this story focuses on the
law and events that
perhaps forever
changed
the destiny
of human civilisation ,
admits the part in
them and subjects
them to the judgement
of future generations.
.
.
.🗝review : I had immense of emotions
towards this book and
I had envied how the
kings use to utilise there
Swords and they had a
mixed of intensity towards
there families
.
.
.🖌. Writing style : majestically written
.
.📖. Narration style : the author was well - versed
And had put in a lot of effort
towards this narration of this
story .
.
.
.🌀. Recommendation : to all past lovers out there !
.⚜️. About the book : Sutradhar
.
.
.⚜️.author : Ratul Chakraborty
.
.
.⚜️.pages : 282
.
.⚜️.format : kindle
.
.⚜️. Publisher : notion press
.
.
.〽️. This story is about : the story had
Different morals
and ethics
about the way of
life and certain
aspects was
about the past
of kings and
how they
overcome
their fear of
life and it was
also related
to some of
the philosophical
features .
.
.
.💢.the main ideas : it tells us about
different civilisation
about kings who
faced life with great
difficulties with
dignity with their
swords and also
the Indus -
Saraswati civilisation
which had brought
into contact with
different cultures
all over the world .
.
.
🔅.summary : welcoming the torrential
down pour which was
accompanied by
cataclysmic thunder boult
that rend the sky ,
overflowing it’s banks
with wild abandon - a
display of might that
echoes with the Rig vedas on this day
.
.
➿. Devasthi was governed by a council
of elders - who collectively acted
as the all - powerful guardians of
traditions .
.
.➿. Along side there were thousands
of smaller bronze effigies -
on for each mother in the
city .
.
.
.🔔. The point of view towards
this story focuses on the
law and events that
perhaps forever
changed
the destiny
of human civilisation ,
admits the part in
them and subjects
them to the judgement
of future generations.
.
.
.🗝review : I had immense of emotions
towards this book and
I had envied how the
kings use to utilise there
Swords and they had a
mixed of intensity towards
there families
.
.
.🖌. Writing style : majestically written
.
.📖. Narration style : the author was well - versed
And had put in a lot of effort
towards this narration of this
story .
.
.
.🌀. Recommendation : to all past lovers out there !
November 9, 2020
I believe it's the stories and the art of storytelling that kept our civilization alive. This book is a great attempt to make some some folk stories accessible. The writing is interspersed with a few poems which give context and what struck me while reading the book was that it was engaging at the same time thought provoking. There were some passages where I felt the author went overboard and lost the context and it is probably because it is his first book and that is the only reason I have it for stars. Happy reading!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews