Book review: Aranyaka by Amruta Patil and Devdutt Pattanaik
The year is yet young but ARANYAKA (Tranquebar Books) is for me, the best read of 2020, so far. This wonderful 2019 collab by Amruta Patil and Devdutt Pattanaik (story and art by the former, based on concepts by the latter) pulls you into the heart of the forest from the very first page and thereinafter, you surface only at the end of the tale of three uber-intelligent women: the Woman of the Forest, Katyayani the Large; the quiet and observant Fig who is prone to quoting poetry; and the dark and enigmatic Weaver.
As great collaborations inevitably do, the text and illustrations merge to form a seamless, powerful whole, with a moral on every page… for those who would seek morals. The others can simply drown in the lush illustrations on every page.
The story has been inspired by Upanishadic lore and the meaning, the message, the concepts are indubitably complex but presented in the most captivating manner ever.
The original Earth Mother story, this book is a keeper.