After the hugely engaging and popular Shiva trilogy, I have been waiting for Amish’s next and was probably one of the first ones to pre-order the book on amazon. And Boy! He does not disappoint a bit. The simple language and familiar but still different story keeps you engaged right from the beginning.
This book is the first in the Rama Chandra series, and narrates the most famous story of this part of the world – The Ramayana. Blending and telling the story like it was happening right in front of your eyes is a talent Amish has perfected. I still remember a colleague ecstatically mentioning Amish’s first Shiva book back in 2010 – “Have you heard of this new Shiva book? Shiva dances, smokes up and fights goons in it. You should read it.. “.
This one is no different in that promise. Lord Rama, and the other characters of the pic are depicted as normal characters conversing in today’s language and talking normal basic world stuff. Amish does well to take the modern reader back to the original philosophical conundrums, especially when he explicitly puts these debates in a modern context.
The integration of the infamous Delhi rape did look as a populist move but makes the reader think – How would a perfect society handle the situation?
The first book details the epic through Ram’s childhood and education, along with the politics surrounding his ascension to the throne, and ultimately his 14 year exile, accompanied by wife Sita and brother Lakshman.
The ending of the book is quite dramatized in a typical Bollywood movie style, where Ravan has kidnapped Sita and Ram looks up to see the Pushpak Viman flying away and is filled with rage.
Looking at the pace of the series, my guess is that the second book would detail out the battle between Ram and Ravan, and the remaining three books, of the five part series, would dwell on the perfect society concept – Ram Rajya.
Can’t wait for the next book!