Book Review : Ram Scion of Ishvaku by Amish Tripathi Rating - ****

The story tagline is "Ram Rajya. The Perfect Land. But perfection has a price. He paid that price." It is based in 3400 BCE. India, when it was a pure land of Aryas.

Ayodhya is weakened by divisions. A terrible war has taken its toll. The damage runs deep. The demon King of Lanka, Raavan, does not impose his rule on the defeated. He, instead, imposes his trade. Money is sucked out of the empire. The Sapt Sindhu people descend into poverty, despondency and corruption. They cry for a leader to lead them out of the morass. Little do they appreciate that the leader is among them. One whom they know. A tortured and ostracised prince. A prince they tried to break. A prince called Ram.

He loves his country, even when his countrymen torment him. He stands alone for the law. His band of brothers, his Sita, and he, against the darkness of chaos. The rise of Ram above the taint that others heap on him. His love for Sita which sustain him through his struggles. His animosity with demon Lord Raavan who destroyed his childhood. His desire to fulfil the destiny of the Vishnu. All are covered in this semi mythological semi fictional way.

A nice novel on our long depicted story of Ramayan. The story was made famous by Ramanand Sagar in the 80's. The story is twisted to link it with modern scenerios. The rakshas are attributed to islamic invaders in the past. Amish have dramatically created a story to engage a modern reader, who is least interested in indian mythology. The book is suitable for a person with a taste of historical fiction. This is not for devout ram bhakt who will not like his character and storyline destroyed in tha name of fiction.