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R.S. Chari

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August 2012

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R.S. Chari Writer’s note
Yet another attempt to retell the Ramayana? – You may ask.
What with the umpteen versions available in the libraries and on the Web? Not…moreWriter’s note
Yet another attempt to retell the Ramayana? – You may ask.
What with the umpteen versions available in the libraries and on the Web? Not to mention the various attempts on the translation and interpretation of the Epic. Some adventurous writers have gone to the extent of interpolating the Ramayana with their own vision and ingenuity.
The purpose of this book is not to narrate or reinterpret the entire story, but to kindle awareness and interest in the minds of today’s youth. Nowadays, an unlimited wealth of information is available at one’s fingertips, which reduces a reader’s attention span. This makes it difficult for writers to draw and sustain the attention of readers. With nuclear Indian families finding homes in distant parts of the globe, today’s Indian is absorbing a lot of different cultures but runs the risk of losing touch with his own rich and diverse heritage. Further, the separation of religion from state & schools has resulted in the loss of some very interesting fables with strong moral messages.
For many, Ramayana is a collection of short stories with the routine “Good versus Bad” as its central theme, to be read or better still watched as a movie or a cartoon feature available on DVD and aired by local TV channels. Unfortunately, such narrations are often weighed down with Sanskritic quotes or by characters addressing each other with flamboyant honorific titles, which greatly waters down the intense human drama and the philosophies propounded by the Epic. So why not give a glimpse of the events that took place more than 9000 years ago, in a manner that would engage the curiosity of the reader till the last page, without resorting to honorific appellatives and grotesque depiction of some of the characters? (If Dasagriva or Dasamukhi was the ten-headed king popularly known as Ravana; then Dasaratha, father of Rama, should be riding on a ten-chariot vehicle – which is not the case).
Stories from the Ramayana had a very enriching and positive influence on my life, and that of my children, but I am not so sure if my grandkids will enjoy this experience. Hence my rendering of Ramayana is in the form of a series of E-mails exchanged amongst the main characters in the classic. The writing is in plain and simple English, which should appeal to readers of all age-groups. This is an attempt at an interpretation of this great epic, and the pictures it has painted in my mind over the years, with the hope this paints many wonderful and different pictures in your minds as well. It was a fascinating experience to blend this popular mythology with fiction. One has not only to envision scenarios that actually took place but also to visualise events that could have taken place; like the meeting of the Tridevas to plan the destruction of Ravana and his evil empire. Or one has not only to narrate a piece of dialogue that was actually spoken but also put into words what could have been uttered; like Lakshman’s admission of his impulsiveness.
I have referred to various sources, like books, treatises, features, and conversations in bringing out this version. The contents of this book are entirely mine, including any inadvertent deviations from the original understanding of the Epic.
If you reach for an authoritative version of Ramayana (say, Valmiki or Tulsidas) after reading this book, I have succeeded in my efforts.
--R S Chari
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