Signed copies of my books now available!
Hi all.
I’m offering signed copies of any and all of my books via courier delivery at cost price via this website.
I’ll announce details shortly.
The books will be personally signed by me, inscribed with short messages to anyone you like (even yourself!) and will be couriered anywhere in the world, at prices much less than those quoted on any online bookseller in India or abroad.
So if you’re one of the many, many people who seem to have trouble finding copies of the author’s preferred editions of my books in the UK, USA or anywhere else, just wait a few more days and order them direct from me.
More information in a few days.
Watch this space!
“To me this style of narration was unique and totally gratifying.”
Posted by Sundarb on his blog Thought
After Hawkeye’s sharp reviews of Ashok Banker’s Ramayana [part 1, part 2, part 3], I was highly motivated to read the epic. The first place that struck me to find them was Amazon and I noticed that in the reviews section, Ashok himself had strongly discouraged people from buying the UK/US editions because of the publishers classifying the book to be in Fantasy/Science Fiction! It must have been a long, vividly imaginative and more importantly an extremely personal odyssey for the author and his persuasion about this in particular is quite understandable. I chanced to get the omnibus editions themselves and so my journey with Rama, through Ashok’s mind had begun. Before I start to present my perspective about the book, I wish to outline briefly on the religious background surrounding this great epic.
Vedas form the root of the Hindu religion. As Swami Vivekananda details elaborately in his paper on Hinduism [here], “Hindus hold that the Vedas are without beginning and without end. It may sound ludicrous to this audience, how a book can be without beginning or end. But by the Vedas no books are meant. They mean the accumulated treasury of spiritual laws discovered by different persons in different times. Just as the law of gravitation existed before its discovery, and would exist if all humanity forgot it, so is it with the laws that govern the spiritual world.� Upanishads are a part of Vedas and they bring out the essence of them, hence also referred as Vedanta (culmination of Vedas). Great sages such as Adi Sankara, Ramanujacharya and Madhavacharya commented on these Upanishads to their disciples thus forming three schools of thought- Advaita, Vishishtadvaita and Dvaita respectively. These ancient works of wisdom can be perfectly understood only under the guidance of a spiritual guru and it also requires the disciple to be receptive of the to-be-imparted knowledge.
The mahakavyas, Ramayana and Mahabharata composed by Valmiki and Veda Vyasa are two classics of ancient Indian literature. Through the lives of the people in the poems, the sages brilliantly bring out the essence of the hindu spiritual truths for the ‘common man’ (during that time – this term would refer to everyone except brahmacharyas who have devoted their life to spiritual exploration). These works stood the test of time. They have been annotated, modified, re-modified and presented by several other poets so that they would convey the essence, the underlying themes of dharma, karma, artha and moksha effectively during their time. After reading the 6 volumes of Banker’s version of Ramayana, I thought how great was the original composer of the epic! The actual details of the historical events can be altered according to the presenter but the basic philosophy of the poem will always remain intact. Banker accomplishes the task elegantly and conveys the theme in several profound ways.
Dh(arma) encompasses Rama: He is the perfect being. Throughout his life, Rama stood as a synonym for dharma. Rama’s unflinching adherence to what is right is astounding. At every critical moment in this book, Banker brings out Rama’s reasoning behind his decisions with clarity and simplicity. What is more important to note and which Banker emphasizes throughout the story repeatedly is that he is a mortal. Just like you or me. But still he is always capable of sensing what is right. This is the strength of his effort. By portraying him to be a mortal who suffers continuous conflicts, confusions, dilemmas in his mind and still somehow sees through the clouds- Banker strikes it up close and personal to us readers thereby winning on relating the reader to Rama.
The force of Brahman: When Hawkeye mentioned about this in his review, this is the factor that compelled me to read the book more than anything else. All the supernatural powers that Rama, Lakshman, Hanuman and several others demonstrate is linked to Brahman, the all-encompassing One, Sat (Existence) Chit (consciousness) Ananda (Bliss). By this interlink, Banker weaved in the most comprehensive Hindu philosophy (Aham Brahmasmi) seamlessly, at the same time establishing a sense of logic to everything that is supernatural in the story. A masterstroke.
The suffering of Sita: A very integral part of the story is the agony that Sita goes through because of the separation from her Rama. If Rama destroyed evil by following the path of righteousness, Sita played her part in destroying the same evil by suffering. Because by suffering and not returning the torture, she converted the evil itself to nothing. It is deeply moving, the way Banker brings out the emotional war she had to undergo.
The four paths of self-realization: It is known in the Hindu religion that there are four paths towards realizing Brahman, viz. Jnana, Raja, Bhakti and Karma Yoga. There are several characters in Ramayana who tread along these different paths. Guru Vashishta and Vishwamitra have mastered Jnana (deep contemplation) and Raja (control over senses). Their disciples are learning on those lines. Hanuman stands out as the most devout bhakta of Rama, the deep love towards Rama that leads him towards his realization. Rama himself, is dharmic duty(Karma) personified. As in the real world, even in the story, people are at different levels of spiritual awareness and they chose the path that fits them the most. Each of these paths that these characters walk – are traced neatly by Banker. I wish there was more of ‘Prashan Uttar’ of Rama and Lakshman with Guru Vishwamitra. I thought the entire interaction between the two and the Guru was an absolute delight of a reading.
