About the authorShubha Vilas, a spiritual seeker and a motivational speaker, holds a degree in engineering and law with specialization in Patent Law. His leadership seminars are popular with top-level management in corporate houses. He also helps individuals deal with modern-life situations by applying the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana and other dharmic traditions.Ramayana - The Game of Life
To what looks like an manipulated adaptation of Game of Thrones from the cover page, is not just another perspective on Ramayana. Ramayana - The Game of Life, takes its inspiration from Valmiki Ramayana and few other perspectives on the same. The author seamlessly takes the reader to the era of the King Rama who was known for his virtue. King Rama is celebrated not just as a king but also worshiped as a God. He is often referred to 'Maryada Purshottam' and is a personality which is desired by many.
The Game of Life is a mature take on Ramayana by the author. While the language is such that it will interest most of the younger generation readers, tiny wisdom nodes here and there make it a 'knowledge adding' book. It often makes a reader feel as if a voice is speaking to him/her. It answers questions that have puzzled most of us. For example, why was Rama sent to exile for exactly 14 years? What made Manthra play the role of villain? What was Kaikeyi's intention and role in the entire series of actions and reactions?
The Game of Life - Shattered Dreams is a sequel. The book documents events that happened after the beginning of the exile period. What makes this book different than other interpretations is the fact that the book explores characters other than Rama and Sita as well. Infact, other characters have been given more space than Rama and Sita. The book intents to explain the reader about people and actions which led to the entire series of Ramayana. The detailing of events and characters is done very finely and someway or the other, every character comes out with it's round, gray characteristics.
The descriptions are simple yet finely engraved into words. The way characters are portrayed makes them look like living characters. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to the author's character portrayal prowess can be compared to that of Jane Austen. Ofcourse sometimes, this detailing becomes tad boring but for someone fond of reading details, this book is surely a good read!
For anyone who has not yet explored Ramayana at all, the book provides a facility to take one in the past in the initial chapters. It is always advisable to read the first part too in order to get strong grip of the story flow.
The author has seamlessly taken this ancient epic to a level higher and I am glad. Indian epics have rightly found their places in world's most celebrated literature and someone like Shubha Vilas is surely contributing to the betterment of it!
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