On 23rd August 2023, I had the opportunity to attend Special Daily Assembly at the Department of English (MKBU). The topic of the assembly was Indian Epic “Ramayan”. I presented the novel, “Asura”, which shows Ramayan from a different perspective.
The complete title is Asura tale of vanquished, published in 2012. It is a novel written by Anand Neelakantan. It is the story of Ravana and his people. It comes under the genre of mythological fiction. This novel is essentially Ramayana from the perspective of Ravana.
Major Characters
Ravana is the central character, in this novel, as well as the narrator. He is shown as a complex individual who experiences conflicting emotions. This portrayal of Ravana challenges the traditional villain he is often shown as. It raises the question of the nature of good and evil.
Bhadra is another important character. He also serves as the narrator. He is a common Rakshasa who is a friend and loyal companion of Ravana. He serves as a moral compass for Ravana, often questioning his decisions and actions. He plays a crucial role in highlighting the human aspect of Rakshasa characters.
All three of Ravana’s siblings, Khumbhakarna, Vibhishan and Surpanakha are important characters. Kumbhakarana and Vibhishan offer contrasting perspectives. Kumbhakarna’s loyalty to Ravana is unwavering while Vibhishan challenges Ravana at every step. Surpanakha is portrayed as a strong and assertive character whose actions are driven by a desire for justice and vengeance.
While not the central characters, Ram and Sita play significant roles in the novel. Ram is depicted as a hero but his actions are shown to have unintended consequences. Sita is portrayed as a strong and independent character who struggles with circumstances.
Aspects Discussed
Let’s observe a few aspects discussed in the novel. We explore the early life of Ravana and how his birth marks a union between human and asura bloodlines. He grows up witnessing the discrimination faced by Asuras. This unfairness awakened the desire for revenge in him.
Ravana's thirst for knowledge leads him to become a scholar and warrior. His ambitions are also examined here. He is haunted by his dream to build a heaven for Asuras, free from oppression. He has the vision of Lanka, the Golden city.
Moral ambiguity is also portrayed in this novel. Ravana’s actions are depicted as a mix of his own desires, societal expectations and the longing for recognition. The novel dwells into the moral gray areas of characters' choices.
This novel challenges the traditional interpretation of the Ramayana, which casts Ravana as a villain and Rama as a hero. Asura shows that there are no easy answers in life, and that even the most virtuous of people can make mistakes.
Themes
Some of the major themes explored in this novel are power, corruption, revenge and redemption.
The novel explores the nature of power and how it can corrupt even the best of people. Ravana is a powerful warrior and ruler, but his desire for power eventually leads him to his downfall. The theme of corruption is also explored, both political and personal.
Ravana is motivated by revenge for the wrongs that have been done to him and his people. In this desire for revenge, he eventually makes decisions that he later regrets.
The novel also explores the possibility of redemption. Ravana is a complex character who is capable of both good and evil. In the end, he does not achieve redemption, but the novel suggests that it is still possible for even the most evil of people to find redemption.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this novel is a reflection on the cynical nature of power and violence. It explores the gray areas between wrong and right and questions traditional concepts of heroism and villainy.
Similar works
Here are some works that use a similar concept. Lanka’s Princess by Kavita Kanè which is a book where Surpanakha, sister of Ravana, is the protagonist. Meghnad by Kevin Missal which features Ravana’s son Meghnad as the main character. Sita’s sister which is another book by Kavita kanè where Urmila’s story is explored. And another book by Anand Neelkanthan, Vanara which is the story of Bali, Sugreev and Tara.
These were a few things I discussed in my presentation. You can check out the PPT down below.
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