Alternative Narration: I don’t really know the technical name for this style of writing, but towards the end of each book Banker switches to this mode where he has two or three threads of the story running in parallel, each one surmounting in excitement of its own and he keeps alternating between these threads, leading the reader to an unputdownable state. To me this style of narration was unique and totally gratifying.
Overall, it is an outstanding achievement. But at the end, certainly I was left with an earnest desire to learn more – especially about Ravana. Because after all that great, but short dialogue between him and Rama, I yearned to glean more about Ravana. I am glad that the next two books are going to come out in the future.
My Mba: Exclusive excerpts only on The AKB Newsletter
This week’s featured excerpts on The AKB Newsletter are a series of five chapters exclusive from my Mba.
They’re actually five rough drafts of five separate beginnings I wrote for the series.
I’m offering them to the subscribers of the Newsletter, and asking them to choose which one they like best, and why.
Each week, I post a chapter or passage each morning (India Time) of each weekday (Monday to Friday) on The AKB Newsletter.
While the Newsletter itself is read-only, subscribers can comment on the excerpts by posting on The Epic India Group if they are members, or on the Readerswrite Page of this blog, or both, if they like.
Last week was the first week of the Newsletter. I posted five chapters from my forthcoming book, Vengeance of Ravana. This week it’s five chapters from my Mba.
These are exclusive to The AKB Newsletter. You can’t read these chapters and excerpts anywhere else, online or offline. I don’t allow excerpts from my books to be published in the mainstream media, not even on my publisher’s website, or other online bookstore portals like Amazon.com, etc.
The only way to read these excerpts before the books are published is to join the Newsletter.
To subscribe to The AKB Newsletter, visit the Readerswrite Page.
“What you must understand is that it is not the same “oldâ€? Ramayana…”
Is it true that when words arrive…
From a chosen One, they cannot hide?
That when you write a story,
You are but adding glory;
To a saga that began long ago,
Long before time. Before anyone could know,
The words had arrived and waited still…
For the One to capture them with a quill.
Deeds to be cherished, Words to be read;
Thoughts that impressed, A life to be led;
There must be a God unidentified,
Who reads & approves every word you write!
I have been reading “Ramayana Series� by Ashok K Banker (AKB). Inspired by his writing, I decided to send him a mail. Not knowing how to go about it. I did what I always do best : Google. I found his blog instantly : http://ashokbanker.com/
I sent in my first comment hesitantly. But, rest assured the man is true to his work. It took him mere minutes to respond to my comment and with what flourish. I was honestly surprised that THE Author who wrote that many great books would find time to reply back. That’s what he did. And with that began a neat conversation that amazed me all the more. He values his readers a lot and he makes sure they know it. He is open, funny, eager to share his thoughts, respond to the silliest of our queries acknowledged with a smile.
In the conversations that ensued, I grew fond of his real style as much as I liked his writing style. This guy did not get here in a hurry. He has been through his set of ups & downs, cross-roads and hard work before he got to where he is. He is much loved by those who are in touch with him, through his blog or his discussion groups.
The very idea of knowing such a personality is awe-inspiring. To top it, he is down-to-earth. So, well, I asked a few questions since he was so approachable. Here I wanted to add some bits from what he had to say. I need to get his permission to quote them. Which I will ask him for. If he agrees, This is going to be an interesting long post.
Meanwhile I happened to tell him I will write reviews of each one of his books (because I love the books, not because I think I can critique what he has written). In my own way, it’s a selfish motive to write about the impact it has made on my mind.
I read these books in less than 3 months. That is to say I read each of the 6 books in less than a fortnight each, in spite of working during that period. It’s just impossible to put the books down. I am not exaggerating when I say so. Think about it, here is a story that we have heard time and again since god-knows how long. No new characters , No news , No excitement!? Wrong… Excitement there is, truck loads!
What you must understand is that it is not the same “old� Ramayana. The language used is contemporary and yet, easy to relate to. He makes you pick up the dictionary as well, but that adds to the joy. He has used just the right words, anything else would not convey the meaning appropriately. He has described nuances & sentiments of these characters as you/i would feel. In short, he has made them human! The Ayodhya of yonder becomes a dreamworld that you step into as soon as you pick up the book. He makes you question everything you thought you already knew. Now, that is skill, is it not ? That is where the newness lies. The ultimate changes are all because of the questions. When we question, we seek and when we seek, we understand.
On the whole these books are a revelation. Read it to believe it.
Thus, came this poem as a humble dedication to the one AKB who through his work inspired me to dream, to believe – to write!
Jai Shri Rama!
