Well, all of us who have heard the story of Ramayana being told in different forms are aware that Ravana, the king of Lanka was a scholar and an adept musician. It is said that it was his arrogance that became his nemesis. Asura by Anand Neelakantan, is a brilliant take on this topic. The author writes the book in first person, the story is told by the vanquished king Ravana himself, and in bits and parts by a commoner of the kingdom of Lanka, Bhadra. What is refreshing is the idea that Sita was actually Ravana's daughter. But this idea, though not well known, is not new. According to Sanghdasha's Jaina version of the Ramayana, Sita was actually Ravana's and Mandodari's first born.The astorlogers had predicted that this daughter would be responsible for the downfall of Ravana. But the book says that Ravana actually rubbished the prediction. However, it was the ministers in the Ravana's cabinet who wanted the girl out of the way. Eventually, Ravana was well aware of the fact that King Janka of Mithila had adopted Sita and the book also says that Ravana went to witness Sita's swayamvar. What is refreshing is the fact that the book contests the notion that Ravana was all black and Lord Rama was all correct.Even when we see the TV debates every night, we see speakers taking sides as something could be entirely right or completely wrong. We portray some of our historical figures like Emperor Akbar as extraordinary and some like Aurangzeb as completely evil. This book challenges that thinking. And also the way history is taught in India. In fact the book could be a textbook in philosophy. However on the flip side, I wish the book was a bit shorter. At 496 pages, I felt the book a bit too long. But in any case, this book is a must read for the discerning and the eclectic reader.
What is refreshing is the idea that Sita was actually Ravana's daughter. But this idea, though not well known, is not new. According to Sanghdasha's Jaina version of the Ramayana, Sita was actually Ravana's and Mandodari's first born.The astorlogers had predicted that this daughter would be responsible for the downfall of Ravana. But the book says that Ravana actually rubbished the prediction. However, it was the ministers in the Ravana's cabinet who wanted the girl out of the way. Eventually, Ravana was well aware of the fact that King Janka of Mithila had adopted Sita and the book also says that Ravana went to witness Sita's swayamvar.
What is refreshing is the fact that the book contests the notion that Ravana was all black and Lord Rama was all correct.Even when we see the TV debates every night, we see speakers taking sides as something could be entirely right or completely wrong. We portray some of our historical figures like Emperor Akbar as extraordinary and some like Aurangzeb as completely evil.
This book challenges that thinking. And also the way history is taught in India. In fact the book could be a textbook in philosophy. However on the flip side, I wish the book was a bit shorter. At 496 pages, I felt the book a bit too long.
But in any case, this book is a must read for the discerning and the eclectic reader.