Book Review
Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta
Amish Tripathi
Publication: Westland Publications Pvt limited,
First Edition 2019
The third of the Ram Chandra Series, Amish Tripathi in this book paints a brilliant image of the indomitable spirit that was Raavan. An unsung hero, an iconic leader, and a passionate individual. Every story has a villain, his story is all about making an effort to be the villain. Amish's portrayal of Raavan distinctly talks about what could be rather than what was. The story is beautifully woven with the previous two novels, Ram: Scion of Ikshvaku and Sita, the warrior princess and keeps the reader wanting for more, to see how the author will now culminate the entire series. Amish has managed to hold the reader's attention so far, safely avoiding predictability.
What I particularly find fascinating about his novels is the depiction of female characters in his books. In this book, also the influence of two female characters can be clearly seen in the shaping of Raavan's persona. The foremost influence was his mother Kaikesi, who he came to abhor in the latter part of the book. The victim mentality of his mother, made his pledge to himself to not ever fall in the same trap. thereby growing up to hate everything that was vulnerable.
The other and stronger driving force in his life was that of his childhood love Vedavati, who he not only loved but worshipped. The force which beckoned him to become a better person, the force who made him win over the evil inside over and over again. In a way, Raavan is a story of a rebel, whose rebellion proved that the angst of a grieving heart would burn everything it touches.
Raavan in itself is not a story unheard of; but as part of the bigger schematic that Amish has been putting in, it beautifully weaves the various threads together as part of the series. A must-read.
Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta
Amish Tripathi
Publication: Westland Publications Pvt limited,
First Edition 2019
The third of the Ram Chandra Series, Amish Tripathi in this book paints a brilliant image of the indomitable spirit that was Raavan. An unsung hero, an iconic leader, and a passionate individual. Every story has a villain, his story is all about making an effort to be the villain. Amish's portrayal of Raavan distinctly talks about what could be rather than what was. The story is beautifully woven with the previous two novels, Ram: Scion of Ikshvaku and Sita, the warrior princess and keeps the reader wanting for more, to see how the author will now culminate the entire series. Amish has managed to hold the reader's attention so far, safely avoiding predictability.
What I particularly find fascinating about his novels is the depiction of female characters in his books. In this book, also the influence of two female characters can be clearly seen in the shaping of Raavan's persona. The foremost influence was his mother Kaikesi, who he came to abhor in the latter part of the book. The victim mentality of his mother, made his pledge to himself to not ever fall in the same trap. thereby growing up to hate everything that was vulnerable.
The other and stronger driving force in his life was that of his childhood love Vedavati, who he not only loved but worshipped. The force which beckoned him to become a better person, the force who made him win over the evil inside over and over again. In a way, Raavan is a story of a rebel, whose rebellion proved that the angst of a grieving heart would burn everything it touches.
Raavan in itself is not a story unheard of; but as part of the bigger schematic that Amish has been putting in, it beautifully weaves the various threads together as part of the series. A must-read.
