A tale for all times

Aradhika Sharma

While some could point out that Sattar has not dwelt upon the complexities of relationships and the moral questions that have risen through the centuries, particularly of Ram's treatment of Sita and the doubtful way in which he slew Vali, but to a discerning reader, she's not really ignored them. The book is therefore, a good bed-time story for children who can sleep with a smile on their faces, dreaming of mythic lands, secure in the belief that good shall prevail.

Through Sattar's simple yet stimulating style of writing — and she's used a linear narrative rather than go into too many subplots — the pages come alive with the tale that's as modern as it is ancient. The book is based on the original Sanskrit text by Valmiki, and who has better credentials to take on the task but Sattar? Her acclaimed translations of the epic Sanskrit texts, Kathasaritsagara (Tales from the Kathasaritsagara) and Valmiki's the Ramayana (The Ramayana of Valmiki) are classics. Nor is she a stranger to writing for children — her previously published books for children being Kishkindha Tails, Pampa Sutra and Adventures with Hanuman.

In retelling classics for children, there is the danger that you are telling a story that they already know. Most of us are familiar with the stories of the epic, without actually having read it, mostly through the stories told to us by our parents or through TV serials. Many times such tales are coloured by the politics of the storyteller.  Sattar, however, tries to tell the story to children simply, though never simplistically. She tells of goodness, nobility and valour; of the victory of the righteous path (dharma) over the unrighteous ways (adharma).  Important lessons for children bred on scary video games!

The descriptions are evocative and dramatic: The fearsome Ravana looks ‘as terrifying as the God of death himself’ when he descends the battlefield. Rama is described as having strong arms, broad shoulders, powerful chest and long firm legs. ‘His bright eyes shaped like a lotus, his eyebrows dark as a crow's wing.’

Thus, in the pages of the book, we meet dignified maharajas and beautiful princesses; warrior monkeys and rakshasas disguised as beguiling beauties and golden deer, mantra-fuelled arrows and strange and powerful weapons. The battle scenes are epic, rising up to the hold-the-breath expectations of the children reading the story. There's some humour as well, like when Ravana finally manages to wake up the enormous sleeping Kumbhakarna, he says: ‘…the rakshasas need you; we've been attacked by an army of monkeys and bears.’ Kumbhakarna replies: ‘I'd like to try monkey meat. Maybe we can eat them after I've killed them.’

And oh! The illustrations by Sonali Zohra! Spectacular, strange and feisty, even disquieting at times, each one is a work of art. Untraditional! Especially in the context of the Ramayana, where we are schooled to see a chocolate-boy Rama, a perfectly demure Sita, a benign Hanumana, and a Dasehra-type Ravana. Her illustrations show real forests, fearsome rakshasas, fighter monkeys that mean business! Funky, dark, effective!