I had the pleasure of hearing Ashok K. Banker (the K. stands for Kumar, his given birth name was Ashok Kumar, I learned) at the Chennai launch at Landmark Apex Plaza, the original store last saturday. It was an eye-opener. I had many false notions about Banker, and hisintentions in writing this book. I was proved wrong by his very open attitude not only to his admirers, of whom there were many, but to the many like me who were skeptical of a former pulp writer and hack to pull off such an ambitious task as retelling one of Indian’s greatest Sanskrit epics. Banker was very frank and forthright, speaking his mind so boldly and clearly, without ever losing his cool. He even said things like ’’I am a mediocre writer inspired to attempt this mammoth task’’ tha tmade me feel he’s not the Bombay snob I thought.
But what a book! I read it from saturday night itself and finished on Monday morning, before going to work--I work afternoon shift these days. It was very grippnig from start to finish. Not only has Banker managed to recreate the whole story with a lot of love and reverence for the spiritual aspect, he captures the true spirit of Rama’s adventures--the Sanskrit title Ramayana means the travels of Rama, which is often freely translated as the adventures of Rama. Prince of Ayodhya tends to be very descriptive at times, not like an airport thriller which only gives you fast pace story. It slows down when it needs to, then becomes ery fast and furious in the action parts, which feels just right. I read a lot of history as wellas fiction by pleasure and it is a sheer delight to find an Indian writer who can write ane xciting fiction novel based on our own culture so well. No wonder Banker is getting high praises round the world from critics and fans.
I feel that anyone who has said he or she does not like this novel is not getting the basic spirit of the ramayana. This is not to be read just as another thriller or fantasy. It is much more than that, and banker is doing what kamban and Valmiki did in their time--bringing the epic alive again in a new idiom to a new world of readers. I am proud to call myself Indian and proud to see an Indian author making the ramayana readeable around the world.
Critics, keep your Mouthshut! Book lovers, read this book and see for yourself. It is honest and inspiring, just like the charismatic author.
Ganesh P.