Replaying Mythology - Epic Katha

Epic Katha by Deepam Chatterjee

Let's get straight to the point: we don’t talk about Indian mythology enough. Most of us know the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, a handful of well-worn gods and demons, and perhaps a few popular parables passed down through childhood. But the reality is that our myths are huge and complicated, filled with stories that never make it into popular culture. Buried in them are lost heroes, interesting incidents, and bizarre moral dilemmas which continue to resonate in the manner we think today. These tales are not so much about the past- they are living, waiting to be rediscovered, retold, and reinterpreted for another generation.

This is where Deepam Chatterjee's Epic Katha comes in. It is something more than just a re-telling. The author has delved deep into the subject matter, researched with diligence and uncovered stories that most of us have never heard. He speaks for the stories and happenings hidden in the corners of the Puranas and local traditions, giving us surprises that change how we perceive the mythic world we thought we already knew. He does this, however, without forgetting the familiar. He goes back to the well-loved stories with sensitivity, retelling them in a style that is fresh, as if you're hearing them for the very first time. I would say that it's suitable for all ages too, from kids to elders, written in a simple yet thoughtful tone.

I’ve read books like Amish Tripathi's Ram Chandra series, Shiva trilogy or Kevin Missal's Narasimha trilogy, and they have done a wonderful job of bringing Indian mythology into the mainstream in their own unique styles. They reimagine familiar characters and build expansive fictional worlds around them, which makes for engaging reading. But Epic Katha felt refreshing in a different way- it doesn’t try to reinvent or modernize the myths, but instead reconnects us to them. The stories are offered as crisp, accessible retellings, almost like rediscovering something familiar yet forgotten, and that simplicity is what makes them so powerful.

The richer value of Epic Katha is in what it stands for. Mythology in India has too frequently been dealt with as something remote, holy, or unapproachable- either locked away in sermons or buried under scholarly contention. But mythology was always intended to be lived with. These tales were designed to be heard beside fires, argued about in gatherings, shared in families, and transported into the rhythm of daily life. By remaking them in a style that is clear, compelling, and modern, the author brings them back where they belong—in sight of the everyday reader.

And this is more important than we know. Tales form us, whether we are paying attention or not. The Arjuna dilemmas, the wisdom of Krishna, the obstinacy of Bhishma, the forgotten bravery of lesser-known heroes- each and every one of them says something about how we live today. When we lose our connection to mythology, we lose access to a source of imagination and wisdom that is all our own. Books such as Epic Katha remind us that mythology isn't purely spirituality- it's rediscovering ourselves in stories that still resonate.

Ultimately, Epic Katha is more than a set of tales. It is an invitation to hear all over again, to linger on the stories we believed we knew, and to become receptive to those we never did. It dares us to keep mythology alive in our discourse- not as dry parchments, but as living friends that assist us in thinking, feeling, and dreaming. And perhaps the greatest gift that Deepam Chatterjee provides is the reminder that the past does not reside behind us—it runs through us, wanting to be retold again and again.