Vritrahan: A Retelling of an Old Tale with a New Perspective

Indra killed Vritra using his Vajra. Once again, good won over evil and dharma over adharma. This is a story most Bharatiyas know. The story is a part of the Mahabharata and has been the subject of a famous Amar Chitra Katha comic. It is a simple story, right? No! This is only at the superficial level.

The Indra-Vritra story has so many nuances that many of us would not be aware of. The story assumes epic proportions and truly becomes an epic in the hands of well-known writer Ratul Chakraborty. ‘Vritrahan’ is Ratul’s retelling of the Indra-Vritra story, published by BlueOne Ink. Ratul was kind enough to send this book to me for review courtesy of Indica Books.

The book is already a bestseller and has gone for reprint. When I read it, I realized why. It is a classic and definitely Ratul’s magnum opus. Ratul already has two important works in the market. One ‘Sutradhar’ and the other an anthology ‘Shared Roots’. In this book, Ratul takes the art of writing to a different level.

For starters, Ratul uses poetry instead of prose to write the book. He uses free style verse, and the result is engaging. The verses are short and make for easy reading. I am not a big fan of poetry, but this book I definitely relished reading. The narration style ensures it is a breezy read. In fact, you will feel like finishing the book in one sitting.

The book uses a Sutradhar to take us through the story. The story starts with the killing of Twashira by Indra and the grief of his father Tvashta. The father then plans vengeance and creates Vritra, the dragon who unleashes chaos. Indra is unable to fight with the dragon and is reduced to a pathetic state. How he then gets a weapon from Dadichi and uses it to conquer his fears and then Vritra forms the rest of the book.

If you think that you know this story and don’t need to read the book, you are grossly mistaken. Ratul’s technique is not only different in terms of the form of the tale but also in its content. Ratul’s Indra is a character different from our perception of Indra. The Indra of Vritrahan is just like us. He has fear, he has weaknesses, has emotions, cares, regrets, and fights.

The character of Indra is one you will end up liking. The author has done an amazing job linking Vritra to today’s world. The book takes us to today’s world with a modern twist to the ancient story. It opens our eyes to the Vritra in the world and how we have no Indra. We must become Indra to slay the Vritra, who is our enemy.

The book tells us a story with valuable lessons for today’s world. It is a story of human greed, arrogance, courage, sacrifice, weakness, and strength. Ratul has come out with a classic, a book that is unique – one that no one else has written or can write. It is also a book for Bharata with a strong message of nationalism.

A poignant fact about this book is that it was probably the last the late Dr. Bibek Debroy read and recommended. Dr. Debroy’s recommendation makes the book all the more special. This book is deserving of all the awards possible. It is a definite contender for the Sahitya Akademi Award. I hope and pray that the publisher and author take it to the jury.

This is a book for everyone. Whether you like puranic stories, mythology, retold tales, modern poetry, or are just a fan of good writing – you must read this book. Read this book for a contemporary understanding of an ancient tale. I really enjoyed this book and had the privilege of reading an early version of the book. The final version that has come out is spell-binding. It is a book I strongly recommend.