#scionofikshvaku

[everythingsimple1]

#amishtripathi #ramchandraseries #scionofikshvaku #quotes #quotestagram #quotesaboutlife #fiction #novels #novel #indianwriters #indianauthors #lovequotes #love #relationshipquotes (at Bagalkot) https://www.instagram.com/p/BocAf1OB5cV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1vlkw7fpk97pn

[hitzout]

So I pre-ordered this book back in 2015, when it wasn't even released & it has been kept in the corner of my wardrobe since it was delivered! Why? Maybe because I really did not want to ruin the Ramayana I've adored since my childhood! Or maybe because I was still trying to make sense of the nonsensical drama happened in the last 150 pages of #OathOfVayuputras of #ShivaTrilogy. But after all those back to back recommendations, finally I've got my hands on #AmishTripathi's "Shri Ram Chandra Series" ✨ Statically, Ramayana by Tulsidas, written over a period of more than 1200 years ago went through so many changes & interpolations & whatsoever came out (all the versions included) was a masterpiece until now. I mean, I kinda liked #ScionOfIkshvaku as well but again, maybe because I've known all these characters since years & I just love them, the twists & turns felt kinda indigestible. To start with, this book is a retelling of the great epic #Ramayana with Amish's own moderation & revisions. The core of the story is the same what we've known since ages but by the time we finish half of the book, things stop making sense. Sadly not a single scene or sentence makes an impact. No strong character emerges out of the story, even the protagonist "Ram-Prince of Sapta Sindhu" struggles to find a firm ground. If that was not enough, the story takes a 360 degree spin from its main theme & launch itself into a rape & revenge drama right in the middle, which ends with no conclusion, just the way it was taken up. Bending & re-telling the actual story with whooping level of imagination is Amish Tripathi’s usual way of entertaining. My hopes from Amish died since I finished The Oath of Vayuputras & he continued to slitting them up with this book as well. What funniest I've found in this book is at times Amish used appropriate aboriginal jargon to describe the body-wear as ‘angvastram’ while at times he used colloquial expressions like ‘wow’ to express joy & astonishment. It made me wonder what prevented him to use more chic words like ‘bae’. This book is for the people who do not whole-heartedly believe in the Ramayana, I, on the contrary, do. I'm going with 2.5 out of 5 Stars!✨

[muanthang-blog]

Will start with scion tonight. #book #scionofikshvaku

[yashbaid]

Yes! #scionofikshvaku signed by the author himself. Just got my hands on it!!

[wanderpursuits]

Scion of Ikshvaku

After the successful Shiva triology, Scion of Ikshvaku is author Amish’s first instalment of the much of awaited Ram Chandra series. The book portrays Ram Chandra’s righteousness, and the path of law he never deviates from, in entirely new light.

The book opens to the scene in Ram Chandra’s fourteen year exile, when Sita is abducted by Raavan, the demon king of Lanka. Then it goes thirty years back in time where the mighty army of Ayodhya led by King Dasrath, father of Ram Chandra, is annihilated by the army led by Raavan - all of this on the same day as Ram Chandra is born. Apparently, Dasrath and whole of Ayodhya blames their misery on Ram Chandra. Being punished for a crime that he did not commit, Ram Chandra has the herculean task of winning the hearts of his father and his people, for he is the next Vishnu. After his marriage to Sita, Ram Chandra has the impossible task of protecting Mithila with the help of a handful of soldiers, from the onslaught of Raavan’s ten thousand bodyguards, as Raavan is determined to avenge his humiliation in Sita’s swayambar. Ram Chandra has no other option but to use a daiviastra, as advised by Maharshi Vishwamitra, the punishment for which is fourteen years in exile.

I have always been amazed by the ease with which Amish turns our fabled gods in to humans, and the instances in our mythology in to believable acts in the history. Amish blurs the fine line we always had between mythology and history, and makes it easy for us lot who always search for logic behind everything. For example, we always read in Ramayan that Lakshman had cut Surpanakha’s nose. Amish, in this book has presented it logically as to how and why it would have happened. Another instance would be why and how Lakshman chose to accompany Ram Chandra on his exile whereas Shatrughan chose to stay back. And not to forget, why did Manthara do what she did. The book also highlights the helps Ram Chandra might have got in order to achieve what he did.

Amish has rewritten Ramayan, and has made Ram Chandra, one of our own, one as human as us. He has immortalized Ram Chandra, yet again.

May you be the Valmiki of our age, my friend!

ISBN: 978-93-85152-14-6

Publisher: Westland Ltd

MRP: Rs.350.00 (Rs.262.00 + Rs.40.00 on Amazon)

[sammohan13]

The Ikshvaku Reading Experience

  Well, it has been a while since I reviewed anything on my blog or for that matter on any platform. So, Amish’s new book Scion of Ikshvaku provided me with this opportunity. This novel was supposedly my year’s read, but I think I erred on this one. Although I enjoyed reading parts of it, there were parts where I felt I was watching a mashup of all the cool stuff that’s around me (most likely movie references). So I thought why don’t I summarize my reading experience, with a bit of satire and leave it to you, who are reading this, to decide whether to read or not. This post is a first of its kind on my blog, so pardon me if there are any errors and if you’re inadvertently hurt by its content.

