Asura Tale of the Vanquished - Anand Neelakantan

Recently I read Anand Neelakantan's debut novel 'Asura' Tale of the Vanquished - a bestseller of 2012. It is bit late. but not too late I guess.

Ramayana and Mahabharata are two of the greatest epics. I have heard that, there were more than hundreds of different versions of Ramayana around the world. some versions claims that Seetha was Ravana's Daughter. which is completely opposite to the popular belief.

The Ramayana we know is about the god Rama is known to every Indian. And in the pages of history, as always, it is the version told by the victors, that lives on. The voice of the vanquished remains lost in silence. But what if Ravana and his people had a different story to tell?

Anand Neelakantan's Asura tells the story of Ramayana in the point of view of Ravana. in this story Ravana is the protagonist, not Rama. It is Ravanyana not Ramayana. and he had added a fictional character called 'Bhadra' to add a third point of view to the story.

The story is all about Ravana and his Asura race. It begins with young Ravana, who is full of courage and ambition to reestablish the lost glory of Asura race and create the greatest empire on earth. and the story ends with fall of the great Asura emperor and end of his race.

Anand Neelakantan's narrative is more logical  unlike the story involving the super power or magic.it is engaging and interesting. through out the book Anand Neelakantan discusses about the caste system, blind believes and superstitious customs created by the Devas. and how they spread these things, suppressing the Asura customs. these strong rooted customs are still persistent in Hindu religion.

there is a need to analyse things with different perspective to understand it better and find the truth involving in it. Anand Neelakantan's attempt to explore the other side of Ramayana should be appreciated. not necessary that we have to accept it. but it presses the need to analyse the things, what has been taught from thousands of years without questioning.

I borrowed the following lines from the book itself. Ravana is calling us. lets hear from his own voice.

“For thousands of years, I have been vilified and my death is celebrated year after year in every corner of India. Why? Was it because I challenged the Gods for the sake of my daughter? Was it because I freed a race from the yoke of caste-based Deva rule? You have heard the victor’s tale, the Ramayana. Now hear the Ravanayana, for I am Ravana, the Asura, and my story is the tale of the vanquished.”

The intriguing story provokes lot of questions. who is the real hero Rama or Ravana?. who really upheld dharma?

to answer, read 'Asura Tale of the Vanquished'. this book is a must read.

Anand Neelakantan's second book 'Ajaya'- Epic of the Kaurava Clan is, written from the perspective of Kauravas, the traditional villains of the popular mythology released last year.