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Scion of Ikshvaku - Not Ramayana

First time I am writing a blog on a book that I have read and the book is Scion of Ikshvaku by Amish Tripathi. At first I want to say that this was the book of Amish for me. I have read any book of his very famous Shiva Trilogy. So it was excitement and surprise for me. I took almost 10 days to finish this book and that experience is worth sharing.

Starting from the cover page, the design clearly shows Pushpak of Raavan and Ram aiming at it. This is very nicely designed and is eye-catching for sure. But the thing I liked more is the line written on back cover “Ram Rajya, the perfect land. But perfection has a price. He paid that price”. That line surely sparks some emotions that a follower of Ramayana has inside.

I pre-ordered this book so got it with digital signature of Amish and a metallic bookmark by Amazon. As a book with paperback, I was not expecting hardcover like experience but still quality of cover is too bad. Cover bent within a few chapters of reading. Once I finished reading, I had to keep weight on book for entire night to make it straight. I wish Westland Limited had given better quality cover.

Anyway, package is of less importance but the product is precious. Second good thing (After that line written on back cover) that I noticed is that Amish has gave one line introduction of every character, it makes reading easier.

Unlike my expectation, the real story starts with a war between Raavan and Dasharath. Till now everyone stated birth of Ram as a day of joy for entire universe, Amish describes it as a saddest day for Ayodhya and its king Dasharath. That was the moment I realize it is not going to be ‘Ramayana’ way but this is Amish’s own Ram Chandra. Of course, it took few minutes for me to feel comfortable with it. One new discovery about Ram janma that made good impression on me was conversation between Nilanjana and the astrologer. It was short part but one of my favorite one of this book.

Rivalry between Kaushalya and Kaikeyi is stated amazingly. Initially I liked it, especially the way Amish pen-down those political games the queens were playing. How Manthara influenced Kaikeyi and how Kaikeyi dominated Dasharath’s decision-making is worth reading. My mind yet refuses to accept that Manthara can actually BUY Kaikeyi for money; I mean anyway Ayodhya was never so poor that it cannot meet demands of its king’s most favorite wife.

Education of all princes of Ayodhya is explained very beautifully. Character of Guru Vashistha and his way of teaching is nicely narrated. Discussion between prices and Vashistha is very enlightening and interesting. Even I liked conversation of Ram & Vashistha about Asura and Deva. Laxman as protective brother and brave boy who is ready to take any risk to save Ram is simply admirable. Discussion about feminine and masculine nature of society is long. For those who cannot read same thing for long, it may become boring, but I personally liked it. However the way author introduced Radhika as Bharat’s sixth girlfriend is just annoying. Amish should have saved this imaginary story for some other book but this was clear disaster. One just gets confused if he is reading about scion of Ikshvaku or some college of boy of twenty-first century. Some things are better left in original form.

One thing that I am totally unsatisfied with is Roshni’s part. Frankly speaking I don’t understand connection of that with other stories of the book. Amish has made an very clear attempt to put Nirbhaya incident in this storyline but it still looks creepy. And most importantly, if Roshni was Manthara’s daughter and as the story highlights Manthara as wealthiest person of Ayodhya, then where is Roshni’s father? In Ramayana, there’s no mention of Manthara’s daughter (as far I know). I understand that Amish has wrote more than half of the book with his imagination but still that particular part is not going fine with entire storyline. Execution of punishment part is too exaggerated and violent. It would be better if author had put some light on the thin line between justice and revenge. In short, I would happily eliminate the entire section of Roshni.

Introduction of Rishi Vishwamitra is very much as per his character, angry and energetic. It is very much like we are known from Ramayana. How Ram & Laxman fight with Tadka, her son and her army is interesting and makes you turn pages quickly. Even though there’s little bit modification by Amish, the changes are very small and enjoyable. Author has not played too much with it. Entire part of it goes well.

Introduction of Sita is comes on very right time but it is not as romantic as Ramayana. In Amish’s version of the Ramayana, you will find that Sita is in conflict with one or the person most of time. Sometime with citizens of Mithila, sometimes with Raavan and men & sometime with wild animals. Amish has changed entire story of Swayamvar. He completely made it like Draupadi’s Swayamvar. The way Amish describes Mithila and map of the city, is sometimes boring. Or should I say it is little bit confusing. After Swayamvar war with Raavan was a shocker. And how Ram was not willing to use Divya Astra was even more shocking. Yet I found good to read.

