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GODS AND OTHERS: Bookshops today stock a number of mythological and fantasy titles

TASHI TOBGYAL; COURTESY FULL CIRCLE, NEW DELHI

an easy read and holds ones attention throughout. It has an intriguing plot with an interesting storyline which is a mix of mythology and fantasy. Tripathi says his work began as a pure philosophical thesis on what is evil. This led me to Lord Shiva as the destroyer of that evil. The story emerged from these contemplations on evil and it became a thriller much later. The author adds, Not much research went into these books. I already knew about them. The knowledge came from my childhood, I come from an extremely religious family and my grandfather, who was a pandit from Banaras, was deeply knowledgeable about our mythology. Anand Neelakantans Asura is another major success in this genre and has already sold 50,000 copies. Says Neelakantan, Our mythology is full of wars between asuras and devas and I wanted to explore the element of history in the myths. I grew up in a conservative family where mythology was and is a part of everyday life. Asuras looked to be a more modern clan and [their story] deserved to be told. He adds that his next book is ready and is based on yet another negative character from mythology, Duryodhana from the Mahabharata. It is scheduled to be

Not much research went into the books. I come from an extremely religious family and my grandfather who was a pandit from Banaras was deeply knowledgeable about our mythology, Amish Tripathi

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MARCH 24-30, 2013