An Epic Indian at The British Library
The British Library has kindly invited me to deliver the following presentation. This is the text from their official publicity material. It’s too early for it to go up yet on their website (the event is scheduled for September) but I thought I’d share the news here with fellow Epic Indians and Ramayana readers.
This will be my first public appearance outside India, ever. My first public appearance anywhere (including India) in over three years. And my first ever presentation and talk on my experiences and observations on retelling the Ramayana.
And yes, for those of you who are wondering, it means that I shall finally be getting a passport and travelling outside India for the first time in my life, at age 44.
More details in time.
1 September 2008 / 18.30 – 20.00 p.m.
CONFESSIONS OF AN EPIC INDIAN
ASHOK BANKER
in the Conference Centre
Ashok Banker is one of the most acclaimed names in contemporary Indian literature; reworking the myths, legends and itihasa of India into a genre best described as Epic Indian fiction. His internationally acclaimed and bestselling Ramayana series which began with Prince of Ayodhya (2003) is a spectacular re-telling of the ancient Sanskrit epic that blends vivid action and imaginative tableaus with beautifully imagined characters, sensitivity and intense drama. His other work extends to a major three-film adaptation of the books, an animated feature film also based on the Valmiki Ramayana, a comic book adaptation, and numerous other film, television, graphic novel, documentary, online, and book projects all drawing from the rich vein of Indian culture, in particular the Ramayana. In his first-ever appearance outside India, the author reads from, discusses his work and presents exclusive glimpses of his work on the Ramayana for various media.
“…he has resolved the issue of Kaikeyi’s character beautifully…”
Posted by Harsh Nevatia on Suite101.com
On the occasion of Rama Navami I present some views on Kaikeyi, the most maligned character in the Ramayana.
Next to Ravana, Kaikeyi is presented as the most evil character in the Ramayana. She sent her stepson to exile and was responsible for her husband’s death. Since then parents have not named their daughter Kaikeyi.
I cannot accept that Kaikeyi was inherently evil. God used her as an instrument in His mission. Before Rama vanquished Ravana he had to exaggerate the differences between power, greed, arrogance and meekness, selflessness and humility. To do so he could not attack Lanka as the king of Ayodhya but had to do so as a simple human being. Therefore the drama of being exiled and cut off from Ayodhya was crucial to his plan. And he made Kaikeyi an unwitting partner.
Yet her behavior is out of character. Even in God’s Lila the niceties of realism have to be observed. Kaikeyi was a strong willed woman. She loved Rama more than she loved Bharat. So how could she so easily succumb to the wiles of Manthara? This question has not ceased to vex me. The only explanation I could provide was that God induced a temporary weakness in her so that He could execute His plan.
Then I read Ashok Banker’s series on the Ramayana. He has introduced events and characters not present in the popular version of the narrative. But he has resolved the issue of Kaikeyi’s character beautifully. Manthara is an agent of Ravana and versed in the dark arts. She drugs Kaikeyi to keep her in her room and transforms a slave to the splitting image of the queen. Then the slave, looking like Kaikeyi, acts out the events of that fateful night. Kaikeyi remains true to her character and her honor is maintained. This of course is Banker’s invention but how I hope this had been the truth.
It’s Rocking! Epic India Group back with a bank(er)!
This is just to let you all know that the EI Group, now in its third and permanent avatar–yes, it’s finally here to stay for good–is up and running.
And how.
Over a hundred posts in the first couple of days alone, discussions on everything from Indian itihasa, the historical validity of Ramayana, a controversial but fascinating article on rediff.com, multiculturalism in present-day Britain, anti-Islamic bias in the US, and so much more, it would take an essay to sum it all up.
The new group of members are from all over the planet: Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, USA, UK, Oman, Abu Dhabi, Argentina, Japan, Germany, France, and of course, India, India, and India. They’re all a great bunch, perhaps the best the Group’s ever had, and I’m happy to say that everyone’s talking, some more than others of course, and having a great time.
The AKB Newsletter, of course, is not a discussion group. It’s a read-only newsletter streaming regular extracts from my works in progress, news and updates on forthcoming works, and lots more.
Right now, featured exclusively on The AKB Newsletter, I’m serializing the first few chapters of Vengeance of Ravana the 7th Book of my Ramayana Series. If the readers on the group are thrilled at reading these exclusive chapters, I’m equally thrilled to read their effusive reactions and delight at continuing the story of Rama and his companions through a whole new level of conflict and adventure.
This is not just a sequel, it’s a whole new beginning; it’s me hitting the ‘Reset’ button and telling you a whole new story, as well as the story behind the story.
Those of you who have discussed things like ‘The Riddle of Ten’ and the ‘Sword of Dharma’ with me will know what I’m talking about: The answers are no longer ‘out there. They’re very much ‘in here’ now. ‘In here’ being The AKB Newsletter.
And based on the extraordinary success of this relaunch of the EI Group and the thrilling opening reactions to The AKB Newsletter, I’m going to throw open membership to both lists for an indefinite period of time.
