Judge me by my karma: Amish Tripathi

Tell us a bit about the Ram Chandra Series

It’s a five book series. It’s my respectful interpretation of Lord Ram’s tale. Scion of Ikshvaku is the first book of this series. A bit about the name…Lord Ikshvaku was the founder of the Suryavansh, the dynasty of the Sun God and as we all know Lord Ram was a Suryavanshi king, of course many generations after Lord Ikshvaku. Hence, Lord Ram is a noble descendant of Lord Ikshvaku, therefore the title Scion of Ikshvaku.

 

You have already written about Lord Shiva, you are now writing about Lord Ram. Who’s next?

Look, the Ram Chandra Series has five books, probably six…so the next seven years will probably go in the series itself. But I have other story ideas as well. One on my interpretation of the Mahabharat, therefore on Lord Krishna. One on Lord Rudra, Lady Mohini, one on Lord Manu, Lord Parshuram and Lord Brahma. Hopefully I’ll write all of them. I have enough books for the next 20-25 years (laughs).

 

You have a flair for ‘simplifying’ mythological characters, giving them a human form. How and why do you do it?

Firstly, there are many concepts of God in India. There is the formless God, ‘Brahman’, in ancient times. Then there is the ‘Akar’ (shape) concept, where God takes a form. There is the ‘Avatar’ concept where God is born as a human being…there is a fourth concept where a human being discovers the God within. I find this concept very empowering. Gautam Buddha, for example…a historical human being who had discovered the God within. Perhaps I find this concept inspiring, which is why they have come up in my books. The point I’m trying to make is that I’m not the first person doing this. There has been a rich tradition of writing such stories in India for millennia. I’m just following a very rich tradition. God has been kind, it’s all Lord Shiva’s blessing. I never thought I would be a writer, let alone have my books appreciated by so many people.

 

How does it feel to be called ‘India’s first literary pop star’?

Embarrassing (laughs)…It actually feels nice. He (Sekhar Kapoor) said it while we were launching the Oath of the Vayuputras (Book 3 of the Shiva Trilogy). He had come to the launch event and there were a thousand people over there, mostly young. I went up to the stage and said ‘Har Har Mahadev’, they too chanted back. Sekhar Kapoor later said that I never thought that you’ll have jeans clad, t-shirt wearing kids saying ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and thinking that it’s cool. So that’s how it came about.


Aren’t you ever afraid that your books might evoke religious sentiments?

I think even people who don’t like my books will admit that I have written it with a lot of respect. I am a devout Shiva worshipper. I am very proud of my faith. (Cocks his wrist) I wear an ‘Om Namah Shivaye’ kada. I wear a ‘Rudraksh Mala’. I do the ‘Maha Mrityunjay Jap’ every morning. So I think it’s obvious in my books that whoever has written these is a devotee, is proud of his religion. It maybe a different interpretation but it is a respectful and devotional interpretation. I haven’t faced any controversy at all and by God’s grace my books aren’t really a secret. The Shiva Trilogy has sold more than 2.5 million copies till now. There have been no protests or anything similar because I think a vast majority of Indians are deeply religious and liberal. There are a few extremist, I wouldn’t deny that, as there are in all faiths but deep inside it’s a liberal country. So, I’m not at all surprised that my books haven’t attracted controversies.

Are you ever going to write about anything else?

I might, God knows, most of my ideas I have in mind right now are all based on the mythology space, but let’s see where life takes me. Ten years back if someone had told me that I would be making my living as a writer, I would have laughed. Lord Shiva has brought me here, so where will he take me five years later I don’t know.


Who interests you as an author?

I read a lot, at least 4-5 books every month. To give an all time favorite list is very difficult…of the books I have read in the last few months, I have liked ‘The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets’ by Simon Singh. I have also liked two books by Dr. Ambedkar, ‘Who Were the Shudras’ and ‘Pakistan or the Partition of India’. I have spoken repetitively about this; he was probably one of the finest thinkers. At present I’m reading Amitav Ghosh’s ‘Flood of Fire’. I am completing the Ibis Trilogy.

 
Why did you decide to go mononymous?

I have never used my surname in my books ever. My surname is a caste surname and I’m against the caste system…the way it exists today. I have to use my surname in my legal documents because that’s my legal name. But on my books, I thought I’ll be true to my philosophy and the philosophy I’m trying to speak of  in my books. My submission is, don’t judge me as a Tripathi, judge me as Amish. Judge me for my karma, for the work I’ve done.

 

Since you’re writing about mythological characters, you must be an avid reader. Who is your favorite character and why?

That’s very easy ‘yaar’. Lord Shiva (laughs)…with no disrespect to any other God. I think in a way Lord Shiva is the God of the rebels. I’m by nature a very rebellious person, I’m naturally, slightly anti-elitist, that’s the way I am. For people like me Lord Shiva is the ideal God, because he is also very rebellious, he never cared much about the societal norms. He is a brilliant musician…a consummate dancer…he drinks ‘bhaang’…he is obsessively in love with his wife. One of my younger readers described him as the ‘coolest God’ or the ‘dude of the Gods’.

 

When is the next book coming out?

I’ll start writing soon. I’m a bit busy with the book tour, so it’ll take some time but I’ll try to bring it out as soon as possible.