Indian mythological-fiction books one must read

Over the last few years, mythological fiction has been gaining vast grounds in India like no other genre. A number of Indian writers have come out with works that have been lapped up by book lovers in no time. While it is natural as Indian authors have a rich mythology to fall back upon, there is also this unmistakable influence-cum–competition from mythological fiction writers around the world that has contributed to this spate of myth-making in India. Here’s a list of some best-selling books by Indian writers who are India’s response to the likes of Neil Gaiman, Dan Brown and Rick Riordan.

This series has a 12-year-old protagonist called Aru Shah and is a great read for young readers. She lives in America with her family who run the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture. One day, she lights a cursed lamp in the museum after being pressurised by some friends and releases a sleeping demon. She has to begin a long adventure to put things right by finding the reincarnations of the Pandavas and journeying through the kingdom of death. This yet incomplete series is filled with humour and adventure, and is a clever way of connecting ancient tales with the modern world.
Photo: Scholastic Inc

This retelling of the Ramayana has Sita's perspective. But the book is not only about Sita's role but we also experience the Mahabharata through other characters, like Lakshman, Hanuman and Mandodari. With lyrical writing, new twists on epic scenes and clever characterization, this book is worth a read.
Photo: Penguin

The Ramchandra Series by Write India author Amish is his second foray into the world of mythic-fiction. After the widely acclaimed Shiva trilogy, Amish has taken upon himself to tell the story of Rama and much like his previous work, this too has proved to be a bestseller series till now. Both books from the Ramchandra Series “Scion of Ikshavaku” and “Sita: Warrior of Mithila” have evoked interest in its readers and they are eagerly waiting for the arrival of the last book in the series with bated breath.
(Pic credit: authoramish.com)

Yet another take on the Mahabharata, this book has been written from the perspective of its protagonist Arjun. Chandramouli’s book does not really go looking for fresher perspectives but she tries to portray the Pandavas in a humane light. Though they are the children of Gods but the book gives a sneak-peek into their flaws and shortcomings as well.
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Former journalist turned writer, Kavita Kane has a knack for telling the stories of women who have been relegated to a marginal role in the epics. “Lanka’s Princess” traces the immediate cause of kidnapping of Sita by the demon-king Ravana and the subsequent Great War between him and Rama. In the titular role sits Surpanakha (literally, a woman as hard as nails), and the author makes a compelling case for her to be looked at differently than what the traditional version would want us to.
(Pic credit: Wikipedia)

At its heart, “The Palace of Illusions” by Write India author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is the story of the Mahabharata as told by Draupadi. The author refashions the epic to tell a familiar story as the wife of the Pandavas saw it. Divakaruni effortlessly captures Draupadi in all her glory as well as in her shortcomings. This work by Divakaruni also affords to look at the other crucial female figures in the epic as well who are otherwise left to the margins in the conventional version.
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More famous as the man behind the prequel to the blockbuster Baahubali movies, Write India author Anand Neelakantan is also the author of best-selling books on the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. His “Asura: Tale of the Vanquished” has been re-told from the perspective of Ravana, though the storyline remains the same as the original Ramayana. The book forces one to look afresh at the age-old epic by giving the reader an idea of what can be called the other side of the story.
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Ever since the first installment of the trilogy, “The Immortals of Meluha”, hit the stands in 2010, author Amish has been an instant favourite with readers. It tells the story of Shiva as a tribal warrior who migrates to India to realize his destiny. It is set in a time long before Gods and we follow some extraordinary people as they journey into Godhood. This fascinating story has since spawned two equally popular sequels: “The Secret of the Nagas” and “The Oath of the Vayuputras”. The success of trilogy has also set the rumor mill agog with reports of a movie series being planned on it.
(Pic credit: authoramish.com)

Arguably India’s most well-known mythologist, Devdutt Patnaik has successfully married myth to management studies. “My Gita” is his take on the book considered sacred in Hinduism. He attempts to demystify the text and tells us how he understands it while explaining the concepts along the way. His idea is to urge the reader into discovering their own interpretation of "The Gita". The book is brought alive by the illustrations which are done by the author himself.
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Write India author Ashwin Sanghi has often been dubbed as “Dan Brown of India” and for good reason. Sanghi’s works have their roots in popular religious narratives and symbols with which he seamlessly weaves fiction. His "The Rozabal Line”(2007) explores the story of Jesus Christ settling down in Kashmir post his crucifixion alongside a contemporary storyline of religious fanatics, secret societies, doomsday predictions and conspiracy theories. Considered very close to Brown’s stories yet more complicated, this book is a trailblazer for the mytho-fiction genre in India.
(Pic credit: ashwinsanghi.com)