Gind
age group:
12+ yrsNumber of pages:
205Publisher:
PuffinThemes:
Indian mythology
Genre:
fiction, mythology
This is a story set in mythical times - but with a difference! The Vanara Gind and his father Karuppan have to get Ongchu, a Vanara princess who has been rescued from the clutches of a rakshasan by the rishi Agastya, back to her family far away on the other side of the Himalayas.
As they journey north they notice that all the animals of the forests and many Varanas are heading south. It later becomes clear that they are all going to help Rama build a bridge, and rescue a princess.
Meanwhile Indra has been cursed by a rishi for disturbing his meditations, and may not set foot in Bhoolokam until the curse is lifted by one whose tapas is greater. Indra is a foodie, and longs for the delicious idli-chutney of Bhoolokam, so different from the sweet dishes of Mount Meru.
The three strands of the story intertwine, and with the clever use of unfamiliar words such as vanara, yojana and kashayam, ensures that the reader is kept busy working out just what is going on!
It becomes clear as the story unfolds that this is a refreshing aside on the Ramayana.
Most children twelve and above will enjoy this story, and I suspect their parents may too.