Review of Scion of Ikshvaku (Ram Chandra Series I)

Name of the Book: Scion of Ikshvaku

Author: Amish

Publication : Westland Ltd., June, 2015

Many (like me) have purchased this novel by pre-ordering which cost more than it’s usual price. The purpose was the eagerness to find what Amish would bring now after Shiva Trilogy. Honestly I have mixed feeling regarding this book.  The following are the points to ponder on:

Plot  & Characterisation : At one point of time, this looks like a 21^st Century version of Ramayana with logic and full of ethical discourse; on the other side, the book cuts short the great character of Ram, Sita and especially Lakshman in very derogative manner. In fact the character of Ravan is dignifiedly presented compared to Ram. Ram, here characterized as a naive, insanely obsessed about his version of ‘laws’. Sita is characterized fairly well. Dasrath is portrayed as a worn out king, who lost enthusiasm and zest in life and kingdom after his defeat with Ravan. Kaikaiya and Kaushlya are designed in traditional Indian Queen manner. Throughout the book, air of suspense is tried but not much useful. In short, this version of Rama Katha can impress the foreigner out of its real-time plotting and sequence of events but Indians (I doubt) wouldn’t appreciate the great ideal of them to be portrayed with such normalities.

Language:  Despite vivid descriptions and acute usage of words, language seems verbose and tedious at certain points. Unfamiliar (though essential) words make the reading quite laborious for the readers -especially those  vocabulary is limited to normal usage. The descriptions of physical characteristics are vivid but lengthy. That makes the reader skip that part. The master craftsmanship is not found at the level of sentence formation and usage of imagery. Many a times, the scenes are not vivid at understanding due to esoteric descriptions.

Final Verdict: The whole book is much more didactic, than a novel with spine-chilling plot. The experiment with the Ramayana is found a flop show in this case. As the plot is much known, the writer must have used the common Indian sense.

Although, it is a delighted reading, it is not advisable to recommend this book to anyone. Those who really looking for exalted experience like Amish’s previous books of ‘Shiva Trilogy’, may get disappointed after completing 354 pages of this novel (laboriously).

Well, Readers are advised to use their own common sense with this book!

Regards!

Bhavin Chauhan