Yes, it will be an additional drain on my time, but after just a few days, I’m certain it will be worth it. I love discussing these matters as much as anyone else, Indian or otherwise, and IMHO, there is no other forum, group or website anywhere that can match the sheer enthusiasm, passion, erudition and insightfulness of the EI Group in its 3rd Avatar.
This is too good not to be shared.
So this is an open house welcome: Come on in. The water’s great! Grab a cup of chai (you’ll have to make it yourself, of course) and jump right in.
I’m right there, in the thick of it, and loving every minute of it.
No moderators–rude or otherwise. No bigots, no racists, no self-promoting authors trying to ‘heckle’ us brownskins simply because our culture is different from their own (like a certain KSA who tried–and failed–to sabotage the group so devilishly recently). In short, there’s no downside to joining the EI Group.
Except for that overflowing mailbox with literally dozens of emails (or a half-dozen or so daily digests) discussing everything conceivable about Indian culture, epics, religion, itihasa…and much more.
On the bright side, though, at least you’re sure that no trees were harmed in the dissemination of these discussions.
Because the only way to share in these exciting, informative discussions, with me personally, as well as with dozens of other like-minded (or not, what’s the difference really, diversity is beautiful too) Epic Indians around the globe, is to visit the Readerswrite Page, leave a comment saying you’d like to join…don’t forget to mention your real name and present location, for my reference…and join in!
See you soon…On the Group and/or The Newsletter.
“Around 3 months back, while browsing through Crossword, I stumbled across a book called Prince of Ayodhya…”
Posted by reader Anshul on his blog at MingleBox
Around 3 Months back while browsing through crossword,I stumbled upon a book called Prince of Ayodhya by Ashok K Banker.The book was first part of the 6 part Ramyana series by the Author.Before laying hands on that book , the only other ramayan book I had read was RamCharitManas by Maha kavi Tulsidas.
My introduction to Ram and his tale was done by my Nani.She introduced me to the folklore of Rama and Lakshman.The deeds of the monkey God Hanuman and the unpardonable sins of Ravana.Numerous times she told me of this War between Adharm and Dharma in which Dharma won.
Nest time it was after my class 10th Exam that my mother handed me down Nani’s Ramayana.I read that book as if I had been given a treasure.I could feel that I was not reading the words, but listening them through my nani’s voice once again.I read that whole ramcharitmanas two or three times, sometimes as religious book sitting by the Temple in the house and other times like i read jeffrey archer.
RamCahritManas introduced me to the concept of dharma, the charm and love of Rama and the love for Hanuman.But reading the book by Ashok K Banker introduced me to a totally different world of Ram.A world which was like tulsida’s world but was quite different.Banker based his book on Valmiki Ramayana, heavily borrowing from it.It could be said that his book was an english version of the Valmiki Ramyana.
Tulsidas’s Ramyana was an work of devotee .It was his tribute to divinity of Lord Rama rather then being realistic story of Rama.Valmiki’s ramayana was a more realistic apporach ,since it was supposed to be first hand account of what the Sage had seen and experianced.Banker has mostly struck to the version by valmiki , here and there borrowing form other version’s like Tulsidas , and Kumbam.
He has divided the Ramayana into six parts.
Visit Anshul’s Blog to read his synopses of the six books.
At the end of book I waited for book to describe the UttraKhand of Ramyana in which Ram banishes Sita, I wnated to see Ashok Bankers’s viewpoint on most conroversial point of whole Ramyana.But Banker steers clear saying that Uttra Khand was not work of Valmiki , but must be added later on.He says that it’s impossible to beleive that rama could have banished sita from his wife.
The whole series transported me to the world of Rama and in fact it brought me more closre to him.I found myslef attached to him not as a God but as a human being ,the mortal whose song is Ramyana.And the coincediance that I finished the six part today, a day before RamNavmi, the birthday of Rama himself.With new beliefs and learnings from the books,Banker brought me more closer to my lord.
Jai shree Ram
“Banker’s strength in characterisation comes through very well in this book”
Posted by Ritu Lalit on Book Blog
Demons of Chitrakut, the third in Indian author Ashok K Banker’s 6 book Ramayana series carries forward the story of Rama.Rama weds Sita, and then returns to Ayodhya. On the way he meets Parashuram, the self declared destroyers of all arrogant Kshatriyas, and vanquishes him in a duel. Meanwhile, in the court of Ayodhya, intrigues continue. Under the spell of Manthara’s intrigues, Kaikeyi “persuades� Dasaratha to banish Rama and make Bharata the yuvaraja instead. It is a very poignant scene, when Rama tells his newly wed bride that he has been exiled by his father. Events move fast, and soon the Crown Prince Rama walks towards the forests of Dandaka with his bride and his brother Lakshmana, where they must stay in exile for 14 years. Rama’s growth into the King who staunchly follows his dharma in the face of all obstacles probably starts here.
