Writing On Mythology: An Interview With Devdutt Pattanaik

By Lipi Mehta

—

From a leadership consultant to a mythologist to a writer. What prompted this shift?

Well I have been writing for 17 years on mythology and have been a leadership consultant for only six years. So I think you got the sequence wrong. Before that I was a manager in the healthcare and pharma industry post my medicine. These shifts are organic based on opportunities that came my way and not really any major shift.

How does it feel when readers across India, especially youth, learn about epics as old and grand as the Ramayana and Mahabharata through your writing?

It feels good as I am able to show them rather explicitly the wonderful patterns that underlie these great works. Also, when they realize their assumptions about these books is not quite what they assumed they were.

Your latest book, Shikhandi: And Other Tales They Don’t Tell You has come at a time when there is strong contention against Section 377 in India.

Do you want the book to give any message in this light?

No, my book is not propaganda. If a court or politician believes that queer people do not deserve human rights, that is their choice. A mean and petty choice, in my view, but a choice nevertheless. The scriptures, however, see queer ideas as valid ideas and have a more inclusive, fluid and affectionate approach to life, that is missing in ‘modern’ society.

Is there ever a fear of ever getting the facts wrong?

We are talking about stories of my culture that contain profound subjective truths. What is there to fear about my culture? If I am talking about other people’s culture, one may be afraid of being misunderstood or misquoted. But we can always apologize, correct the ‘facts’ and move on.

Tell us a little bit about your illustrations. How did this style develop? What goes into making one illustration for your books?

I draw to illustrate ideas that are in my writing. The style is my own. I have never learned drawing formally. I usually take about 15 minutes to finish each of the illustrations in my books.

Over the years, stories passed by oral and written tradition often get fabricated or forgotten. What are your thoughts on this?

Your question assumes that there is something ‘original and pure’. I have not seen anything like that in my years of work. Stories are organic and evolve and change over time. Some motifs become more prominent than others. Some themes get more value in some period of time, some pass away. It’s always work in progress.

What do you feel about the portrayal of women in mythology? Are they suitably represented in Indian TV shows and comics?

A storyteller projects his version of appropriate womanhood in his stories and is conditioned or at least influenced by what audiences deem appropriate. I don’t know what is correct representation of women. Does anyone? The notion of correct, changes over time. And I think it is dangerous to view mythology as propaganda.

In India, we are either over-dependent on mythology or neglect it completely. Is there a way to strike a balance in terms of our understanding?

I don’t know any human being who does not live in myth, which I define as subjective truth. Everyone assumes they are either heroes/victims/martyrs in their personal narratives. That is not a rational truth. Indian, American, African — there is no escaping mythology. At best we can deny its existence and delude ourselves that we are rational.

And finally, do you believe in God?

I do. But then what is your definition of God? It may be very different from mine.