One of the oldest rivalries society has witnessed is the feud between myth and truth. An ongoing one since decades, myth and truth concurrently go as nemesis. While the truth wants to contest myth with an objective to douse the core of its existence, the latter wants to retain its predominance by counter-questioning the former of its subjectivity, universality and the interpretation of its very nature. Their rivalry is akin to the generation gap, never seeing eye to eye; a hot debate between the familiar and the unknown where each acts as a corrosive force for one other. Writer Ashok Banker analyses this ‘epic’ battle of proportions in the territory of mythological writing
How exhausting is it to write a fiction series based on historical facts?
I love reading history and historiography (the study of writing history) for pleasure. Most of my travel has been to ancient archaeological or historic sites. I’ve been longing to write historical novels for decades. It just took me a long time to find publishers willing to publish Indian historical fiction.
There’s this mistaken view that we already know everything worth knowing about the past: the fact is, new facts are being discovered all the time. Each uncovering of a new archaeological discovery, or even the finding of a buried coin or vase sheds new light on ancient cultures. The challenge is in taking this skeleton of reconstructed scientific facts and building an exciting narrative.
How much creative liberty can an author exercise while penning down work of such nature?
Is he engulfed by the pressure of distorting facts and over exercising his imagination at some point? If yes, what is the best coping mechanism for that? I think it’s vital to stick to known facts. You owe readers a responsibility to adhere to the basic scientific details. You can be imaginative and creative in the interactions between characters, the moments of human connection or conflict—the descriptions and dialogue. Even while sticking to the era and avoiding anachronisms, it’s still possible to tell a historical story responsibly but yet make it exciting. Great historical novelists like Hilary Mantel and Bernard Cornwell have showed the way. Our challenge is to apply those tools responsibly.
How often do you rewrite your drafts?
This story is from the April 2017 edition of SOCIETY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2017 edition of SOCIETY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Ending Is The New Beginning
Pakistani author Sara Naveed writes on what’s considered a minority genre in her home turf. She discusses her love for writing romances…
Writing On A Wet Wall
Sudha Murty Speaks about her avatar as a bestselling children's writer
Three Friends, One Love!
Find out how love for fashion brought three close friends to start the pret label, LoveGen…
Summer Diet For Kids
WITH the arrival of the summer months and rising temperature each passing day, it really becomes a daunting task to keep a strict check on children’s health and maintain a proper check of their food intake.
Real Life Heroes
Raveena Tandon Thadani and Dr Aneel Murarka unveiled the Bharat Prerna Awards magazine amidst much appreciation and applause
Man Of Action
Magna Lounge was buzzing with excitement when the irresistibly hunky actor Vidyut Jammwal, dressed in a maroon body hugging t-shirt and black pants, dropped in to unveil the April 2017 issue of Health & Nutrition, the cover of which he had graced.
Ira
Theatre has never failed Bollywood in providing a continuous and talented supply of actors who have contributed adequately to make every film a delight. One such actor is Ira Dubey, who was born with theatre in her blood, but is now enjoying her stint in films too.
acting matters
you may remember her as the wheelchair bound character opposite amitabh bachchan in the film, te3n, but there is more to the versatile padmavati rao than just that role. find out more…
the leading lady
aishwaryaa rajnikanth dhanush has been appointed as the un women’s advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment in india. society catches up with the glamorous lady on the high profile opportunity and her other creative undertakings
mother t our lord's bride in white sari!
even as mother teresa got canonised amidst much fanfare recently, here is an interview the selfless and humble nun gave society in december 1982
