Description
“A fun-loving child of Gandharvas or musical air-spirits of Indian mythology, Ribhu gets cursed by Sage Durvasa for disturbing his meditation. With the dholak or drum that he plays, he is cursed to go down to the earth. That too, as a scary-looking rakshasa or demon. He copes with his new life – with his drum as a friendly reminder of the past. He gets to see the demons like Tadaka and Mareecha and how Rama makes short work of them. He moves away to Mithila where he meets Ahalya turned into a rock and waiting for Rama to come to her help. . He then comes across the accursed demon Viradha who is also waiting for Rama to deliver him. He floats over villages and towns, and pilgrimage spots, meets human beings as well as other spirits who are spending time on earth to make up for their misdeeds. The trouble is, while other accursed creatures know how they will be free one day, or by whom, Ribhu has no idea. Naughty and unthinking he may have been, but wasn’t there an end to his punishment? He comes floating into outskirts of the city of Mahilaroupya, Vishnusharma is having his story-telling sessions. His drum – which he had never given up – now helps him find his way back to the timeless world of Gandharvas.
A story based on Indian myths, but not a mythological story as such. A fun-story, but with a new way to see old ideas of getting punished and relieved, cursed and delivered. ”
About the Author
The author, a Gurgaon-based Associate Professor (retired) at Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, Delhi University, writes on mythological as well as contemporary themes. Her published work includes novels and short stories for children as well as translations and articles for adults. She is a Life Member of the Association of Writers and Illustrators (AWIC) and has presented papers in international conferences held in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
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