Book Review: Raavan

The third in the series based on Ramayana, Amish’s Raavan, presents the narrative with primary focus on the life of Raavan. The making of the antagonist in what will be the war between Ram and Raavan has been highlighted through a series of circumstances in Raavan’s life. The unhappy childhood, early shouldering of responsibilities and the tragic love life, have been topped by his being used as a puppet by Guru Vishwamitra. The narrative is gripping, fast paced and fairly detailed, successfully transporting you to another world. At some places, the graphic description of violence were too much for me and I wanted to skip those parts but didn’t now how long the description would continue. It is a fantastic read. Amish does not disappoint. Even the fictionalised elements are fascinating. The attempt at contemporaneity is appreciable.

What I strongly dislike is the over emphasis on the impact of socialisation. There is too much ascribed to circumstances, with no space left of voice and agency of the individual. The childhood curiosity that Raavan had in anatomy was never channelised by his Guru. If that makes him inherently bad, then there was no need to build a plot that makes him a pawn in the larger scheme of things. In other words, I was expecting a different depiction of Raavan. I am left wanting to read a different telling of the tale, in which Raavan is a man of honour, one who respects others, and is a benevolent king.