Sabarish

I got the hardcover editions of the Ramayana series some time back as a gift from the author, Ashok. This edition is something I’ve been looking forward to for a while now. The covers are very ‘eye-catchy’ and more importantly the books are exactly as Ashok envisioned them when he wrote the series and he considers it the best edition of the series. I got the books at the perfect time to read the Ramayana – during the Ramayana month of Karakadam – when it’s generally considered to be an auspicious time to read the Ramayana!

These series mean a lot to me and I am extremely proud to say I’ve traveled the journey as a reader and well wisher with Ashok and a few more Epic Indians and I’ve literally seen these books come to life. I’m also extremely humbled that I was acknowledged by Ashok in the books, along with other Epic Indians!

The hardcover editions are slightly different from the earlier paper back editions and is definitely more refined and ‘Indianised’ (for want of a better word!). There are a lot more phrases and sentences in Indian languages and some scenes have been slightly modified from the earlier paper-back editions. Expect detailed reviews of the three hardcover books as and when I’m done with them. And if you haven’t already, go and read the series – trust me they are worth the read!

I bought a copy of How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got a Life by Kaavya Viswanathan much before the recent controversy surrounding its author, who is accused of plagiarism. Sad to hear that many passages were lifted from other books and that the book will not be continued, also her second book will not be published and the movie plans are also cancelled. Read more at the Harvard Crimson and also read this post in defence of Kaavya and this one saying she should be supported and her true talent should be encouraged. Anyway, I wonder how the author and publishers could have been so careless and how such a situation came to be.

The book itself was a nice light read and was good time pass. The book does talk of a rather serious issue of how children are forced into being someone they aren’t. It is very common here in India to see most students under enormous parental pressure. Parents force the children to take up various classes and never let the children decide their own future and course of life. Courses, colleges, friends, and even spouses are choosen by parents – because (supposedly) parents know best – and parents are only doing it for the child’s welfare – blah blah crap. I think parents should let their children just be themselves and make their own decisions.

And parents should stop comparing their children with others. I hear it so often (even now) – “oh you got 70%?”, “How much did so-and-so get?”, “If he can then why can’t you?”, etc! I hate being compared to anybody else and I don’t live my life based on what others are doing.

Hmmm a little digression there, but back to the book – some of the incidents described in the book can now be compared with Kaavya’s own life – especially the part about getting caught and being embarrased in front of school friends. Opal Mehta goes through a lot in the book and ultimately realises that she needn’t try to imitate anyone or be something that she is not. Just chill and be yourself! I guess that now applies to Kaavya herself! She probably needs to look beyond this disaster and move on and user her talent to continue writing.

I am currently re-re-reading Demons of Chitrakut by Ashok K Banker and wanted to post this review of the same. Well I actually read Ashok’s Ramayana series over and over again, sometimes just a few chapters here and there or some incident or some interesting story of some character…because the books are really good and are so different from other re-tellings of the Ramayana and one would have never read the Ramayana in this style ever before and ofcourse the Ramayana itself is such a timeless and wonderful epic.

Like the previous two books, this one does not fail to hold you captive! Infact for once being held captive is a nice idea. You just don’t want this book to get over!

This 3rd book resumes immediately where Siege of Mithila left us…at the very exciting attack of the demons. The book goes on to describe Rama’s wedding with Sita and the interaction between Rama and Parashurama (one of my favourites).

This is the book in which Rama, Sita and Lakshmana are sent into exile thanks to the manipulated Kaikeyi’s demands of the two boons that were promised to her by Dasaratha. Manthara’s evil ways are finally revealed and she is banished from the Kingdom. Rama, Sita and Lakshmana go to Dandaka-van and a broken hearted Maharaja Dasaratha passes away with Rama’s name on his lips. We then read about Rama’s adventures in the forests with Guha, chief of the hunters and his meeting with Sabari, the tribal woman. It is after her that the Ayyappa temple hill is named Sabarimala in Kerala, and incidently after which I am named!

Rama, Sita and Lakshmana finally settle down at the beautiful and calm Chitrakut hill for their long fourteen year exile, but its not all peace and quiet…

Ashok takes the liberty of adding scenes and incidents to his re-telling (for that is what it is – a re-telling and not a translation), and he does so in a way that supports the central story and he manages to add a lot of background details and descriptions that literally let the reader experience the Ramayana, in Ashok’s own special, wonderful way.

It really sets the mood for further books of the series and is one of my favourite books in the series. A very action packed book with lots of interesting incidents and a definite must read and must have book.