  The day was a Monday. For a lack of better word, and because it was Monday, boredom reigned supreme. That was when, astride a 100cc chariot (of two wheels), came the Amazon delivery guy. His armory was filled with packages, each containing single book. However, he then made the mistake of asking something, which I had least expected. “Saar, ee packet nalli yen idhe? Nan bag idee idhe irodu.” (For those not-familiar with Kannada - Sir, what’s in this packet? My bag is full of these only.) No wonder, publicity does make waves. Like how it happens with flimsy films starring Bhai or SRK or Kangana Ranaut. Last heard, that sad excuse of a movie called Tanu Weds Manu Returns (Are the even 60-year old to get a re-marriage?) rakes in 250 crores worldwide. Well, nonetheless, the package was gleefully accepted. And mother dearest requisitioned the book title, because she knew that there was no doubt that this was a book (Observation prowess, yál!). Pat came the reply, “Scion of Ikshvaku”. Pat came a counter reply, “So you’re reading about Ram? Do you wish to be banished like him for 14 years?” It’s true that when it comes to one-up-man-ship, mothers are really unbeatable. Nevertheless, with her blessings, I tore into the package and started going back in time. Oh and that metallic bookmark from Amazon seems to be a great thing because it can serve so many functions apart from, wait-for-it, being a bookmark. Like poking at someone’s belly from behind, and more like these. 

  India 3400 BCE. A land where killing a deer for a meal is legal. A land where Bhai is at his elements. And after killing it, he says sorry. Oh wait, did I just type Bhai before? Ah my bad. So we’re shown a scene at the start, where the bad guy takes away the princess in a Pushpak Viman (Mythology 101 for those who don’t know what this is). So we are told the story of Dashrath, a king who supposedly loses a war to bad guy Ravan a good 25 years before the actual start of the novel. Ram, the protagonist of this novel, is born during this war, which takes toll on the kingdom of Ayodhya. So like most Hindi movies, Ram is branded a panauti (bad omen) and is ostracised. Sunny Deol could have easily essayed this part, had it been the early 90s. Well, at least that would’ve been my Dad’s opinion, considering his stark opinion against most movies and also the fact that he enjoys duds like Jeet and has them on DVD. I also remember being taken for said movie at a very young age and it had left a lasting impression (dancing was as easy as push ups :P), but we’ll save it for a later date. Add to this, a rajguru who promises a rebellion but nothing is revealed about it. Because, trilogy folks!

  Cut now to a teenage Ram, someone who in 90s would’ve been stuck home reading Artemis Fowl and being pressured to get good marks, fighting against tribals elder to him and learning the tenets of becoming a good king. This is shown in a gurukul style environment, devoid of black-clothed ninjas and a guy who surprisingly could be the Indian equivalent of Ra’s Al Ghul. Ram is joined by brothers Bharat, Lakshman and Shatrugan. Also in a later sequence, Ram is portrayed as the chief of Ayodhya’s police force. And it is at this point of time when he starts becoming famous with the common man. Deviating from the satire, a point must be made here that the Smritis are put to good use in this novel. Amish deserves a clap for this sole reason. Because, surely after reading this portion, there would be this curious readers asking about the Manu Smriti, hitherto unknown to them. And also presented to us is the character of Manthara, a woman who has an unsettled score with our protagonist. As Manthara’s character develops, we’re also shown Bharat committing a crucial mistake, one that could have far-reaching consequences in the later book. This is more like the abba ke zamaane me types of montages. There’s also a sequence in which Ram takes a hit for his father and suddenly is the favorite to become crown prince. A sequence which is straight out of the numerous Rajashri movies or K3G. Ram, the undesirable no.1 suddenly becomes Michael Corleone. 

  As if one rajguru wasn’t enough, towards the beginning of the second act the author introduces guru Vishwamitra, just to add swagger and muscle to an already beefed up story. And since we’re talking Indian audiences here, there must be a love story. As if on cue, Ram arrives for the swayamvar of Sita and both of them fall in love before the actual event. To spice things up Raavan decides to gate-crash and add a bit of Amrish Puri-esque flavor to it. Oh how I miss that man and how I wish for him to have been alive. And then ensues the third act where there’s a battle to begin with and on going back to Ayodhya, Ram decides to banish himself. This curious departure from our folklore is pretty hard to digest and honestly, it is this part which soured me the novel. We know how selfless Ram was, but to this extent. The ending is very open ended. And so open, that it is actually the beginning of the novel. And we’re introduced to Hanuman, who’s shown as a Naga (a deformed entity, Shiva Trilogy). And that’s when I looked up at the clock. Midnight 1235 am. An engaging read but leaves you with lot to be desired. And there’s lots of bollywood montages that come into your mind seeing it. Especially the part when Ram says that the girl to whom he bows in admiration would be his future wife. SRK, anyone!