✨Bookmarked✨ discussion

This discussion topic suggestion was made by one of our members, Arundhati!

Have you read books based on Hinduism as a culture? Or maybe books where Hinduism is referenced? Do you think, it is appropriately represented in those books?
And why do you think, Hinduism being such a popular and an interesting culture, is not very popular when it comes to books?

Share your thoughts with us!

P.s. Arundhati, do add if I missed something, what questions were you trying to bring in light.

Novels based on religions has always piqued my interest. I get excited when I see a novel that has some Hinduism incorporated into the story. Through these novels I get to learn more about Hinduism and the culture and customs associated with it.

Some of the novels I have read that have some Hinduism in it are The Vault of Shiva by Andy McDermott, The March of the Aryans by Baghwan S. Gidwani, Delhi : A Novel by Khushwant Singh.

I am currently reading Kim by Rudyard Kipling. It has some elements of Hinduism, Buddhism and to a small extent Jainism too. Super excited with the book.

I want to try Ashwin Sanghi's novels. He is known as the Dan Brown of India and he writes novels based on Hindu mythology just like Dan Brown writes novels based on Christianity.

Whether Hinduism is appropriately or accurately represented in novels I don't know as I am yet to read Ramayana and Mahabharata. I hope to read those two Hindu epics in future. They are kinda big, so I am procrastinating. Lol

Books based on Hinduism are popular in India and Nepal. But outside these two countries, not much. Most of the well known authors are from the West. I guess they don't know much about Hinduism or they just stick to the formula that has worked for them.

Hey Rushali, thanks for setting up the thread. I completely missed it somehow. We can continue our discussion here.
I have read very few books representing or referencing Hinduism. I have a tough time with it. I feel like it is easier to enjoy a story/retelling without knowing the original. Like when I read books inspired from Greek or Norse mythology, I find easier to embrace them as I have no idea of their actual stories.Since I am well versed with Hindu mythology, when the books deviate completely from the truth I cannot handle it. It also depends on the how the author handles the changes he decides to bring into the story. There are lot of events which happens in legends which does not gel well with the modern ideas. Like depicting women as more stronger characters who can stand up for themselves is something I really stand for. Few authors do a good job of doing so. Whereas, I am not a fan of books where they take the mythological figures and put them in modern setting and completely tamper with them.

I have heard of Ashwin Sanghi's book and it does sound promising. Using the lore/elements from our mythology and setting up an adventure is something I would like to see more.

Since I am an avid fantasy reader, I find representation of our culture the least in fantasy. The best I have read so far was Hunted by the sky by Tanaz Bhathena. It is a fantasy novel taking lot of inspiration from our culture.

So recently I had come across a book called Upon a burning Throne by Ashok K Banker. I believe it is inspired by Mahabharata. I was going through it's review from a very well known booktuber. He actually liked the book a lot which piqued my interest. But I noticed that most of the Indians who had tried had a lot of criticism for the book whereas I have seen multiple booktubers(non indian) really liking it. Why do you think that happens?