Book Review: ‘Immortals Of Meluha’ By Amish Tripathi.
Mythology has always been my favorite Topic, especially Indian mythology. I love to read and write about the characters, themes and its depiction and relevance to our lives. When I came across the book, 'Immortals of Meluha' by Amish Tripathi, I instantly decided to buy and read it. I really enjoyed reading the book as it was based on the mythology, which one of the important reasons I liked the book but another factor I came across is the novel vision of the author towards mythology written through modern perceptive.
The book ‘Immortals of Meluha ’ was prescribed in my masters’ syllabus, therefore, I again read the book, consciously looking at all the literary aspects. The author Amish has succeeded to blend the mythology and his imagination skillfully. One can observe the modernity in every aspects of the novel. Choosing Mythology as his one of the important themes, Amish has not escaped from the reality. Every character in the novel projects that there are shades of Grey in every person though he is gifted with all the strength and Wealth. One cannot be entirely good or bad.
Amish has presented the country Meluha which is a near perfect empire, created many centuries earlier by Lord Ram, one of the greatest king that ever lived. Meluha is a much disciplined land where citizens live for hundreds of year just by the consumption of the miracle medicine-Somras. Meluha is the empire of Suryavanshis, which is a highly civilized society, where rules and regulations are given extreme importance. In such a utopian country one of the dangers the meluhans face is the sudden attacks and threats by Chandravanshies, an empire of Swadeepans near Meluha. Shiva, the protagonist of the novel is called by Suryavanshis to save their empire from Chandravanshies. When Shiva comes in Meluha he consumes Somaras and emerges as a Neelkanth for whom Meluhans have been waiting over a Hundred years thinking that the Neelkanth would come and would be their savior and would be the destructor of evil. But Shiva wins the hearts of Meluhans not by his status as Neelkanth but by his bravery and good deeds. Shiva observes that the Meluha is not Flawless as it appears. He observes that the Meluhans follow the Vikrama Law which separate and consider specific people untouchable in this life due to sins committed in their previous births. Shiva finds this law very inappropriate and abolishes the unjust law. He also finds Maika System followed by Meluhans unjust because the system was followed by everyone except the kings and royals. He finds it incorrect that the rules are twisted for Royals and rich. It was an injustice to common citizens according to Shiva. One of the character traits one can observe is Shiva’s sensitive nature. Shiva does not accept the laws as it is, he fights to demolish the unjust laws. Shiva with his immense courage and warrior skills wins the war with Chandravanshis. After the victory Shiva meets with Princess of Chandravanshi ,Anandmayi who expresses Chandravanshi’s side to Shiva. Listening to her Shiva gets disturbed and experiences pain for not thinking from Chandravanshies perspective too. The novel ends with Shiva’s Dilemma for his decision being with Suryanvanshies and not thinking about the situation from Chandravanshies’ perceptive. The following two novels of the Series i.e. ‘The secret of Nagas’ and ‘The Oath of Vayuputras’ respectively describe Shiva`s further Journey.
One of the aspects which I observed in Shiva is that the God also have Human traits, Shiva is Skillful, Brave Warrior but at the same time he is very sensitive and righteous in his every act. Through Shiva`s character Amish is modifying the notion of God. He is conveying that God is a human being who too has frailties and weaknesses.
One of the reasons Amish has attracted young readers that the characters traits of all the characters are very much relatable to their lives. The Journey of Shiva from Cool Dude to MahaDev is very much relatable as it coveys that Shiva has reached to the Status of God by not his divine powers but by his deeds. Through the novel, author has also commented on various contemporary social issues like Caste hierarchy and untouchability. Amish has also succeeded in creating awareness and an interest in youths about the mythology and cultural heritage. As a reader. I would like to tell everyone that it is one of the books to be kept in reading list to have a novel perspective towards mythology.
-swarupa
Mythology has always been my favorite Topic, especially Indian mythology. I love to read and write about the characters, themes and its depiction and relevance to our lives. When I came across the book, 'Immortals of Meluha' by Amish Tripathi, I instantly decided to buy and read it. I really enjoyed reading the book as it was based on the mythology, which one of the important reasons I liked the book but another factor I came across is the novel vision of the author towards mythology written through modern perceptive.
The book ‘Immortals of Meluha ’ was prescribed in my masters’ syllabus, therefore, I again read the book, consciously looking at all the literary aspects. The author Amish has succeeded to blend the mythology and his imagination skillfully. One can observe the modernity in every aspects of the novel. Choosing Mythology as his one of the important themes, Amish has not escaped from the reality. Every character in the novel projects that there are shades of Grey in every person though he is gifted with all the strength and Wealth. One cannot be entirely good or bad.
Amish has presented the country Meluha which is a near perfect empire, created many centuries earlier by Lord Ram, one of the greatest king that ever lived. Meluha is a much disciplined land where citizens live for hundreds of year just by the consumption of the miracle medicine-Somras. Meluha is the empire of Suryavanshis, which is a highly civilized society, where rules and regulations are given extreme importance. In such a utopian country one of the dangers the meluhans face is the sudden attacks and threats by Chandravanshies, an empire of Swadeepans near Meluha. Shiva, the protagonist of the novel is called by Suryavanshis to save their empire from Chandravanshies. When Shiva comes in Meluha he consumes Somaras and emerges as a Neelkanth for whom Meluhans have been waiting over a Hundred years thinking that the Neelkanth would come and would be their savior and would be the destructor of evil. But Shiva wins the hearts of Meluhans not by his status as Neelkanth but by his bravery and good deeds. Shiva observes that the Meluha is not Flawless as it appears. He observes that the Meluhans follow the Vikrama Law which separate and consider specific people untouchable in this life due to sins committed in their previous births. Shiva finds this law very inappropriate and abolishes the unjust law. He also finds Maika System followed by Meluhans unjust because the system was followed by everyone except the kings and royals. He finds it incorrect that the rules are twisted for Royals and rich. It was an injustice to common citizens according to Shiva. One of the character traits one can observe is Shiva’s sensitive nature. Shiva does not accept the laws as it is, he fights to demolish the unjust laws. Shiva with his immense courage and warrior skills wins the war with Chandravanshis. After the victory Shiva meets with Princess of Chandravanshi ,Anandmayi who expresses Chandravanshi’s side to Shiva. Listening to her Shiva gets disturbed and experiences pain for not thinking from Chandravanshies perspective too. The novel ends with Shiva’s Dilemma for his decision being with Suryanvanshies and not thinking about the situation from Chandravanshies’ perceptive. The following two novels of the Series i.e. ‘The secret of Nagas’ and ‘The Oath of Vayuputras’ respectively describe Shiva`s further Journey.
One of the aspects which I observed in Shiva is that the God also have Human traits, Shiva is Skillful, Brave Warrior but at the same time he is very sensitive and righteous in his every act. Through Shiva`s character Amish is modifying the notion of God. He is conveying that God is a human being who too has frailties and weaknesses.
One of the reasons Amish has attracted young readers that the characters traits of all the characters are very much relatable to their lives. The Journey of Shiva from Cool Dude to MahaDev is very much relatable as it coveys that Shiva has reached to the Status of God by not his divine powers but by his deeds. Through the novel, author has also commented on various contemporary social issues like Caste hierarchy and untouchability. Amish has also succeeded in creating awareness and an interest in youths about the mythology and cultural heritage. As a reader. I would like to tell everyone that it is one of the books to be kept in reading list to have a novel perspective towards mythology.
-swarupa
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