Indian Readers discussion

Asura- Tale of The Vanquished

It is with some satisfaction and happiness that I find my debut novel in FLIPKART, home shop 18 etc's TOP NEW Release list. It is still early days as the book hit the stands only on third week of May 2012. However, a few of the readers who had read the book had asked me the question that why I chose to write about such a controversial character - RAVANA- the ultimate demon of our epics

Asura- Tale of the Vanquished travels in the Asura world of Ramayana. Rama does not even make an appearance until the middle of the book. It deals with the struggles of Ravana and his child hood, how the Asuras were fighting a losing war with the ever expanding Deva Empire and how Ravana raises himself from abject poverty to the emperor of Asuras, smashing the Deva Empire. For these I have used the conventional mythology sources itself, but I have attempted to give it a modern feel and logical reasoning, instead of describing spectacular things like one thousand year tapasya for getting a boon and such things.

However, where I have differed from traditional retelling is in the creation of a fictitious character called Bhadra. He plays an equally important part. He is the voice of common Asura. The story is told as alternating chapters where Ravana tells his story and Bhadra his. Bhadra is a common soldier who lost his family to Deva raid during a Deva Asura war and thirsts for revenge against Devas. He, like many young Asuras sees Ravana as their savior and joins the charismatic young leader to fight against Devas.

With an indomitable will and inspiring leadership Ravana leads Asuras from victory to victory and establishes a grand Asura empire. Common men like Bhadra believe that a better world awaits them under Ravana and blindly follows the leader. However, as the time goes, the poor among Asuras find that nothing much has changed for them under Ravana. Asura is very much the story of great heroes like Ravana and Rama as much as it is that of common and insignificant men like Bhadra.

Asura is an attempt to get into the mind of the so called villain of Ramayana. I have heard Ramayana in various versions, told by story tellers of differing caliber and passion. Most of what I heard was oral. Being born in a conservative Brahmin family, the Ramayana I was taught was the sanitized version where characters are all in black and white. This is the story where Rama is the avatar and Ravana, the devil incarnate. Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana that we grew up with played the part of strengthening such beliefs.

However, as I grew up and escaped the conservative environs of my childhood, I came face to face with various other folk renditions of Ramayana. There are more versions of Ramayana than any other story. It will not be an exaggeration to say that every tribe, every language, every era has their own version of Ramayana. They all differ significantly from one another. That is how great stories survive. It is co creation that makes things great. In modern world, it is the social media that co creates and make stories grow, evolve and become popular. In the traditional world, it is such retellings and co creations that make myths survive and grow. This co creation of Ramayana across Asia for the past thousands of years is what has made it the most endearing epic of human kind. Take any Indian language and we can find that the greatest of its writers have used themes from Ramayana or Mahabharatha to create classics in their own language. The epics of India are still growing and evolving. Asura is a small attempt in doing the same in Indian English writing. A time will come, when like other Indian languages, Indian English will also mature to produce writers of caliber who can deal with the complexities of Indian mythology and produce great works in Indian English, for an Indian audience.

I have used the south Indian folk lore of Ramayana in Asura. The story that Sita is the daughter of Ravana is prevalent in many south Indian folk traditions. Once Sita is accepted as the daughter of Ravana, then the whole abduction of Sita takes a different angle. When you add this up with the humiliation faced by Soorpanakha at the hands of Lakshmana, the perspective starts changing. There are innumerable folk songs that deal with the humiliation faced by the Asura princess.