Entire Vanvaas  plot is again very much like Ramayana, so don’t want to write anything on it. Two boons of Kaikeyi, Ram requesting to banish himself and Site and Laxman going with Ram… Everything is too close to Ramayana. While Valmiki’s Ramayana sent Bharat to jungle to take Ram’s paduka (slippers), Amish got it done in Ayodhya itself. Have to appreciate the political and logical meaning that Amish gave this story.

Journey of Ram, Laxman and Sita to the forests it nicely written. Little bit changes are made here as well. Like Jatayu is with them, Vibhishan & Surpanakha staying with Ram-Sita and Laxman… it is something unexpected. I found like Amish wanted fast forward the story here. Book ends when Raavan kidnapped and Hanuman is on his way to help Ram & Laxman.

The one line from this book I liked the most is “…Patriots are often called traitors by the very people they choose to serve, till history passes the final judgment.”

To end this blog which went bigger than I thought, I would give this book 6.5/10. I enjoyed this book and got annoyed at some stages. Appreciate the simple language Amish used throughout the book, you don’t have keep dictionary open while reading. I will wait for second book of Ram Chandra Series.

Comments, Suggestions are most welcome. Not so perfect in English grammar so please pardon if any mistake appeared and tell about it in comment box.

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पी.एम. विरुध्द सी.एम.

आज देशाचे पंतप्रधान नरेंद्र मोदी नागपूरला मेट्रो प्रोजेक्टच्या भूमिपूजन प्रसंगी येणार आहेत. मात्र एक दिवस आधी मुख्यमंत्री पृथ्वीराज चव्हाण यां��ी या कार्यक्रमाला स्वतःची अनुपस्थिती जाहीर करून सगळ्यांना विस्मित केले. ह्या विषयावर अनेक मत येत आहे आणि जनमत दोन भागात विभाजित झालेला दिसतोय.

हे सगळ प्रकरण प्रामुख्याने शुरू झाल ते म्हणजे हरियाणामधून. नरेंद्र मोदी आणि हरियाणाचे मुख्यमंत्री भूपेंद्र सिंह हुड्डा एकाच व्यासपीठावर होते. त्या कार्यक्रमात हुड्डा यांना पंतप्रधानांकडून निमंत्रित करण्यात आले होते. मात्र हा कार्यक्रम शुरू असताना भाजपच्या कार्यकर्त्यांनी प्रचंड गोंधळ घातला आणि हुड्डाचं भाषण शुरू असतात ‘मोदी मोदी’ च्या घोषणा लावत अनियंत्रित असा विरोध करायला शुरुवात केली. ह्या प्रकाराने संतप्त हुड्डा यांनी जाहीररित्या सांगितल कि ‘आजपासून कधी पण मी मोदींसोबत कोणत्या पण कार्यक्रमात हाजीर राहणार नाही. हा केवळ माझा अपमान नव्हे तर हरियाणाच्या जनतेचा अपमान आहे.’

ह्या आधी सोलापूरला पंतप्रधान आणि मुख्यमंत्री राष्ट्रीय महामार्ग-९ च्या उद्गाटन प्रसंगी उपस्थित होते. जेव्हा मुख्यमंत्री कार्यक्रमात बोलत होते तेव्हा काही लोकांनी गोंधळ घातला, परिणामी मुख्य्मंत्रींना आपलं भाषण अर्धवट सोडावं लागला. असा आक्षेप केला जात आहे कि ह्याला पण भाजपचे कार्यकर्ते जवाबदार आहेत. काल पत्रकार परिषदेत बोलताना मुख्यमंत्रींनी पण ह्या घटनेचा उल्लेख केला होता.

आता प्रश्न हा आहे ह्या घटना त्याच राज्यात का होतात जिकडे कॉंग्रेसचं सरकार आहे आणि जिकडे निवडणूका जवळ येत आहे. ह्याचा अर्थ असा होत नाही का कि ह्या घटनांना एखादी सुनियोजित राजकीय पार्श्वभूमी आहे? एखद्या सरकारी कार्यक्रमाचा राजकीय उपयोग करून घेणे किती योग्य आहे हा दुसरा प्रश्न झाला.

