I recently completed reading “Uttarakandam” by Dr. S.L. Bhyrappa. As much as I intended to write this review in Sanskrit, the emotions swirling within me demand the expressive freedom of English. I’ll append the Sanskrit review later.

Dr. Bhyrappa’s narrative style is beyond reproach. The book’s gripping narration pulled me in so deeply that I found it impossible to put down. Though the characters hail from the Ramayana and the overarching story is rooted in the epic, I would classify this as a work of fiction springing from the author’s imagination. The story diverges significantly from the traditional epic in many places. Frankly, I’m torn about these deviations. Moreover, the supernatural elements of the original have been reimagined to present a more human perspective. This transforms the epic into a narrative of entirely human characters.

The story, retold from Sita’s perspective, left me feeling ambivalent. The demonization of Kaikeyi, the portrayal of Bharata as a weakling who gave up the kingdom out of self-doubt, the reinterpretation of events leading to Rama and Sita’s wedding, the abduction of Sita, the subsequent events with no mention of Rama Setu (which I admittedly rushed through), the humanized Agnipravesha and an ending that diverges significantly from the epic were all difficult to digest. While this is not a straightforward retelling of the epic, such extensive deviations proved challenging. However, once I accepted the book as a work of fiction, I could complete it without conflicting emotions.

The ending is particularly haunting. It moved me to tears, showcasing the author’s brilliance. Notably, none of the characters are portrayed in an idealized light; their flaws are starkly visible, making them human and relatable, despite their epic origins.

The Sanskrit translation was exquisite, with some sentences so beautifully crafted that I made note of them for my forthcoming Sanskrit review. Overall, “Uttarakandam” is a compelling read when approached as fiction, though undeniably somber. I think I will take a break from Bhyrappa’s heavy narratives and read “Emma” by Jane Austen to restore my equilibrium before delving into another of his profound works.

कथञ्चित् पुस्तकपठनं तु समाप्त मया। संस्कृतेन पुस्तकप्रत्यालोचनमपि लिखाम्यधुना।

रामायणपात्राणि आधारीकृत्य अमानुषप्रसङ्गे मानुषप्रसङ्गमादिश्य लिखितेयं कथा अतः रामायणप्रियाणां प्रियं न भवेतदिति मे मतिः तथापि कथेयं कश्चन काल्पनीकी कथा रामायणपात्राणि चित्वेति चिन्तयामश्चेन्नूनं साधु पठनं भवेत्। अत्र केषुचित् प्रसङ्गेषु लेखकेन यत् स्वातन्त्र्यं स्वीकृतं तन्मया न रोचते मुख्यतया कैकेय्याः प्रतिपादनम्, रामसीतयोः विवाहप्रसङ्गः, अहल्याशापविमोचनम्, भरतस्य निर्वीर्यत्वम्, रामसेतोः अभावः, अग्निप्रवेशप्रसङ्गः, कथायाः अन्तः। यद्यपि कथा सीता दृष्ट्या लिखिता तथापि सर्वेषां पात्राणां दोषा एव प्रतिपादिता इव ममाभात्।

मन्मनसि मिश्रितचिन्तनैव अस्य पुस्तकस्य विषये। विषयगभीरता तु वर्तत एव। अन्तिमपुटान् पठित्वा नेत्रे अश्रूणि आगता, मनक्लेशस्त्वनुभूतः। भैरप्पवर्यः चतुरः लेखकः इति नास्ति संशयः परं इतिहासपरिवर्तने को वा लाभः इति न ज्ञायते। परं काल्पिनिकी कथा इति पठामश्चेत् सम्यक् पठनं भवेत् यथा पूर्वं सूचितम्। प्रायः अस्य लेखकस्य अन्यपुस्तकमपि पठेयम्। संस्कृतानुवादस्तु सुष्ठु कृतः। कानिचान वाक्यानि मयाङ्कितानि – 

1॰ दिनेन याप्ये दूरे वर्तमानां वेदपाठशालां प्रेषितवान्।

२॰ पुरुषः दुष्यति तर्हि सः स्वयम् एकः एव दुष्यति, यदि नारी दुष्यति तर्हि न केवलं कुटुम्बम्, अपि तु समाजः एव निपतिष्यति ।

३॰ विषयस्य मधुलेपनं कृत्वा उपस्थापनस्य कलां सः जानाति।