Ravana as a protagonist offers immense possibilities. His life itself is an inspiration, among all the conventional Indian mythological character. Apart from Duryodhana, who is far less complicated, a few characters in Indian Mythology offers so much challenge. Who was Ravana? He is not the run of the mill villain. He is a ruler about whom Rama talks in glowing terms. Rama tells Lakshmana to learn the art of governing from Ravana, when Ravana is in his last moments. There is another folk story where it is told that Rama needed the most scholarly Brahmin priest to conduct a yajna before commencing the war. When he enquires, everyone tells that the most scholarly Brahmin alive is none other than Ravana. Rama sends an invitation to Ravana to come and conduct the Yajna to defeat Ravana. Ravana arrives at Rameshwara and conducts the Yajna and blesses Rama before war for his success. I have not used this story in Asura, but such stories are not told about any other mythological characters. A consummate Veena player, an astrologer, scientist, authority on medicine, musician, artist, warrior, great administrator- I do not think any villain has been portrayed with so many qualities in any story. It is such a villain that Indian folk traditions have been celebrating for the past thousands of years.
Other characters like Vidyutjihva, the brother in law of Ravana and the leader of a revolutionary army who leads a rebellion against Ravana promising the common men a world of equality, idealistic ministers like Prahastha who stand steadfast in their ideals, and other stock characters of Ramayana like Mandodari, Soorpanakha, Maricha etc also play their roles.
I have not portrayed Ravana as the hero without any flaws. My Ravana is neither devil nor God. He is an ordinary human being, who with a burning ambition and a grand dream decides to live life fully. He has his faults. He is not infallible and does many wrong things. I have not tried to white wash Ravana. I have used the traditional Ramayana, without resorting to super naturals to portray Ravana. So he does not have ten heads and twenty arms and is not a demon who keeps laughing hysterically after every dialogue, like they portray in television serials. He is as human as you and me. He starts with an idealistic vision, but Asura deals with how power corrupts human minds and how the lives of little people are crumbled when great men march towards their destiny.

Bhadra, the other hero, is the representative of any common Indian. Totally amoral, self- centered, naïve, opportunistic, cynical, invisible, insignificant Indian- that sums up my other Hero. He gets swayed by great words of leaders and commits many crimes for them, to be dumped and trampled up on again and again. He rises from each set back with a resilience that will help him survive the spectacular. Bhadra is the victory of mundane over spectacular.
Asura is as ancient as a story can be, yet it is as modern as possible. I hope the reader finds parallel with the current situation in India with the society described in Asura. I believe the reader will associate the characters to modern era leaders. I also hope my message resonates with readers instead of me pointing it out. Only then, I will consider the book to have succeeded.
Where Asura differs is in the perspective. The conventional view is turned upside down from the traditional Ramayana. It is the story of a people who are facing an invasion from an alien kingdom. It deals with the travails and fears of the other side, the side usually branded as demons and villains. Asura is all about seeing the enemy’s view point. Basically it underlines the inherent humanity in all human beings and how the same gets crushed by conventions. It also shows how the victor can write history and how it would differ if the vanquished is given a chance to write it.

Asura- Tale of The Vanquished

Hi Anand, congratulations on your first book. I love the write-up here. I can't wait to read your book now. I am new to Indian Mythology but I am enjoying every bit of it. If you must know, we will soon be having your book in our group reads over here.
Here is one question for you- what has been inspiring you to come up with such a clever book?

Thank you for the compliments. I love Indian Mythology and believe that India has the greatest story telling tradition in the world.
Asura is the product of my imagination which asked "why it could not have been like that instead of the traditional telling of Ramayana that I have grown up with?"
I am happy to say that the book is now in Crossword top selling fiction across 48 stores (at position 15) when 10 days are completed after book launch in crossword and Asura continues to be in top 10-12 position in flip kart new releases for the past 5 weeks.
Please let me know the opinion of the group readers once you do the same. It is compliment that serious book readers are taking note of my work of 6 years. Thank you for the same

Asura- Tale of The Vanquished

It is an enticing invitation to read the book, Anand. I have promptly bought it from homeshop18. If only I could be as prompt in reading it....but have a lot going right now but would hurry up through the rest to read this one. Please do keep writing good, interesting and innovative stuff. Best Wishes.

I got the book too! I usually get it from a book store near my place. The guy tells me people are into your book! Really excited. I have read three hundred ramayanas by RK Ramanujan. Talk about difrerent re-telling eh? It hit me in the head. I have read various froms of Ramayana too. This was just the book I needed right now. I will get to it as soon as I finish the ones I have in hand currently.