The encounter with Sharbari is nicely depicted. Then of course comes the Supanakha mutilation which leads to her brothers Khara and Dooshana to seek revenge from the mortal prince.
The pace of this book is slow after the breakneck speed of the two previous books. This books strength lies in the refreshing way old tales we know since our childhood are retold. I do have a bone to pick with Mr. Banker. Kaikeyi as per the way we have learnt our mythology, was ferocious, greedy, spoilt. Making her Mathara’s pitiable stooge is a bit hard to swallow. Oh, I know, he has made it convincing, but still ……….. Any how, I agree, this Ramayana is his very own.
Banker’s strength in characterisation comes through very well in this book. The devious Manthara, the helpless aged Dasaratha, Vibhishan, Madodari, the vulture king Jatayu mourning the loss of his entire tribe. Simply awesome writing. I put down the book with the strong image of Ravana trapped in a block of stone !!!! Great reading.
RAM NAVAMI SURPRISE GIFT: Vengeance of Ravana on The AKB Newsletter
:::SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:::
As a special Ram Navami present, I’m going to be sending out the first few chapters of VENGEANCE OF RAVANA, the as-yet unpublished 7th book in the Ramayana series, to the subscribers of my AKB Newsletter today.
If you haven’t subscribed to the AKB Newsletter yet, I’m afraid it’s currently closed to membership. But it will open again in a few weeks. Please visit the Readerswrite Page and post a message there asking to join and when I reopen membership, I’ll definitely consider your application.
Meanwhile, though, the existing members of the Newsletter will be reading the opening chapters of VENGEANCE OF RAVANA today on this auspicious Ram Navami Day, anniversary of the naming day (the tenth day after birth) of Lord Shri Rama.
Challaa Hollywood Ramayana bananey
No, not my Ramayana.
(That’s happening on another front and I’m told is at the painful, dragging stage where protracted contractual negotiations and lawyering has been going on for months, and will be going on for months longer. I’ll post about that as and when I have confirmed news.)
This is the animated version of the Valmiki Ramayana that Dreamworks SKG commissioned Neil Gaiman to write.
This was several years ago, and the project has long since been shelved. Gaiman has written about it on his blog–which, by the way, is the most consistently readable writer’s blog on the internet, and which I’ve been following intermittently since its inception–and has now talked about the experience on a podcast for the forthcoming British Library exhibition on the Ramayana.
Jon Fawcett, Senior Events Officer, The British Library, was kind enough to send me a link to the podcast. (Ravi Swami, who interviewed Neil Gaiman for the podcast, also happened to send me the same link–it’s posted on the Readerswrite page as well.)
That’s because The BL has invited me to participate in the four month long event as well. More about that later, but here’s the link to the Neil Gaiman interview below.
It’s a sometimes irritating, often fascinating, always entertaining and informative interview. Gaiman is a lovely writer of gracefully written, elegantly crafted fantasy novels and graphic novels, and of course, screenplays like the recent Beowulf. As with any foreigner, it’s immensely irritating to hear him mispronounce ‘Ramayana’, and ‘Valmiki’ and ‘Dharma’, completely misunderstand and misinterpret Dharma itself, among other things, and demonstrate that even after all his research and work on the epic, he clearly has no clue what the Ramayana is about!
Worse, he constantly laments Hollywood’s lack of ability (alongwith America-in-general’s lack of ability) to understand cultural artifacts like the Ramayana), and manages to misinterpret the Mahabharata as well in passing comments, although the Mahabharata misinterpretations are more common ones, and not unique to foreigners.
But he’s an otherwise intelligent, talented, and highly articulate writer, and it’s always a pleasure listening to him or reading him comment. And Ravi Swami, the interviewer, while also having a somewhat niggling British accent, demonstrates that he definitely does understand the culture and the epic impressively well. In fact, I’d venture to say that Ravi’s own questions, many of which are in the form of somewhat rambling but always interesting comments unto themselves, are far more interesting than Gaiman’s foreign-babble about “monkeys and bears” and superficial passes at Hindu mythology.
And in case, my criticism overweighs my opinion overall (as it often seems to do to people who aren’t familiar with my genial rib-poking style), then let me be clear: I still love Neil Gaiman as a writer, just not as a writer of anything associated with Indian (or for that matter, after hearing this interview, any foreign) culture that he’s not intimately familiar with since birth.
It’s a really interesting interview and what it does is showcase Hollywood in particular and the western world in general’s mystified frown at the grand cultural edifice that we know and love so well. It also has lots of fascinating and enjoyable commentary by the hugely talented Gaiman on fantasy and myth in general, and that’s well worth the price of admission–which, of course, is free! :~)
But don’t take my word for all this. Listen to the podcast yourself and form your own opinions. It’s around 45 minutes long and deserves focussed listening. So…enjoy!
Click here to directly open a window and listen to Neil Gaiman in conversation with Ravi Swami (You can also do a right-click and download the whole interview, to listen at your leisure.)
