Stories existed before language did. Language, in fact, was created out of early humans’ inherent instinct to tell stories. Stories are how we began making sense of the world. Gathered around fire, our earliest ancestors passed down wisdom and preserved memory. Long before we sought truth in data, we searched for answers in stories. This very humane instinct gave birth to mythologies all around the globe.
Mythologies have always been a rich source of inspiration for artists and writers. In recent times, myth has emerged as one of the popular genres in both literary as well as in non-fiction writings. There has been an observable resurgence of cultural interest in India, which has led to exponential growth of this genre.
Rewriting mythology in a new contemporary way is one of the popular trends in contemporary writings in India. The old stories take a new shape when blended with the modern landscape. Modern writers have re-interpreted those traditional mythological stories from completely new perspectives, subverting the rigidity of the original stories, and have anthropomorphised our beloved Gods into human figures- flesh and bones. Women writers have utilised this space to deal with these mythic tales through an empowering feminist perspective.
If that’s your cup of tea, or you are just beginning to explore the rich world of Indian mythology, here’s a curated list of some Indian authors to look out for!
Ashok K Banker
One of the early trendsetters in modern mythological writing is Ashok K. Banker, whose bestselling eight-volume Ramayana series, published in 2003 has been considered the starting point of the trend of retellings of Indian mythological epics. Beginning “Prince of Ayodhya” as the first in the series, followed by “Siege of Mithila”, “Demons of Chitrakut”, “Armies of Hanuman”, “Bridge of Ram”, “A King of Ayodhya”, “Vengeance of Ravana”, and finally “Sons of Sita” - right in that order. If you’re planning to step into the mythological world of Banker, you’re in for a treat! Fasten your seatbelt because that’s not all. A dynamic retelling of Krishna”s life, again spanning eight volumes including the popular “slayer of Kamsa” being the first in the series and “Lord of Vaikunta” the final one. Apart from these, his recent works include a comprehensive retelling of the Mahabharata, “itihasa series”, “Kali Rising series”, and many m ore stand alone novels. Banker’s extensive body of retellings is an absolute feast.
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
It won’t be wrong to say that Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni has revived the Indian reader. Almost every Indian wandering about any bookshop, even the roadside ones, has come across her books. A master of reimagining epics from a feminist lens, she gained critical acclaim with “The Palace of Illusions”, a retelling of the Mahabharata through Draupadi’s perspective. Followed by “The Forest of Enchantments”, a powerful reimagining of Ramayana through Sita’s eyes. Divakaruni has become a fan favourite in the genre of mythological retellings, bringing Indian mythology to modern readers, especially in diasporic and feminist contexts.
Kavita Kane
For the readers who wish to move beyond Mahabharata and Ramayana retellings, Kavita Kane’s books are what you might be looking for. She chooses the marginalised female characters as her protagonists to retell Indian epics. Her work “Menaka’s Choice” explored the life of the celestial nymph Menaka. Followed by “Ahalya’s Awakening,” reimagining the tale of Ahalyam, “Sarasvati’s Gift”, depicting the goddess Sarasvati, and the most recent “Tara’s Truce”, highlighting Tara, the wife of Vali. Her initial works do include retellings of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata as well.
Saksham Garg
Having taken the Indian literary scene by storm, Saksham Garg’s “Samsara: Enter the Valley of Gods” has been hailed as India’s answer to Harry Potter by the author himself. Garg's narrative blends adventure, spirituality, and self-discovery, offering readers a fresh perspective on ancient tales. He has teased a sequel on his social media handles, while the fans wait for it patiently.
Kevin Missal
Missal debuted as a writer at age 14 and gained prominence with Dharmayoddha Kalki, the first book in his Kalki Trilogy, followed by Satyayoddha Kalki and Mahayoddha Kalki. He later penned the Narasimha Trilogy, offering a darker, nuanced take on the avatars of Vishnu. His standalone novels include Karna: The King of Anga, Raavanputr Meghnad, Yama, Durga, and Krishna: Maha Vishnu Avatar. Missal also ventured into mythological fantasy adventure with his Sinbad series. His works are known for exploring less popular characters from Indian epics and giving them a distinct voice.
Koral Dasgupta
Best known through the acclaimed Sati Series, which reimagines the lives of five iconic women from Indian epics—Ahalya, Kunti, Draupadi, Mandodari, and Tara. Each novel in the series gives voice to these hitherto overlooked characters, exploring their agency, struggles, and strength within patriarchal frameworks.
Amish Tripathi
It is almost impossible to talk about mythological retellings and not mention Amish Tripathi. His books have sold over 7 million copies and have been translated into more than 20 Indian and international languages. His debut “Shiva Trilogy” alone has sold over 2 million copies, making it the fastest-selling book series in Indian publishing history. Tripathi continued his mythological exploration with the Ram Chandra Series. Additionally, “Legend of Suheldev: The King Who Saved India” narrates the tale of a lesser-known warrior from Indian history. Beginner-friendly with fantastic writing, Tripathi’s oeuvre has to be on your reading list.
Saiswaroopa Iyer
Iyer’s fiction is deeply rooted in Dharmic philosophy, yet it speaks to modern sensibilities by portraying women who are assertive, strategic, and spiritually evolved. Her works include ”Abhaya”, “Avishi”, “Rukmini”, and “Mauri”, blending meticulous research with creative storytelling.
Writers listed above are just a few out of the many who are dedicatedly crafting retellings, bringing Indian mythology to the forefront. This literary resurgence has just begun. Indian writers are no longer letting anyone else tell us who we are, rather, they are beginning to show the entire world who we have been all along.