A chance discussion about the legacy of Lord Rama spurred banker-turned-author Amish Tripathi’s latest book series. Amish shot to fame with his immensely-popular Shiva trilogy. “I was part of an interaction at a literature fest where someone talked about Ram in disparaging terms. I did not like that and decided to base my next series of books on Lord Rama. I began working on the books the very next day.”
The author was in town for the release of the first book of the series, The Scion of Ikshvaku (Westland). Amish admits that the protagonists of his books are different from each other, “While Shiva is the god of the rebels and rule breakers, Ram is seen as the man who follows laws and rules completely.”
He adds, “I always felt that Ram is also a misfit and a rebel of sorts. He is someone who followed rules, laws and traditions in an era when society did not respect laws and rules. He was a rebel in his own way.”
Talking about his initiation into mythology, Amish contends, “I was bought up in a religious family. I turned away from religion as a teenager and came back to faith after writing my first book. I started writing the Oath of the Vayuputras as a philosophical text. I made it out to be a thriller, but the series is rooted in philosophy about finding evil.”
Amish argues that religion in India is inherently liberal and non-judgmental. “It is one of the few places where there are no true or false gods. It accepts that you can get to the truth in many different ways. That is the basic philosophy in Indian tradition. It is a theme I have tried to incorporate into my books as well.”
Lord Ram has over the last couple of decades been part of intense political debates in India. Did it ever impact his writing?
He answers, “Ram has been part of Indian tradition for thousands of years. I feel that most controversies revolving around books and movies in India are created by the authors or filmmakers themselves, to create some mileage for their books. Extremist elements do exist, but they remain a tiny minority. Most Indians are liberal and do not mind learning about new perspectives.”
He adds, “In India, a controversy over a book or a movie can at worst result in a court case being filed against you. It is much safer than other parts of the world, where you could be gunned down, if you write a book that people do not agree with.”
Amish maintains that he does not write with an eye on the silver screen. “Some of my books are being made into films. I do not write a book with a film in mind. I feel that it might ruin the reading experience.”
Does he plan to bring out a critical analysis of Ram in the course of the series? “In the perspective of a traditional devotee in India, you need to look at things critically. Indians by and large are not very dogmatic about their faith. They are ready to accept multiple truths.”
The debate over mythology and history has been intense in India in the recent past. Amish says, “Barring mathematics, there are no other languages or theories that can claim to be the absolute truth. For example, 100 years ago, King Ashoka was a mythical figure. He is now accepted as one of the greatest Indian emperors. History claims itself to be verifiable fact. Mythology makes no such claims. Cultures that have mythology are much more liberal than cultures where one interpretation is seen as irrefutable fact.”
Amish is thrilled with the trend of Indian writing in English. “I feel that it has become more rooted. Indians have started to write for Indians and not just the elites. It has ensured that more real stories have started to come out, which paint a truer picture of India.”
What does he look for in a good book? “I read mostly non-fiction. I read a lot and am also keen on finding out the underlying message in the book. The story and the language is secondary for me.”