Thank you Rosun. May I know from where you had purchased the book as I am also excited to know that the bookstore fellow is telling the book is selling well. The book is yet to reach many book stores as the publisher ran out of stock in online sales itself. (Online has crossed 5000 as on last week within three weeks of the launch and in crossword shops where it had reached it was sold out in first week) So there is a delay in reaching the book in various markets and though landmark had recommended it i n Indian Fiction section for June, in Bangalore Chennai etc the book had not reached Landmark stores till last friday. I am curious to know which shop person had said that the sale of Asura is good and in which city. Happy to know about it and thank you for giving the news

Anand

I stay in Navi Mumbai and there is a small place in Raghuleela mall called "The Showcase". The person over there is usually my yardstick when it comes to Indian writers. They have excellent suggestions especially Indian mythology and since I am new to it.

now after reading your description i am gonna read it soon...n i wil purchase it from homeshop18

Its in my "to buy" list when i go to Crossword/Sapna book house on the weekend ...i love to read books with Indian mytho. theme

I also read a extract of the book from free downloads on goodreads some time back ...

hi anjali Asura is yet to be launched in sapna. expected by july10thonly . flipkqrt landmark crossword homeshop18 etc it is available

Hey Anand, loved your write up on your book. I find it very interesting that one can take up the non-conventional viewpoint and re-look at things...drawing remarkable conclusions. However my first tryst with the Asura side of the story came when I read Meghnad Vadh Kavya in bengali by the famous poet Michael Madhusudan Dutta. So i was eager to read your book when I first read about it here on goodreads. I have got my hands on the book, however it was pinched off me by my friend who also found the idea compelling. (I have other books to occupy myself with in the meanwhile..) However I am waiting finish my current read to start with your book.

Anand wrote: "hi anjali Asura is yet to be launched in sapna. expected by july10thonly . flipkqrt landmark crossword homeshop18 etc it is available"

Hey finally picked up my copy of the book from Sapna this weekend :) still on the first Chapter ....

Hey Anand, Great write up.. I am one of those who is in opinion that Ravana is better than Rama in the characterization of Ramayana. Ravana is definitely one of the most interesting characters of Indian Myths. Great to see a book in this theme in English. Will definitely read it soon..

All the best.. :)

I was blown away by Asura! Thank you Anand for such a good book. This is certainly a boom time for people who love Indian/Hindu mythology. Your skills in writing, the emotional content and the dark humour kept me going. Many, many congratulations once again and heartfelt good wishes to your future projects!

I am fond of mythology and my mind always pushes me to drag mythology from past to present. I always see these characters in reality's attire. And I like it. Asura is a great start to making the mythology alive and fragrant.
I always believe as R.k. Narayan said, the material available to a story writer in India is limitless' and I see India has a lot fiction and characters to play that. After all we are the mixed cultured people and the whole world has taken a lot from us and given less.
Anand you have given a hope to Indian fiction and I expect another one from you. Thank you.

Vishal wrote: "I am fond of mythology and my mind always puses me to drag mythology from past to present. I always see these characters in reality's attire. And I like it. Asura is a great start to making the myt..."

I completely agree with you. Myths are but folklore and that is fiction.

Hi Anand,
we have chosen this book as our group reads for August, you are warmly welcome to join in and participate in our discussion

Thank you. I feel honoured. I shall happily do the same

Just started this book last night and I gotta say I am pretty enthralled and captivated by the way you have presented the story. Sure shot page turner. Thanks to you young people will develop interest in Indian mythology.

Hi Anand,

I just started reading the book today. Totally enchanted and intrigued by the perspective you've chosen. Over the last few years, I've been a big mythology buff from a rational and knowledge stand point despite being a non-believer and unconventional in terms of beliefs in God.

