Page 204 - EducationWorld December 2022

Books

Mythology THE STORIES WE TELL: author is fine if you prefer
not to draw lessons from
influence MYTHOLOGY TO MAKE SENSE these stories. His endnote
OF MODERN LIVES
Devdutt Pattanaik is open acceptance of the
fact that not everyone will
ENOWNED my- ALEPH BOOK COMPANY receive his stories as he
thologist Devdutt Rs.499 Pages 199 intends them to.
RPattanaik has ANDAL JAGANNATHAN
selected 72 tales, mainly (The Book Review)
from India’s rich mythol-
ogy, and used them as a was bored, and a few more Renowned Girl power
canvas on which to paint interesting apsara stories. mythologist, speaker,
the 21st century. Surpanakha, a rakshasi, author and illustrator
This collection of engag- has a whole chapter, with Devdutt Pattanaik compendium
ing anecdotes originates two-three versions of her takes readers on a
from Pattanaik’s webcast story, dedicated to her. whirlwind tour of the HENEVER I
Teatime Tales. Why did If you’re fond of world through the imagine war,
he pick 72 stories? Well, puzzles, you will find Tale lens of mythology Wimages of the
the reason lies in mythol- 7 interesting. It’s about aftermath come to mind.
ogy. 72 steps, 72 hours, a king named Vikrama- Everything is scattered
72 names, 72 stupas — all ditya of the post-Gupta, about the Sun god and his and I can see only people
these and more feature in pre-Rajput era. The author wife, with strong relation- and things that have some-
mythology. Read the 72nd shares a few vikram-vetal ship advice at the end of how survived bombings.
story in the book to learn (ghost) parables, with the story! I can feel the ominous
the significance of the each parable containing a Was the Buddha bald silence after heart-rending
number 72 in mythology of puzzle. or did he have a topknot? blasts. I can see the
various cultures. Tale 10 talks about the Why do the Shankara- school of which nothing
‘Myth is how people Jain Mahabharata. Not charyas keep their heads is left, and children who
imagine the world,’ says many of us know that such covered? Hair and the lack had come to school with
the author in the introduc- a version even exists! The of it are discussed in Tale dreams in their eyes, and
tion. And then he takes 21st tale is about justice 57. Tale 59 is dedicated to belief that the future will
you on a whirlwind tour of and about the importance numbers. There is a list be bright if they study.
the world through the lens of measurement inherent of popular numbers used I can only imagine what
of mythology. Not just the in justice. There’s plenty of in Hindu mythology and those children must be
usual Indian suspects — food for thought here. references to instances of going through when they
Ramayana, Mahabhara- It is not easy to draw their use. have to choose between
ta, Jataka and Jain tales parallels between two dif- Accompanying the going to school and saving
and the Puranas — there’s ferent religions. However, reader, through the book, their lives.
a dive into Arabic, Greek, Tale 24 is titled Easter starting from cover, is a This book of the evan-
Roman, Egyptian and and Holi and contends tantric Saraswati symbol. gelist Malala Fund estab-
Norse myths as well. that both festivals are It’s a pattern that starts lished by Nobel laureate
The author has opted connected to rebirth and with one seed and heads Malala Yousafzai, is a first
to bucket stories as per regeneration. towards infinity. The au- hand account of children
various themes. One such Join the author in thor likens the symbol to who have experienced all
theme is ‘Apsara’ — a drawing even more paral- the life cycle of a story. He this. Written by girls who
quick run-through multi- lels in Tale 45 titled ‘Star intends each story to be a were stopped from going
ple interesting stories with Wars and the Ramayana’. seed that will sprout infi- to school, and when they
women (apsaras) as pro- This chapter also has nite ideas. And the symbol got a chance to study, war
tagonists. There is Tilot- references to the Odys- works the other way too -- and attacks took away the
tama, who without lifting a sey, the Iliad, Finnish from infinite to the finite. opportunity.
weapon, causes the death folklore, Lord of the Rings Perspective makes all the Dare to Learn is an im-
of two asuras; Urvashi and some Japanese and difference, depending portant narrative that tries
who returns to heaven, German folklore as well. on how you interpret the to tell the world that even
leaving husband and chil- Interesting thought flow! author’s tales. as in one corner of the
dren behind, because she Tale 55 is a sweet story A rewarding read, the world the skies were rain-

202 EDUCATIONWORLD DECEMBER 2022