Since the beginning of mankind, there always has been a belief in the white or the black. For a very long time, people overlooked the varying shades of grey human beings are truly made of. Today, in this day and age of mental health awareness it’s high time people go back and revisit the classic tales of villainy to understand who was the true villain, the antagonist or the society. Just like Disney has started with its “Villain Tales” series, many of our Indian authors have also started revisiting the centuries-old Indian mythologies and breathed a new life into each character including the villains. One such enigmatic author is the famous Amish Tripathi. His book Raavan: The Enemy of Aryavarta is part of his “Ram Chandra” series and meticulously explores the different aspects of the Indian epic Ramayana.
Raavan: The Enemy of Aryavarta: A Closer Look
The shortest of the two Indian epics, Ramayana is often regarded as a pretty simple read that ends with good triumphing over evil. The other Indian epic, Mahabharata makes you question how good and fair truly the good side is with each passing incident. But when it comes to Ramayana, one would see that the characters are pretty black and white. Unless one bores a sceptical mind or a curiosity around Amish Tripathi’s writing, one may never realise the multiple layers that each character in Ramayana may possess.
With the hopes of changing people’s understanding of Ramayana from a simple tale of good vs evil to a complex one consisting of real humans with real issues, Amish Tripathi helps us understand the multiple layers of good and evil of each pivotal character. The first thing about the book that is bound to catch your eye is the use of the term: “Raavan” and not the anglicized one “Raavana”. This grants a mark of authenticity to the character as its name is not anglicized for easier pronunciation by the West.
What makes Raavan: The Enemy of Aryavarta stand out among its contemporaries is the fact that it showcases in a very detailed manner the way Raavan was probably brought up. Every variation of the Ramayana highlights the growing years of Ram and sometimes Sita (if it takes a feminist narrative) but nobody dares to venture around Raavan. We get to see a side of Raavan that makes us realise that he may not be black but rather morally grey as a character.
Raavan: The Enemy of Aryavarta: Redefining Raavan
Villainised and burnt at the stake during Dusshera, Raavan is considered the enemy of mankind. But you know who else had to go through a similar fate? The Witches at Salem Witch Trial. And yes, they were wrongfully accused. The book gives us a view of Raavan as a person. His love for his family and friends is profoundly highlighted to help people understand that his identity goes beyond the tag of a demon. The way he and his brother are treated because of their birth deformities will make you question who is the true demon in the epic.
He has certain eccentric attitudes that rightfully confer him the title of a “mad scientist”. But in all honesty, possessing such brilliance and being constantly treated as a pest is bound to turn anyone mad. Raavan just happened to be a genius as well. He is the perfect definition of what society will do if they just can’t put you in a checked box. Just like women and people of the lower caste community were discriminated against at every stage of their life for being smart when they were “supposed” to be dumb. Raavan went through a similar fate.
Afterword
More than the characterisation of Raavan it was the way Amish Tripathi presented him that will keep the reader hooked till the last page. From the colour of each character’s clothes to the twitch in one’s eye, Tripathi captured each detail meticulously. The beautifully crafted imageries of ancient India are bound to wake up each of your senses. The simplistic writing coupled with a dramatic twist and a second chance for the traditional portrayal of the character of Raavan is what makes this book by Amish Tripathi a must-read for any Indian epic lover.
