Ramayana (William Buck [Retold By], 1991)

[madali]

Ramayana (William Buck [Retold By], 1991)

The ancient Indian epic, “Ramayana”, is, as far as I know, one of Indian’s most popular and loved epics, and it seems to have been composed around 500 to 750 BC, although there are many variations throughout the centuries. The gist of it is probably the same though.

The one I am talking about here is just an audiobook translation by William Buck, and I say translation, but I actually mean a retelling. It is not in poetic form, it is retold in simple modern English narrative, which means that it is probably significantly different from the original, but I still assume that it has some grains of the original, for me to at least familiarize myself with the story.

In short, very short, Rama is the son of a King and is actually the human form of a God (the God comes to Earth as a human form, but he forgets he is a God, this is way it always works). Something happens something happens, he is exiled, his beautiful wife, Sita, is stolen by a demon king, Ravana, and he needs to save her. Something something, epilogue.

Here is the absolute fascinating thing about the epic for me. If the story is written around 2,500 years back, we really have not progressed much, story-telling wise. Seriously, people always whine about how recent films are copying the classics from fifty or thirty years back, and Ramayana has the basis of a lot of epic films released nowadays. The main highlight for me in the epic, and the one that best illustrates this, is the main battle between Rama’s army and the army of the demon king. This is almost Lord of the Ring.

Rama is a powerful bowsman and there is part in the epic where he gets a really strong bow. He has a bad ass friend who is really strong. They befriend the races of monkeys and bears, having a few main characters in these races. And when they face the demon king, it is almost like it was written today. When he starts losing, he starts sending out strong characters one by one, and each one seems undefeatable at first, and Rama’s army seems to be losing, but one character goes against him and wins, and then the next fighter. It was pretty exciting! My favorite character was probably Indrajit, he was seriously kicking ass. It was very…anime.

[sandeep]

Indrajit was tricky to defeat. Lots of stories on that one. I like your thoughts on this. Could send you a funny facebook version of the Ramayana if you would like. Cant attach it here as its more than 500KB

[madali]

Mail to me or send it to me via facebook or upload it on tinypic.com

[shariqq]

I'd like to see it too, Sandeep. Link it here!

[sulphurhead]

Ditto

[sandeep]

Here you go, found it!

http://www.themattefinish.com/blog/2009/08/if-the-ramayan-were-on-facebook/

[madali]

That was amusing haha

[X.]

we really have not progressed much, story-telling wise. Seriously, people always whine about how recent films are copying the classics from fifty or thirty years back

Mad, read Joseph Campbell's Hero With A Thousand Faces.

[madali]

Added on my list. And given how slow I read books, will get back to you by 2023

[kaytee]

Sandeep that was hilarious especially where Ram wrote on Hanuman's wall - "Dude, if you have time after work, can you save Sita? You will need to jump and fly."

[madali]

Guys, what relevance does Ramayana have in your communities? Obviously, this is for the Indian readers, but it would be interesting to here from our Pakistani buddies too.

[suresh]

What you should read is Mahabaharata an abridged retelling by C Rajagopalachari is the amongst the best englsih version available. It is much much more than LOTR. Checkout the wikipedia artcile on Mahabharata as well

[sulphurhead]

Hinduism contains a collection of thousands of ideologies, and schools of thought, not to mention literally thousands of dieties who have each, their own unique personality, history and place.

The major number of Hindus pray to either Ram or Krishna - two of the avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu. Both are central characters of epics (the Ramayana and the Mahabharata).

The two incarnations are poles apart in their personality, their roles in these epics and what they represented.

I'll write a longer piece on this later on, during the weekend.

[X.]

Obviously, this is for the Indian readers, but it would be interesting to here from our Pakistani buddies too.

I guess you got your answer.

[shariqq]

There's a Fantasy "modern best-seller" take on Ramayana by Ashok Banker, as a series written in six parts (ala any other sci-fi or Fantasy series). The first three parts are actually excellent, but it goes downhill in the last three books, finishing quite badly. But what it does do - it retells the Ramayana (in its original setting and most characters) for the new generation, albiet with extra flashy and cinematic scenes, and artistic liberty that might trouble puritans.