Author Amish releases 'Scion of Ikshvaku' in Mumbai

'Scion of Ikshvaku', the first book in the Ram Chandra series, was unveiled at the Crossword bookstore located at Kemp’s Corner in Mumbai, amidst a frenzy of screaming fans.

Setting up more than a kilometer long queue, hundreds of fans waited patiently for the bookstore to open and grab their signed copies.

Amish, much to their delight, patiently handled his frenzied fans in his characteristic unassuming style.

“It’s my fictional and respectful interpretation of the Ramayan. It speaks of the struggles that Lord Ram went through as he fought to establish the perfect empire,” said Amish.

The launch was organized in a manner rarely seen at book launch events in India. There was no ‘celebrity’ to launch the book. Westland, the publishers of the Ram Chandra Series and Amish decided that the readers should be at the centre of the book launch.

A nation-wide contest was organised among fans and readers, out of which three lucky winners got to release the book at the event. There was a drum circle act at the beginning of the event, with the entire audience participating in it, creating a mood of a joint celebration for the Scion of Ikshvaku.

Scion of Ikshvaku, is a mythological thriller that traces the life of Ram Chandra, depicted in scriptures as the Maryada Purushottam.

Just like the Shiva Trilogy (which is the fastest-selling book series in Indian publishing history), the Ram Chandra series is also a combination of Amish’s unique interpretations of myths and history, philosophical thinking and crackling story-telling.

Asked to explain the title, Amish said, "Lord Ikshvaku was the founder of the Suryvanshi clan and Lord Ram was a Suryavanshi king, albeit many generations after Lord Ikshvaku. Hence, Lord Ram is the Scion of Ikshvaku."

Speaking on the occasion Gautam Padmanabhan, CEO Westland Publishing said, “I am happy to announce that The Shiva Trilogy, Amish’s first series has crossed the 2.5 million copies milestone. With the high revenue that his books earn, Amish is the topmost Indian author of the 21st Century. I am confident that the Ram Chandra series too will be a blockbuster bestseller."

Amish’s Shiva Trilogy — The Immortals of Meluha (2010), The Secret of the Nagas (2011) and The Oath of the Vayuputras (2013) — have been translated into 14 Indian and International languages.