A Tale of Two Stories

No Indian needs an introduction to Varnashrama or caste system. How did this idea take birth? They say it was the Vedas that stipulated this order of society. I am reasonably convinced that the Vedas did say so, but maybe not with the shade with which we have implemented it. I used to think that Manu (of Manu Smriti) was a more appropriate source, since he was quite (in)famous for such dictats.

Anyway, I spotted a pattern about this topic in the current Indian fiction world. I read two different books recently with an explanation of how Varnashrama took a stronghold in India. Interestingly there is one man who is pivotal for this – Rama. In both the stories, he is the ruler under whom Varnashrama flourished. Even more interesting is the fact that Rama is a hero in one and a grey character in the other.

Amish Tripathi’s Shiva trilogy has drawn a Lord Rama who was nearing perfection. His division of labour was based on skills only and not by the accident of birth. The "Maika" concept enabled all children to evolve their skills and then choose the work that they were best at. While it was logical and was based on natural justice, human bonds were severed.

Anand Neelanatan’s Rama in his “Asura, tale of the vanquished”, is a puppet of the image he has built of himself. His Varnashrama is what we have seen and continue to see in India. Your birth decided your caste and your caste decided your occupation. When everyone stayed within their boundaries, albeit in distress, the system gave an illusion of a perfect world. When someone rebelled, gaping holes were revealed and guilt overtook people of conscience.

Both are refreshing takes on retelling stories we grew up with. They are starkly different but essentially say the same thing. People should be treated like people. Nothing more and nothing less.