The Illustrated Ramayana

Book excerpt: Discover the Ramayana - one of India's most celebrated epics, and a story that transcends time itself. The tale of Rama, the exiled prince of Ayodhya who battles the evil Ravana, the king of Lanka, and rescues his abducted wife, Sita, is about much more than the eternal battle of good versus evil. It is a tale of love, friendship, loyalty, devotion, righteousness, and deliverance. Ramayana and Rama, whose journey is told in the epic, are embedded in India's cultural consciousness, but at the same time they transcend borders. Various versions of the Ramayana can be found across the Indian subcontinent and in parts of southeast Asia. Created in consultation with distinguished economist, scholar, and translator, Dr Bibek Debroy, The Illustrated Ramayana draws from one of its earliest composers, the celebrated sage and poet Valmiki. It uses a combination of text and stunning images drawn from a variety of sources - from historic and contemporary artefacts, paintings, photographs, and performances - to tell Rama's story, as he walks the path that destiny creates for him.