OR
Click hear to visit the British Library Ramayana Podcast Page
“Ashok Banker’s Ramayana: A six-volume fictional history”
Posted by Harsh Nevatia on Suite101.com
Banker has weaved drama and intrigue into the narrative of the Ramayana without harming the integrity and sanctity of the original tale.
Ashok Banker last year completed his six volume opus on the Ramayana. The work would not classify as “mythology� because Banker has shown a lot of inventiveness. I guess the correct classification would be “fictional history�.
Banker has created events and relationships to heighten the drama. But these have been done with finesse and integrity. For example he has depicted Kaikeyi’s maid Manthara as being dedicated to Ravana and an enemy within the royal household. Sita fights the demon armies of Khara and Dushana alongside Rama in a bitter battle. There is an epic battle between the two giants Hanuman and Kumbhakaran. To reveal more would be to spoil the fun for those who want to read the books.
But Banker has been true to the characters as portrayed in the several earlier versions of the epic and as enshrined in our collective memory. Also Banker has taken adequate care not to offend the sensibilities of the devotees of Rama who would be among his readers. Perhaps “taken adequate care� is not a correct choice of words. It implies something done with forced will. Banker would inherently be aware of the sanctity of the subject matter and would not desecrate it because it is dear to him more than for any other reason.
This is why authors who write fictional history must share the same cultural background as their subjects otherwise they are bound to step over the line as the London based Jaishree Mishra has allegedly done in her novel on Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi. She portrays a fictional love affair between the queen and Robert Ellis, a political agent of the British East India Company, which has been interpreted as sleeping with the enemy, and has hurt sentiments.
Membership full OPEN for The AKB Newsletter and The Epic India Group!
TECHNICAL GLITCHES SORTED OUT. MEMBERSHIP TO BOTH THE GROUP AND THE NEWSLETTER ARE OPEN. JOIN NOW!
UPDATE: I spoke too soon. Barely had I put up this announcement, when I found a pile of applications waiting, not to mention a number of the previous invitees who had accepted my invitations to join. At the moment, I want to keep both groups small and manageable. So I’m going to close membership for the time being. As and when I’m able to cope with the numbers, I’ll re-open membership. If you haven’t received an invite yet, that means you’ll just have to wait until the next time membership opens.
Important: Previous visitors and regular posters to the Readerswrite Page will always get priority, especially those who’ve engaged me in interesting, even challenging, discussions. Those are exactly the kind of people I’d like to have on the Epic India Group in particular. So my request to you is to post now, post often, and keep posting comments on the Readerswrite Page. That way, you will be first in the queue when I re-open membership to both the group and the Newsletter.
Thanks for your support.
Warmest wishes,
Ashok
Some of you regular visitors to this site will have received either one or both of the following emails from me.
This one inviting you to subscribe to The AKB Newsletter:
Hi,
As a reader of my work who’s taken the time to write to me in the past, I’d like to invite you to subscribe to my official newsletter!
The AKB Newsletter is completely non-commercial, of course, and your email will be carefully protected. You can opt out at any time.
If you choose to accept this invitation, you’ll be one of a select few people around the world who will receive exclusive updates and news on my works in progress, across various media.
You’ll also have exclusive first looks and previews of my forthcoming books, past work, be able to read entire novels serialized (some published previously, some never-before published), short stories, novellas, comics, screenplays, and much more!
You’ll also get podcasts and vidcasts created by me personally, and get a glimpse of my work in films, documentaries and songwriting too–perhaps you weren’t even aware that I work in all these media?
In short, you’ll get plenty of material to listen to, watch, and read, all free of cost and with no obligation whatsoever.
Think of it as my way of saying thank-you for being a reader of my work and of keeping in touch with my creations.
Look forward to seeing you on the list soon!
Warmest wishes,
Ashok K. Banker
PS: This is not a discussion group, it’s a read-only newsletter that will come into your inbox periodically. You may also receive a separate invitation to the Epic India Group, which is meant for discussions.
This one inviting you to join The Epic India Group, which in its third, and possibly most controversial avatar, is up and running now!
Hi,
I’d love for you to join my new Epic India Group and join in many informative, exciting and yes, sometimes controversial discussions on Indian epics and culture.
Look forward to seeing you on the Group soon!
Best wishes
Ashok K. Banker
If you’re one of the many who didn’t receive either or one of the above two invitations, that’s probably because I don’t have your email address.
All you have to do is visit the Readerswrite Page.
Follow the simple instructions there: Leave a comment after typing in your real name and the email ID to which you’d like to be subscribed, mentioning which group you’d like to join.
And I’ll send you an invitation asap.
Look forward to seeing you on either or both groups soon!
Ashok
A rare interview: Talking to The Hindu about MYR, my Ramayana, Mba, and more…
The interview below was published in The Hindu, Chennai today. I’ve taken the liberty of reproducing the entire text of the interview below. Or you can read the Interview on The Hindu website here.
