About Book
Three millennia after it was first written, Ashok Banker presents a multi-part series recreating the tale of Ramayana, one of the greatest epics in Indian mythology. This book, the fifth part of the series, picks up the threads of the story from its predecessor, Armies Of Hanuman.
Kidnapped by Ravana, the demon-king of Lanka, Rama’s wife Sita is spending her days as a captive in the Tower of Lanka. Trapped as she is in a garden built on illusion, she has no means to escape it, and her solitary attempt to do so also proves futile.
Elsewhere, Rama is preparing himself for a final showdown against Ravana. Due to the successful efforts of Hanuman, his staunch devotee, Rama now has the stupendous backing of an army of monkeys as well as an army of bears. Together, they set out towards Lanka.
But isolated by the vast ocean, Lanka seems to be an impossible destination. Despite this seemingly insurmountable obstacle, the armies begin to build a bridge to Lanka, using nothing but their brains and bare hands. Amidst all this, Hanuman learns an empowering secret about his lineage. Bolstered by this new knowledge about his superhuman potential, he sets out to face Ravana and single-handedly rescue Sita.
Given Hanuman’s newfound strength, Lanka might be in extreme danger. On the other hand, the efforts of one rampaging monkey might not be enough to tackle Ravana’s legendary demon hordes. Sita’s fate hangs precariously in the balance.
The book highlights certain elements such as Rama’s strict adherence to dharma, the powerful love and bond existing between Rama and Sita, and Hanuman’s supreme devotion to Rama. In some places, it does differ from the original text written by Valmiki.
Bridge Of Rama was published in 2005. This edition is a 2006 reprint by Penguin.
About Author
Ashok K. Banker is an Indian journalist-turned-author, best-known for his retellings of various Indian mythological epics.
His written works include books such as Byculla Boy, The Iron Bra, Ten Dead Admen, Murder & Champagne, Gods Of War, Blood Red Sari, and the Kali Rising series of three books. He has written several books as part of his book series such as Mahabharata, Krishna Coriolis, and Ramayana. Banker also has a TV series, an online serial, a multimedia serial, and a magazine series to his credit.
His writing belongs to a variety of genres and includes mythological retellings, crime thrillers, literary critiques, and essays among others. On occasion, it even draws from his own experiences in life. Urban life in India features prominently in many of his works.
Banker was born on February 7, 1964, in Mumbai, India. Due to a turbulent environment at home, he was eventually raised by his maternal grandmother. His mixed parentage and lack of racial identity made him the subject of much abuse and bullying in school. He had a fruitful career as a freelance columnist, journalist, and literary critic. Banker is a well-known part of the Indian and international literary scene. He is also the subject of various academic studies.