Demons of Chitrakut

If you are reading my Ramayana series, then I gently urge and request you to please not buy the UK or US editions, even if they're available at bargain prices. Which they probably are, since the publishers there have more or less put the books out of print, due to a lack of interest by non-Indian readers. The Indian editions are the definitive editions of my work, containing a lengthy Introduction by me titled 'Retelling the Ramayana', which provides an essential perspective on the work, the final versions of all the books--including some small but significant changes, particularly in some book endings--no glossary, thank God, and are generally the best-edited, designed and published versions, in my opinion at least. In short, they're the Author's Preferred Edition, particularly the new hardcover omnibus editions, which represent the story in the way I had originally intended and are truly sumptuous to hold (and behold). Also, significantly, they aren't packaged as 'Fantasy' or 'SF' like the firang ones, which is a ridiculously transparent attempt at cashing in on the commercial success of the fantasy genre a la LoTR and Harry Potter. Please, people, my Ramayana series is a retelling of an epic, and that's exactly what it should be called, 'Epic'. I'd venture to call it 'Itihasa', but even Mythology, which is the label Penguin uses for the books here in India, is acceptable. But certainly not Fantasy as in one of the ubiquitous Tolkien rip-offs that are churned out in droves by western publishers, or even SF, both genres that can sometimes be wonderful in their own right, but are totally inappropriate in the context of an epic that pre-dates Tolkien by some thousands of years, and the entire tradition of western literature as well! Frankly, I feel so strongly about this that I'd even go so far as to say, if you can't get the Indian editions, then don't read the books! That's why I'm currently in the process of re-acquiring the rights to the US and UK editions and they will soon be out of print everywhere but India. Which is how it ought to be: this is a quintessentially Indian story, written by a contemporary Indian for other contemporary Indians to read. And the Indian editions are really the only way to go. Ashok K. Banker [...]

God, Ashok Banker is good! His novels are so amazing, it just too much to describe! Number three sports many important events that originally take place in the myth, like the marriage of Sita and Rama, the encounter between Rama and Parashurama, the exile of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, and the first meeting with the sly Surphanaka. The characters, every single one of them, is fleshed-out to the extent that you can relate with any of them. The conclusion is just awesome, leaving you ready to devour the next book.

Ashok left us stunned by the end of the Siege of Mithila, with the loss of Raama and Lakshmana's supernatural powers, a vast destruction of the demons and it almost seemed that this book would be an anti-climax. However, Ashok has not belied our faith in his craft and the master craftsman that he is, conjures such a spellbinding book - that we are transported to the incidents themselves. This book is a turning point in the quest, the epic that is the Raamayana and though there are conclusions to questions raised in the previous 2 books - there are completely new questions that come into play. We see the taunting lines of fate that take our characters where they need to be. We feel for them, we laugh for them, cry for them, feel terror and rebuke - but most of all love them and live them. To list out the incidents flashing across different places would be too many, and mar the enjoyment of the readers. All I can say is that this book is packed with action, emotion and drama worthy of the epic. Each character is given new dimensions and especially the women in this book are quite stupendous - displaying all the traits from jealousy to lust, desperation, strength, love, devotion and power - they define the character of the epic and the times. There are many scenes in this book that draw choked emotions and make you understand who Rama really is. Again, the book ends on a note of such suspense that you cannot wait to lay your hands on the next one.

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.

This is the third part of Ashok Banker's innovative retelling of the Ramayana series. I'm pleased to tell you that i bought the first copy in pondicherry, from Focus bookstore.. and i must tell you- the third book is even better!!! i loved the way Rama and Sita are portrayed as ordinary individuals, who are in love with each other. Each character is unique and hence, stands out- the devious Manthara, serving the dark lord Ravana, and manipulating Kaikeyi; the helpless Dasaratha, who is forced to send Rama to the forest; the wise Vibhishana, who hopes to create a righteous Lanka; Ravana, who is trapped inside a rock, powerless; the girlish yet forthright queen Sumitra;the vulture king Jatayu, who comes to Rama's aid... i could go on and on.... The scene where Rama tells Sita that he has been exiled is one of the defining moments of the book. Their exile in dandaka van is very realistic. We observe Rama mature into a great persona, who follows his dharma steadfastly, no matter what the obstacles may be.. Some of the scenes which stand out are: the confrontation between Manthara and Kausalya, the entire Surpanakha episode, the meeting between Rama and Bharata etc. The story ends on a tantalising note with Rama, Lakshmana and Sita aided by a ragged band of bandits, fighting a 14,000 strong army of rakshasas determined to finish them once and for all... Banker has the enviable ability to slip into the "skin" of the character, and it shows. The end result is truly a masterpiece. I feel that ashok banker's ramayana series will achieve the same exalted status that Kamban's tamil version and Tulsidas's Ramacharitamanas in hindi, were able to attain... truly an epic!!!! This book gets 9.5 on 10...