You can bank on him
After his six-volume saga of the Ramayana, Ashok Banker tells MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER he enjoyed revisiting the epic for the animated film, Mahayoddha Rama
Ashok Banker describes his coming on board the animated feature film “Mahayoddha Rama� as “Serendipitous. I had just completed a mammoth retelling of the Ramayana in six novels. Director Raizada Rohit Jaising Vaid and producer Abhimanyu Singh were trying to get in touch with me for over two months to script the movie. And then I happened to move into the same building they lived in.�
the latest animation techniques
Banker said he agreed to the project as he was infected with the makers’ enthusiasm. “When you are attempting something like this, there are two dangers you should watch out for. You should not offend anyone and nor should you be too fundamentalist. You should not be too rightist or leftist but rather just fly overhead, which is what the makers set out to do.�
Different eyes
Banker admits the first draft did not work out. “It was only when I looked at the text with the wonder of an eight-year-old that it all came together. The movie is infected with a child-like enthusiasm.�
Banker says that while it is not possible to match the deep pockets of Hollywood, ‘“Mahayoddha Rama’ matches the best of Hollywood in terms of zest and passion.�
To his pleasant surprise, Banker realised that he had not repeated a single line from his Ramayana series.
Incidentally, the rights for the books have been sold to Hollywood for live-action features. “I realised it is possible to retell a story without repeating yourself. If all the people on earth were to tell the same story you can be sure you would get six billion versions of it. Honestly, the task seemed impossible at first. I give credit to Rohit and Abhimanyu; as it is their vision that I built on.�
Being an animation film, Banker comments, “Mahayoddha…� lends itself to a playfulness and an inventiveness. “While the core story is retained, it is history on a wing, so to speak.� Unlike his books with their wider canvas and darker tone, the movie is a straightforward battle between good and evil. Banker does not feel that Indian mythology has suddenly become hot. “The West has been commercially exploiting their mythologies in music, movies and art forever. Western-educated Asians have become slightly ashamed of their own mythologies. There is, however, a small percentage of people who don’t think so and are paving the way for myths to be cool again.�
The writer and columnist does not think animation movies like “Hanuman� is indicative of a renaissance of Indian mythology. “The films and television series don’t break any new ground.� Future plans include a nine-part book series on the Mahabharata. On choosing to start with the Ramayana rather than the racier, pacier Mahabharata, the Mumbai-based Banker says: “It was a greater challenge. Being of mixed origins racially and religiously, I was at a point when I was trying to make sense of faith. I believe to understand India, we have to understand the Ramayana. Rama is in a sense a typical Indian male. And I felt if I could get a fix on Rama, it would help me get my bearings. Rama is a vital key to our culture.�
Of the decision to use modern idioms in his Ramayana series, the 44-year-old comments: “I used the word ‘abs’ in the first page of the first book, ‘The Prince of Ayodhya’. There are two voices in the books — the writer, that is my voice and the character’s voice. So when I am describing something, I would use a modern idiom because that is my voice, while when there is dialogue, which is what the characters are speaking, they would use words like Pitashri. And if I had only used English, it would have sounded affected and pretentious.�
There is no chance of that happening with Banker’s works, given his Rama comes across as this cool Neo-like character and his Ravana is easily the meanest baddie to stalk the written world!
Epic India Group, back in action, with some major changes
Hi.
After the recent attack on me personally by a member of the Epic India group due to a comment made by another member (and which was directed at yet another member), I’ve decided to restart the group with one major caveat.
Since this is after all an Epic India group, I’m going to request up front that anyone applying to join should do so only if they know something about Indian culture and are willing to share that knowledge. Think of this group as a potluck party–bring a little something along and share it with all.
The recent issue (or non-issue really) occurred because the person in question who took umbrage at a comment, by their own admission, knew nothing about Indian culture and apparently had no interest in it, or in such a group. This person, in their application to join, states the crux of the matter quite clearly: “Lonely.” It took only a bit of research on my part to find that the person in question happens to be a purveyor of soft-porn! Not only this but when kicked out from the group for their insulting, offensive behaviour, the person went and posted at length on their own blog, attacking me personally and blaming me for a comment made by another member. And admitted gleefully that their whole purpose was to sabotage the group and shut it down. They even trumpted happily on their blog that they had done so!
Well, I know we live in a post-Bush world where entire nations and cultures that are not of the Judeo-Christian persuasion are glibly written off as a menace to “civilization” (by which, it’s usually implied, “western” civilization, of course). I also know that such self-promoting non-persons, especially those engaged in soft-porn (or the harder kind for that matter) proliferate on the Internet.
I can’t control the world at large, nor the bias and bigotry of entire nations, but I can offer those who join the Epic India group a small corner of solace and meaningful, intelligent discussion. Persons like the one named “KSA” would like nothing better than to see this group, or even all similar groups on Indian culture (and other cultures) shut down at once, and if they can gain a little publicity for themselves for having done so, well, they’ll be over the moon.
