‘In the footsteps of Rama: Travels with the Ramayana’ by Vikrant Pandey and Neelesh Kulkarni, is about Rama’s journey through the exile. The concept of the book itself is just so interesting. The idea of being at all those places, where the Prince of Ayodhya had been, is so very thrilling. So, thanks to Vikrant and Neelesh for having taken this trip, and for having taken us, the readers, along the Ramayana.
The stories of the epic, as they exist in the local and popular lore, and its different versions, are admirably blended in the travelogue. The book, though written in a very simple style about one of the most popular legends is reflective of the extensive research and intricate planning that must have gone into charting out the itinerary. The authors have made sincere and successful effort to be with the local folklores while being guided by the ancient editions of the epic.
The one thing, that I am sure everyone reading this book will find lacking, and this is a big void that the authors have left here, the pictures. Without the photographs of the places being talked about, the reader has to either visualize or go to the search engines to get a feel of the locations. Hope they have sufficient images that they must have clicked, and they even mention clicking at some places, and the further prints have them included. I even found the repeated mention of tips expected in return of information shared, avoidable.
It was an enjoyable read, particularly liked the Dandakaranya experience, the grand old banyan trees, the temples for every little incident of the Marich-wadh episode, and the mystery behind the Lakshman Rekha, and then later down south of Shabari’s berries and Vali’s cremation. The trip to Sri Lanka is also very enriching with Rama’s and of course Ravana’s legends and symbols lying scattered over the beautiful island.
The best thing that this book does is, it reminds us how the Ramayana is embedded in the spirit of the two countries. How, just how, can anything about the legend of Rama not be true!! As the authors rightly say, ‘The truth is only what we want to believe’. Read to relearn, relive and recall Rama’s journey in a concise and eloquent form.