काल विनोद तावडे यांनी मुख्यमंत्रींना ‘प्रोटोकॉल’ची आठवण करून देत असताना कार्यक्रमात हजर रहायला सांगितले. मात्र कार्यक्रमाला राजकीय रंग लागणार नाही याची खात्री देऊ शकले नाही. मोदी हे पंतप्रधान झाले असले तरी एखाद्या राज्याचा मुख्यमंत्री हा मुख्यमंत्रीचं राहतो आणि त्याचा मान-अपमान हे राज्यांच मान-अपमान असतो. विशेषकरुन ज्या कार्यक्रमात पंतप्रधान स्वतः उपस्थित असतात तिकडे अश्या घटना होतात होणे म्हणजे घटनेने स्थापीत केलेल्या सांघिक व्यवस्थेवरच प्रश्नचिन्ह निर्माण करणार आहे.

तस म्हणजे मुख्यमंत्री असताना नरेंद्र मोदींनी पंतप्रधान मनमोहन सिंग याचं किती ‘सन्मान’ राखलं ते पण अभ्यासाचा विषय आहे. एका कार्यक्रमात जिकडे मोदी आणि मनमोहन सिंग ��ोबत होते तिकडे मोदींनी अस विधान केलेलं कि ‘सरदार पटेल देशाचे पहिले पंतप्रधान ��सते तर देशाचे चित्र वेगळे असत’. ह्याला प्रत्युत्तर देताना त्याच कार्यक्रमात मनमोहन सिंगनी सांगितल ‘मला गर्व आहे कि मी त्या पार्टीमध्ये आहे ज्यात सरदार पटेल आयुष्यभर होते.’ त्याशिवाय १५-ऑगस्ट सारख्या दिवशी पण मनमोहन सिंगवर टीका करताना मोदींना काही चुकीच वाटला नाही. एका प्रचार सभेला बोलताना पाकिस्तानी पंतप्रधानांच चुकीचा संदर्भ देऊन मनमोहन सिंगची खिल्ली उडवणारे पण नरेंद्र मोदीच होते.

मुख्यामंत्रीचा सन्मान म्हणजे नेमकं काय हे मोदींना गुजरातचे मुख्यमंत्री असताना व्यवस्थित माहित होत. मोदींवर कोणीही आणि कोणत्याही विषयावर टीका केली तर लगेच त्याला ‘गुजरातच्या ६ कोटी जनतेचा अपमान’ कस सिद्ध करायचं ह्याची दिव्य कला मोदीकडे होती. लोकसभा निवडणूक शुरू असताना केंद्र-राज्य मैत्री वर भाषण देणारे पण मोदीच होते. तस म्हणजे केंद्र-राज्य मैत्री वर आजूनहि मोदी ठाम आहे पण अट अशी कि राज्य सरकार बीजेपीचं असल पाहिजे. पंतप्रधान होण्यापूर्वी मुख्यमंत्र्यांना बरोबर घेऊन चालण्याची भाषा करणारे मोदी आता मुख्यमंत्र्यांसाठी अडचण निर्माण करताना दिसतायत.

आत प्रश्न राहिला कि पृथ्वीराज चव्हाण आणि हुड्डा ह्यांची भूमिका योग्य कि अयोग्य? देशात कोणता मुख्यमंत्री असा असेल जो एखाद्या कार्यक्रमात जाणून-समजून स्वतःच अपमान करून घ्यायला जाणार? सरकारी कार्यक्रमाच्या नावाखाली होत असणाऱ्या राजकीय खेळीचा भान प्रत्येकाला आले आहे. झारखंडचे मुख्यामंत्री सोरेन यांनी तर सरळ इशारा दिला आहे कि जर असा प्रकार झारखंडमध्ये झाला तर त्याला योग्य प्रत्युत्तर देण्यात येईल.

ह्या सर्वांतून एक धोकादायक गोष्ट घडत आहे ती म्हणजे केंद्र आणि राज्य यांच्यात वाढत असेलेला अविश्वास. जसं पंतप्रधान हे राष्ट्राचे प्रमुख असतात त्याचप्रमाणे मुख्यमंत्री हे राज्याचे प्रमुख असतात. दोघांनी एकमेकांबद्दल आदर आणि सन्मान ठेवणे गरजेचे आहे. एखाद्या राज्यात जाऊन त्याच राज्याच्या मुख्य्मंत्रींना अडचणीत आणण्याचं प्रकार अशोभनीयचं म्हणता येणार. एक आदर्श नेता ��्यालाच म्हणता येणार जो स्वतःच विवेक आणि विवेकबुद्धी सोडणार नाही.

