Indian Myths – what’s not to like…?

Most children will be introduced to the pantheon of Greek and Roman gods at some point in their school career. It may be they will also meet Odin and Thor. However, as Sarwat Chadda points out, almost all the fantasy they will read will reference the myths of the Greek and the Scandinavian world. Films reinforce this with dramatic retellings of the Iliad or Odyssey, while the influence of Tolkien is inescapable. While this is not surprising – these are the myths from our world – it is also limiting; all cultures have their myths – fertile soil to be explored by authors and illustrators, though they may need mediating. But India boasts some of the oldest literature of the world, full of characters and stories waiting to be discovered. Sarwat Chadda, author of the Ash Mistry Chronicles, opens the door.

Given Britain’s long and rich history with the Subcontinent it is surprising how few children’s books there are that focus on the amazingly rich mythology and history of India and the surrounding countries.

Fantasy remains as popular as ever, but it’s a peculiar brand of fantasy, based on North European mythology that still seems to recycle the tropes established by Tolkien with its dragons, goblins and elves; the effect being that the fantasy becomes mundane and everyday.

One of the main reasons I decided to write a series using an Indian setting was that it was fantastical to the Western reader. The mythology is unlike anything we have in Europe and the environment a world away from the gloomy forest-bound castles we’re familiar with in more traditional fantasy stories.

I think there is some apprehension about Indian mythology. Readers are worried that they ‘won’t get it’. What is there to get? It’s all about heroes, gods and monsters!

The two great mythologies of India are The Ramayana and The Mahabharata. Here is a quick summary of both.

Prince Rama, a demi-god, is exiled from his kingdom to live in the forest for fourteen years. His beautiful wife, Princess Sita, is kidnapped by the demon king, Ravana. Rama, aided by his brother and supernatural allies, tracks Ravana down to his island fortress of Lanka. There is an epic battle, the bad guy is defeated and the hero gets the girl. That’s The Ramayana.

In The Mahabharata you have a war between families. You have five brothers, each descended from a different god. They’re our heroes and they’re the Pandava family. Against them are the 100 sons of the Kauravas. The heroes are swindled out of their rightful kingdoms and forced to live in exile. Twelve years pass and they return, much to the chagrin of their cousins. A great war takes place, the likes of which the world has never seen. Heroes, villains and demons and the gods themselves participate. It is epic! Eventually the Pandavas are victorious and everyone lives happily ever after.

These are the barest bones. What I have missed out is the awesomeness of Arjuna, the perfect warrior and a man who’d have Achilles for breakfast; the thunderous Bhima, crude, violent, dedicated and honest; the otherworldly Krishna, god and guide and kinsman to both the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The Mahabharata is the longest poem in the world. There’s plenty in it for everyone.

If that’s whetted your appetite, here are a few books I would recommend if you want to explore the mythology of India further.

The Ramayana: The Divine Loophole, by Sanjay Patel. This beautiful book is filled with amazing art, as you would expect from an author who’s also a Pixar animator. The story delves deeply into each of the main characters and full of excitement. If you’re only going to get one book on the Ramayana, make it this one.

Grant Morrison’s 18 Days, art by Mukesh Singh. Morrison is a god amongst the comic-reading world and brings his unique blend of superhero and mysticism to the climactic battle of the Mahabharata. This is a concept book for a television series that never happened, but glorious nevertheless. It takes Indian myth and replants it into a cybertech world of genetically grown superheroes and alien gods. And it works.

I must also mention Ashok Banker’s massive Ramayana series. He has taken the myth and written it as high fantasy. It’s great but difficult to get hold of now. Prince of Ayodhya is the first.

Books listed:

Ramayana: divine loophole, Sanjay Patel, Chronicle, 208pp, 978-0-8118-7107-5, £19.99 hbk.

Prince of Ayodhya (Ramayana 1), Ashok Banker:, Orbit, 532pp, 978-1-8414-9186-8, [£7.99] pbk.

Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress, Sarwat Chadda, HarperCollins, 308pp, 978-0-0074-4732-9, £6.99 pbk.

Ash Mistry and the City of Death, Sarwat Chadda, HarperCollins, 381pp, 978-0-0074-4737-4, £6.99 pbk

Ash Mistry and the World of Darkness, Sarwat Chadda, HarperCollins, 383pp, 978-0-0074-4735-0, £6.99 pbk

Grant Morrison’s 18 Days, Grant Morrison/Mukesh Singh, Dynamite Entertainment, 143pp, 978-1-6069-0174-8, £18.99 hbk.