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    Today, I have for you a rare title, written by Sri K.N. Singh and edited by his daughter Pranita Lele. The book’s long title is “The Journey From Ayodhya to Ram Setu”. Ram Setu, as we all know is the bridge that Lord Ram had built to cross over to Lanka when he waged the war to kill Ravana, who had abducted his pious wife Sita in the most cunning manner. I’m sure the author must have undertaken an enduring comprehensive research of various scriptures before penning this book. Pranita, the editor of this title has also edited the work with great accuracy. So kudos to both.

  The publisher of the title is Bookrivers.com. It is available in almost all online bookstores. The price of the book is Rs 250. For reference Sri K.N. Singh was born in a small village in Uttar Pradesh in 1937. By profession, he is a Geologist. Geologists are earth scientists. That’s why I’m calling this title rare because it has the scientific perspective of a geologist who narrates the illustrious journey of Lord Ram. Sri K.N. Singh has earlier written articles for the Daily Gulf and Khaleej Times in Bahrain and Dubai. The other book that he has written is titled ‘Geoscientific Perspective of Samudramanthan.’

    The narration unfolds in about 220 pages. The Foreword is by Anand Vardhan Singh, Senior Journalist, Writer and Editor at The Public India. The author has divided the narration into twenty chapters and each chapter has sub-chapters. We all know the story of Lord Ram. Lord Ram is known as the “Maryada-Purshottam.” The book builds on this title of his and brings to you those minute features that makes him God. Each human perspective was important to him even while fighting the war. Remember even Bali questioned his righteousness and he replied to him convincingly.

    The narration takes off with the description of Suryavansh and Chandravansha. The title recounts The Ramayana and its retellings, beginning right from Lord Shiva’s original narration, followed by Kaag Bhusund’s Ramayana, Valmiki Ramayana, Vat Vriksha, Tulsidas’s Ramayana, Jain and Buddhist Ramayana, The spectre of A.K. Ramanujan and the Ram-Lila. The author compares the great Sita Swayamvara with the forgotten ritual of women empowerment that is gaining momentum now.

        The book narrates the story of enlightened Ayodhyans (residents of Ayodhya). It describes the sumptuous childhood of the Rajkumars in Ayodhya and gives a good account of what all happened in Ayodhya because of which Lord Ram had gone into exile for 14 years. We may not realise the consequences of our devious fancies that can bring about great devastation to human life. The case in point here is Kaikeyi’s fancies that were schemed.

    The vanvas commences when Lord Ram moves to Chitrakoot along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman.  In the narration, I really liked the description of Parnashala—The Idyllic Home … and the Science of Vastu Shastra. It is a sturdy little cottage made of dry wood and leaves, built by Lakshman where the trio settles in Chitrakoot. It was completed on a Sunday when the ‘Uttrayan Sun’ was in the Rohini Nakshatra—the most favourable time for Vastu-shanti writes the author. The death of King Dasharath was an event that shook the tectonic plates of Mother Earth. It was followed by a war where apart from human beings even nature suffered silently. The story of sage Atri and Anasuya remains interesting. There are umpteen mythological stories that make the book quite enjoyable. In the process, you recap the stories that you’ve known for years and also discover new stories that you’ve not known. The descriptions of the Vindhyas and the Narmada are superb. How they entwine with the tragedy of Lord Ram. The Dandakaranya—is the turning point of the Ramayana. The ashrams of various Munis and how they lived their lives are noteworthy. Sitá’s advice, King’s dharma. Mandakarni’s Underwater Inhabitation and the chapters on the greatest of the great Agastya Muni are quite absorbing.

    The chapter on Panchavati describes the genealogy of Jatayu and his brother and reflects on Lakshman’s devotion. It talks of the web of illusion about the bratty woman Surpanakha and gives an ethical and cultural perspective of her persona. The killing of Khara and Bhushan, the weaponry in ancient India and Surpanakha’s beseeching Ravan to restore her honour were perhaps the immediate causes of the war.

    Your unjust desires may get you in trouble.  Desire could fire or misfire your life where the story of Maricha and the Golden Deer comes in handy. Maricha was the person who changed form and became the golden deer that Sita fell for. Then comes Sita’s accusation that Lakshman did not help Rama. The chapter on Aerodynamics sounds a bit to far-fetched when you consider the nature of the book, but when you read about the Pushpak Viman, Jataiyu and Lepakshi you can clearly establish the connection. The book is engrossing right till the end especially the portion of Lord Hanuman and his visits to Ashok Vatika in Lanka. Vibhishan’s picturization, Lanka Dahan and Pampa-Sarovar are equally engrossing. There is a phenomenal adventure in the story of Ramayana. In the closing chapters, you have the crossing of the ocean. Was Ram Setu man-made or natural—find it out yourself while reading the book.

    The author has used plain English to express himself. He has tried to give it a non-religious tinge by quoting well-known authors. Geology has a very different way of looking at Ram’s journey from Chitrakoot to Ram-Setu which you’ll discover in the pages of this book. It is quite well-detailed. It delineates small details that we don’t know. The life of Lord Ram emits great values and the author has tried to connect it with today’s political class. The narration leaves behind many sound life lessons. The author juxtaposes Ram’s struggle and Ram-Rajya with the present times. For this, the book deviates from the main plot for a while. There are many stories within the main plot. Worldly dos and don’ts are skillfully mingled with the main theme. The book undertakes a suggestive political lesson on page 176 and 177 and has a somewhat sudden ending but not before the author has penned his thoughts prolifically on the relevance of Rama in modern times.

    If you think you know all about Ramayana definitely read this book to find out what you didn’t know about it. I would call it a must-read as it brings to the fore the unknown trail of mythology that at least I didn’t know.

    Thanks for your time.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3. Eagle versus Scholars June, 15 & 20 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.20; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22; 27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. THE NAG MANDIR 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23;

SUNDAY SHILLONG TIMES

ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: HAPPY NEW YEAR 8.1.23; 2. POEM: SPRING 12.3.23; 3. POEM: RIGHT AND WRONG 20.3.23; 4. THE GUSH OF EMOTION—WRITING, 26.3.23; 5. THE NAG MANDIR, 7.5.23; 6. POEM: MOTHER 7.5.23; 7. POEM: RAIN RAIN 9.7.23; 8. POEM: YOU COME ALONE YOU GO ALONE 6.8.23; 9. RAIN RAIN (SECOND TIME) 10.8.23: 10. POEM: GURU TEACHER 1.10.23;

BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI

ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. POEM: MOTHER, 1.6.23; 3. POEM: RAIN RAIN, 1.8.23;

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