I have always found great number of stories about Rama, the entire Mahabharata and sub plots and stories of Mahabharata. I've traveled to various destinations across India including temples, mountains and places of worship which depict carvings stories etc. Especially to Murudeshwara where the cave has astonishing depictions of the episode of Ravana with the Atmalingam and Shiva... And I've always been fascinated by his character....

Read religious as well as modern books including Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik. However just like you I always wanted something more (Besides stuff on Devdutt Pattanaik's books and Wikipedia and other references) And I think I found it. I would hope to cherish this book, which from Page 1 has been enthralling despite giving fiction and modern revisions in terms of interpretations....

P.S In case you're interested there is a lot of stuff on Quora about Hindu Mythology. You should actually answer some questions there...

I've made one board of the answers I've written/read etc. Do check it out if you have time.

http://www.quora.com/Srinivas-Kulkarn...

Hi Srinivas

Your quora link is extremely interesting will help me in my next book. Thank you for the same. I shall try to contribute with whatever limited knowledge I have.

Anand

I read the book recently and honestly as I wrote in my review , we all have a Ravana inside us. Congrats to Anand for writing the book wonderfully.

I read Ravana and then made all my friends read it too. amazing book...simply amazing....the narration of the other side of an age old tale is mind-blowing.

Hi Anand Neelakantan!

I always wanted to read Mahabharata and Ramayana. But I was also keen that the book should not be religious. So, I chose Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik - for Mahabharata. And Asura for Ramayana - though Asura is more of Ravanayana. Fortunately, Asura didn't disappoint me! Nowhere in the book I felt fantasy (which is akin to indian epics) - which is what I wanted. Asura made me believe, Ravana is just another king - not a rakchasha, pushpaka was just another flight or the first flight, Rama was just another king - who conquered Asura kingdom and not a god, Which I think, itself is great! Between ravanayana, the way that you have included the things like, the life and nature of ppl who are rule makers(Ravana, Rama) and ppl who are Ruler makers(badhra); Love, regret, remorse of a father for his daughter - are cool. :) Keep this keeping ON in the books yet to come also! Thank you for the book!

Nandri!!!
Velu :)

Akanksha aKa Axe wrote: "I read Ravana and then made all my friends read it too. amazing book...simply amazing....the narration of the other side of an age old tale is mind-blowing."

Thank you Akansha for your support.

Chandan wrote: "I read the book recently and honestly as I wrote in my review , we all have a Ravana inside us. Congrats to Anand for writing the book wonderfully."

Thank you Chandan for your support and encouragement

Velu wrote: "Hi Anand Neelakantan!

I always wanted to read Mahabharata and Ramayana. But I was also keen that the book should not be religious. So, I chose Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by ..."

Thank You Velu for your kind words. I hope you will like my take on Mahabharatha from Kaurava's perspective hitting the stands this year last quarter

Wow!! Can't wait to read on your take on the Mahabharatha

Thanks for writing a book on Ravanaa. I would like to share points about Ravana here. In Ramayana, Ravana has always been vilified by us due to his single act of kidnapping of Lord Ram's wife, Sita. But there is an interesting story when he aids Ram in his pursuit to rescue Sita and defeat him. God Ram wanted to build a bridge to reach Lanka from the shores of Rameshwaram. Before the work started, he decided to perform a yagna to God Shiva to defeat Ravana. But the Yagna required a very knowledgeable priest to conduct it and Ram had to have his wife by his side during the proceedings.

Everyone is Ram's camp were aware of the fact that the only person qualified to the perform the Yagna was none other than Ravana himself. Ram desperate to conduct the Yagna invited Ravana to which he accepted. Ravana not only agreed to perform the Yagna, he was understanding enough to bring Sita along as well. Ravana successfully conducted the Yagna and in the end when Ram requested Ravana's blessings to defeat him, Ravana promptly replied “Tatasthu” (So be it).

Read More

Ravan's admirers as well as lovers of verse may like to visit my page to enjoy Sundara Kãnda: Hanuman’s Odyssey.