And that’s precisely why I’ve decided to continue the group. And to make sure that the KSA’s of this world, or bigots, racists, India-bashers, and yes, even radical rightwing rabid-mouthed types, steer clear of the group. I’m sure they’ll find plenty of other groups on this great worldwide web to accomodate their needs, and help them scratch that “lonely” spot that KSA was referring to.
This particular spot in cyberspace is reserved for those who truly and genuinely love Indian culture, know something about it, and are not just willing and eager to learn more, but equally willing and eager to share what they already know. As I said earlier, think of this as a potluck party where everyone must bring something to the table, even if they end up eating more than they brought in the end.
If that seems like something you’d want to do, and more importantly, can do, then just go over to the Readerswrite Page, post a comment telling me you’d like to join the group. Don’t forget to mention your real name at least, and anything else you’d like to tell us is purely optional.
That’s the first new thing about the new Epic India group. The only way to join is to leave your request on the Readerswrite Page.
The second new thing is that the group will now be unmoderated to avoid any similar controversies from erupting and especially to ensure that the KSA’s of this world aren’t permitted entry for all the wrong reasons.
Thirdly, and I believe this is important to several of you, I shall be a member and shall contribute regularly now.
And finally, no bias, bigotry, racism or similar attacks shall be tolerated, whether done directly or (the worst kind) indirectly as was done by the wily KSA, who cleverly concealed their racism in a hypocritical veil of outrage against another member being insulted. The veil was effectively punctured when that other member stood up for herself and said she had no issues with what had been said, but this KSA continued to rant on, and patronizingly dismissed even the comments of the allegedly aggrieved member!
If that’s all you seek to do–come into a private group and attack the owner just because he’s of a different nationality and culture than yourself, then I’m sorry, but you’ll just have to do it elsewhere. Better yet, join Bush’s army. I’m sure they need people like you.
This group, the Epic India group, is for people who have some idea of what India and its epics stand for, are proud of it, and are willing to share that pride and knowledge with other persons of like mind.
If that appeals to you, then you’re most welcome here. There are still a few spots on earth where bigotry, bias, racism (direct or indirect) will not be tolerated or allowed to flourish. The Epic India group is one of them.
Valakum.
More Willow-Watching
Realized recently that it’s been a while since I last posted about Willow.
That’s partly deliberate, since I don’t want to become one of those bloggers who post about everything in their life–in fact, I make it a point to post as rarely as possible, and even more rarely about myself or my personal life.
But in this case, I realized that my last post about Willow was about her being really sick. And that three months had passed since then. So a couple of people actually wrote in wondering if she was okay. The thought of anyone thinking that maybe Willow wasn’t A-ok creeped me out more than a little, so I decided it was time to post a little about her.
First of all, she’s beautiful, in great health, thank you for asking, and growing wonderfully. I won’t even get started on how she’s as much a member of the family as the four of us (me, wife, son, daughter), and in many ways, she’s the most important member of the family, because she craves and gets the maximum attention. My wife (who’s not really a dog-lover, or even an animal-lover at that) sometimes gets quite fed up with all the Willow-talk, but even she’s come to (reluctantly) accept our little Basset Hound and incorporated her into her life.
I could probably post a whole book on Willow, and in a sense I am doing something along those lines, a full-length feature documentary titled DOGUMENTARY. But I’m not going to talk about that here, because I don’t talk about my personal filmmaking, music, photography, and other hobbies and interests–even though they’re really much more than hobbies now, they’re professional passions in fact. As and when I complete DOGUMENTARY and decide that I’m ready to screen it for other people, or even just my family, we’ll see.
Meanwhile, I’ve posted these pics of Willow, mostly sleeping, and one of her meeting a friend on the Lokhandwala Back Road. They’re not hot off the presses, in fact they’re from various points in the past couple of months, and none are newer than six weeks, and she’s grown a lot more since, but I wanted to fill the gap between the last post about her and now, and so you’ll have to settle for these.
I’ll just say here that she’s the darling of my life. I love all animals madly, and perhaps they sense it, because almost all animals seem attracted to me as well. But Willow I love more than everything else on earth, and she knows it, because I can see in her big brown puppy-dog eyes that she loves me back just as much.
One last note about the pics: As you can see, they’re not very good ones. Not that I’m a professional photographer–my thing is HD cinematography rather than still photography–but because Willow rarely sits still, so almost every shot of her awake is a blurry mess. That’s why most of these were taken when she was asleep, in only a few of her favourite spots around the house (including a cupboard!).
She has about a half dozen more spots, but her all-time favourite is apparently at my feet, which really makes it hard to keep from cramping up when I’m working.
Right now, as I write this, she’s taking her nap on the sofa behind me and looks adorable as ever. But that picture will have to wait to be uploaded another day.
SLAYER OF KAMSA: Book 1 of The Krishna Coriolis will be out next month (October). Written in a pacier style than my Ramayana Series, this short impactful book details the rise to power of the monstrous Kamsa and his brutal campaign to thwart the birth of the prophesied 8th Child. 