“Amish Tripathi's deep exploration of the ‘Rāmāyaṇa’ narrative is truly commendable,” said Dr M.N. Nandakumara, Director of the Bhavan in London, during a special book launch event for ‘War of Lanka’.
Organised by the Friends of India Society International (FISI) UK, the event focussed on acclaimed author Amish Tripathi’s latest instalment in the Ram Chandra Series which is currently doing the book tour circuit. ‘War of Lanka’ presents a fresh and captivating perspective on the epic tale, delving into the kidnapping of Goddess Sita, the death of Ravana, and the triumphant return of Rāma and Sītā to Ayodhyā, culminating in the joyous celebration of Diwali.
Tripathi, who is also Director of the Nehru Centre in London, adopts the Japanese storytelling method called "Rashomon" in the new book, wherein different individuals recount an incident from various perspectives. He offers readers a multifaceted understanding of the epic by narrating the ‘Ramayana’ through the eyes of Śrī Rāma, Sītā, and Rāvaṇa.
“Drawing inspiration from Valmiki’s Rāmāyaṇa and other variations, Tripathi explores the portrayal of Sītā as a warrior princess. While Valmiki’s Rāmāyaṇa itself mentions this aspect, the ‘Adbhuta Rāmāyaṇa’ recounts Sītā's heroic act of slaying Rāvaṇa,” notes FISI UK.
Tripathi also shared his experience of shooting a captivating documentary series that traces the arduous journey of Śrī Rāma, Sītā, and Lakshmaṇa during their exile before their triumphant return to Ayodhya. He highlighted compelling evidence discovered at various locations, such as Chiratkoot mentioned in the ancient Indian epic, emphasising the need for further scholarly research and exploration.
The author also shed light on the untapped tourism potential of the Rāmāyaṇa trail, which remains largely unexplored in India.
FISI UK said that Tripathi's expertise and passion for the subject make him the perfect guide to navigate the intricate layers of the ‘Rāmāyaṇa’ trail. Those gathered, including literature enthusiasts, scholars, and admirers of the ancient Indian epics, had the opportunity to immerse themselves in an intellectually stimulating discussion on the power of multiple perspectives within ancient tales.
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Invited guests were honoured by FISI UK former president Bharat Shah and former senior executive member Santosh Gupta. The event was compered by Sudhir Pandey, while Sweta Bhatia took charge of conversation with author and coordinated the question-and-answer session. Rahul Subramanyam delivered the vote of thanks.
*Info: ‘War of Lanka’
