Kings, Saviours & Scoundrels by Anupama Jain

 Delving into the past is always intriguing, given the immense wealth of knowledge and folklore that resides there, both in the oral and the written tradition. Sifting through these timeless gems and putting them down in the form of stories that can be savoured by readers today is a task truly praiseworthy. That is exactly what the talented Anupama Jain has taken it upon herself to do. Kings, Saviours & Scoundrels is the result of meticulous filtering, and the stories shine forth, free and unfettered.

The exquisite purple cover immediately catches the eye, and as one browses through the book, the illustrations, done artfully by the author, add to the value of the book, and its stories.

The narrator is Somadeva, the poet-courtier of King Ananta of Kashmir, and the stories themselves originate from his most famous work – Katha Saritha Sagara, extolling qualities like bravery, faith, sagacity and friendship. When moral wisdom is imparted in the form of entertaining content, it goes down like a sugar-coated pill.

On the other hand, the readers are immensely amused when some of the protagonists cut a sorry figure through sheer folly, like poor Mandabuddhi who ascended to heaven holding a celestial bull’s tail, or the inane donkey who lost his life due to the machinations of a wily jackal and a selfish lion.

“Sometimes, a lack of proper mental vision could lead to utter destruction.” Like the three men who bring a dead lion back to life, there are times when being skilled but senseless can be fatal. One of the most amusing tales in this wonderful collection is that of Mauna Muni, the false ascetic and his tryst with a fierce monkey.

Some stories chosen here have been told in the Panchatantra as well, but the way they have been treated is different – the classic tale of Simhabala, the lion and the hare who outwitted him, the ‘heartless’ monkey and the porpoise, the mice who chewed the iron balance and the like.

The touching story of how the squirrel got its stripes from Lord Rama conveys the beautiful lesson on how mighty love in one’s heart amounts to more than mighty strength without love. Another intriguing story is ‘The Three Suitors of a Dead Maiden’ which gives a logical, yet heartwarming, ending on the judgment of who should marry the beautiful Mandaravati.  (The complicated names roll off the tongue with a cadence of their own - Vishakhila, Makaramukha, Chitragriva, Buddhisarira, Makaramani, Dhavalamukha, Karkotaka, Pingalaka, Jimutavahana, Bahusuvarnaka etc.)

Prahlada and his descendent, Aniruddha, and the saga of King Nala and his beauteous Damayanti find a generous mention. Kunti also has a role to play here, as the author points out how history sees her through varied eyes, as a warm mother versus an opportunistic woman, according to the narrative one chooses.  

I could go on and on about the stories in the book, but given my reputation as a thriller writer, I found the saga of King Trivikramasena and the Vetala right up my alley – eerie, intriguing and macabre.

What comes out throughout the whole book is the painstaking research and the hard work that has gone into it.

In the end, I would like to recommend this book to the young ones who look for adventure and entertainment, adults who wish to recreate their grandmothers’ stories, and to everyone who enjoys a good read, replete with common sense, moral instruction, and above all, humour.