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Author: Ranchor Prime
Publisher: Channel Four Books
ISBN: 1-85585-443-0
To condense an epic tale, consisting of six books, containing
a total of 24 000 Sanskrit verses, into a 150 page storybook without
losing the essence and original meaning of the work would be a forbidding
task for anyone. However in his book, Ramayana: A Journey,
Ranchor Prime achieves just that with considerable success. The
original Ramayana chronicles the life of Rama who, as the
seventh incarnation of Vishnu (God), comes down to earth in human
form and thus suffers all the struggles and hardships that man is
forced to endure. At the beginning of the story, we see Rama as
a great prince who is destined to lead a life of comfort and opulence
in the prosperous kingdom of Ayodhya in Northern India. However,
on the eve of his coronation as king, Rama, together with his devoted
wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, is banished into the forest of
Dandaka for fourteen years, during that time he undergoes many hardships
and tests. The adventures of these three as they encounter sages
and gods, demons and animal lords, has become an integral part of
Indian culture over the centuries, and has been the inspiration
for numerous Hindu festivals. They meet many memorable characters
on this journey, who both help and hinder them, such as the monkey
Hanuman, who becomes Rama's devoted servant, Garuda, lord of the
birds and Ravana, king of all the demons. The climax of the story,
where Rama and Lakshmana battle with Ravana, who has kidnapped Sita,
is as thrilling as any contemporary tale.
In his adaptation, Ranchor has expertly captured the mood of the
Ramayana, which is one of sacrifice and honour. His skilful
handling of the central characters as they face up to physical dangers
and tests of faith ensures that the reader can easily empathise
with their predicaments and rejoice when they triumph over adversity.
The vast assortment of human sages, animals and demons that Rama
encounters on his journey are sympathetically portrayed as souls
who are merely suffering the consequences of their past actions
(karma), encouraging the reader to feel compassion towards
even the most evil individuals whilst simultaneously abhorring their
deeds. In emphasising the humour, courage, honour and sacrifice-qualities
generally considered to be the prerogative of man only-displayed
by animals such as Hanuman and Garuda, the book also illustrates
the basic premise underlying Hinduism, that the body is merely a
covering for the true essence of the self, the spirit soul.
There is much to commend Ramayana: A Journey. The story
is episodic, the six books of the original work being divided into
separate chapters that are all prefaced with a brief summary. Although
the pace of the book is fast moving, the author never loses sight
of the moral and spiritual aspects of the original work. I particularly
liked the way Ranchor caters for those of his audience who are not
familiar with Indian culture or Hindu philosophy. For example, in
his introduction he gives a brief history of the Ramayana,
the central themes of the story, its place in Indian culture and
the underlying philosophical teachings that it conveys to the reader.
There are also feature boxes throughout the book that provide information
on many aspects of Hindu beliefs, practices and social customs,
enabling the reader to appreciate and understand the story in its
cultural context. The book is beautifully illustrated throughout;
its colourful plates, based on ancient Indian art, depict scenes
from the story and allow the characters to jump up from the imagination
into reality.
This edition of the Ramayana has the appeal for all ages as well
as to those who come from a culture outside that of the Hindu Tradition.
It is ideal bedtime reading for children as it contains all the
right ingredients of a classic tale-a handsome and brave hero, beautiful
damsel in distress, fierce battles and scary monsters. It can also
be used as an educational tool: to encourage children to respect,
understand and appreciate cultures other than their own; to teach
and reinforce customs and beliefs if they are already living in
an environment where Hinduism is practised as a way of life, and
to illustrate the importance of possessing good moral values such
as honour, truthfulness and mercy. I also consider this book to
be an excellent foundation for individuals who have a curiosity
about Hindu theology, but find the prospect of delving into the
luminous volumes and deep philosophical thinking they contain too
daunting a task. I believe Ramayana: A Journey, with its
simple but informative approach to the philosophical ideas contained
within the original, and the way it relates these ideas to Hindu
culture, provides a sound basis from which to start any journey,
be it educational or spiritual. As a relative newcomer to Hinduism,
I found Ranchor's book helped me gain a better understanding and
appreciation of both its philosophy and customs, and has certainly
inspired me to explore further.
Diane Rollinson
Diane Rollinson is now administrator at the Oxford Centre for Vaishnava
and Hindu Studies after more than twenty years experience working
for a major UK bank. She is a qualified adult literacy teacher and
also has a keen interest in psychology, having completed a certificate
course through Birkbeck College, London.
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