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ONE MONTH OF MODI SARKAR

Now when I am writing this, its 31st day of “Modi Sarkar” (few people also call it Bharat Sarkar or Indian Govt.). With alandslide victory, Narendra Modi assumed PMO on 26th of May 2014 and started working for “Acche Din” (as per his words). With sky high hopes and unprecedented dreams, this government was expected to be totally different than the previous government headed by Dr. Manmohan Singh. It may not be good thing to judge any new govt. in just 31 days but I can’t stop myself from doing it as India expected to have magic wand with the new PM.

Starting from the day one, Pakistan PM were invited to attend swearing in ceremony of Modi. Within a minute every Indian would have remembered all statements made by BJP leaders on Pakistan and UPA. Sushma Swaraj’s ‘ten heads for one head’ statement, Shiv Sena’s opposed to Pakistani cricketers and artists, thousands of messages of jingoism-cum-patriotism shared by number of right wingers…. Everything seemed like a joke. Indian PM and Pakistani PM were exchanging shawl and saree when Hemraj’s family was demanding his head back. The entire event witnessed a silencefrom all those people who were like symbol of Desh Bhakti till 16 May 2014.

Coming back to Indian matter, qualification of new Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani became headline of news. Two affidavits by Mrs. Irani submitted in 2004 and 2014 stated two different degrees in ‘qualification’. The affidavit of 2004 saying that she completed B.A from Delhi University in 1996 whereas the affidavit of 2014 saying she completed B.COM part-1 from Delhi University in 1994. It’s very much clear that she has given false information either in 2004 or in 2014. One the ground of such incident Smriti Irani should have come and give clarification but this didn’t happen. It’s unfortunate that a person who’s going to handle education of the country is being questioned on her qualification. But, neither HRD min nor any of govt. bothered to answer the question raised. Even PM Modi kept mum on entire chapter.

The second minister who brought shame to government is Nihalchand, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. Nihalchand has been named in the list of accused of a gang rape case happened in 2011. Rajasthan High Court summoned the minister in context of this case. He should have resigned immediately after such allegation and summon from court but he’s still enjoying the power as a minister. BJP tried to defend the minister siding the closer report by Rajasthan police but intentionally avoided speaking on HC’s summon.  Above all, the resignation was need of the hour taking BJP’s slogan “Bahot hua naari par atyaachar…” in to consideration.

Inflation was the most used weapon by BJP during campaign and promised to control price rise as soon they come into power. The very first disappointment came when Modi Sarkar decided to continue monthly increase in diesel price. With massive hike of 14.2% in railway passenger fare Modi proved that he can do what governments of 6 decades couldn’t do. This decision resulted in nearly 200% hike in fares of Mumbai local trains. However within few days, after huge protest and oppose, government rolled back fare hike partially. Government of India took steps to increase duty on imported sugar which resulted in increase of sugar prices in domestic market.

Now let’s talk about those issues on which PM Narendra Modi didn’t talk. When the country replaced Dr. Manmohan Singh, it expected to have a PM that speaks on every single matter but unfortunately our new PM isn’t fulfilling countrymen’s wish. Nation wanted PM to speak when…

The gruesome gangrape case of Badau, Uttar Pradesh.

Killing of Mohsin Sadiq Shaikh by Hindu Rashtra Sena in Pune.

Indians abducted in Iraq.

Vyapam scam came in public attention

One minister of his cabinet accused for rape

Gen. V. K. Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs accused next Army Chief

However, it’s not like Narendra Modi didn’t speak anything after becoming PM. He asked nation to get prepared for bitter pills and indirectly made it clear that proclaimed Acche Din not coming soon. On his first international visit in Bhutan PM shocked everyone by naming it as Nepal. He said ‘Nepal’ instead of ‘Bhutan’ while hailing the country’s royal family. In his blog, written on completion of one month as PM, he seemed to be regretting for not having‘honeymoon period’ for his government. However, a moon seller PM candidate should not be expecting honeymoon period after getting power and responsibility.

Concluding to that whole thing, people who turned to be Modi sympathizers are searching for that Acche Din here and there. Let’s hope that the dreams shown by Modi will be reality after 5 years.