Ma, let me tell you a story

Devdutt Pattanaik wants kids to become storytellers to their parents. He has made a start with his just-launched Fun in Devlok series in which gods and goddesses are set in modern-day scenarios. Meet a god who suffers anxiety attacks, another who needs an ID card and a talking cow

Popular mythologist and columnist for Sunday MiD-DAY column DevLok, Devdutt Pattanaik is on a mission. He has entrusted the responsibility of recalling the wisdom of our ancestors on to children in his new series for kids.

He believes that today's parents are ignorant about the past and perhaps kids can help rekindle the relevance of myths and stories into our lives. In a three-book series called Fun in Devlok, Pattanaik tells kids aged six and above about a few unusual stories involving Krishna, Indra and the humble cow.

Each book spins several yarns within the larger plot and is set against a contemporary backdrop. Enter Krishna, a suave backpacker who is questioned at the airport because he doesn't carry an identity card. Meet Indra, the constant warrior and god who loves chasing rain clouds. Finally, read about a girl called Gauri who finds out that she is the namesake of a very clever and useful cow.

Pattanaik stays away from the popular mythological stories and instead focuses on smaller and rare trivia from the 'Devlok'. In a freewheeling interview, he tells us why mythology is timeless, explains the relevance of gods and goddesses today and why he thinks it's his job to retell these ancient stories, particularly to children.u00a0
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Why did you choose to set gods like Krishna and Indra against a contemporary background? The word ancient is usually associated with gods and goddesses.
The technical word for mythology is 'sanatan', which means timeless and universal. To call it ancient is to say gods exist in the past and that they are of no relevance to us, modern people. Despite our mobile phones, we cannot figure the point of life, much like our ancestors. We are the sameu00a0-- kind of arrogant and silly, don't you think? I want to help people break away from such silliness and to recognise the ideas communicated by the gods.u00a0

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Will kids identify with these celestial creatures?
I know of adults who love to watch endless talesu00a0-- of a rat chasing a cat, and of boys chasing girls, of girls and boys chasing fair complexion and thin bodies, of heroines and their in-laws loaded with jewellery even when going to sleep. So I guess, their children will enjoy gods with identity cards and a god who chases rain clouds, all day.u00a0u00a0
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Isn't mythology a part of our collective unconscious? Why is it important to familiarise kids with the wisdom of our ancestors?
Mythology is a subjective truth of a culture expressed through stories, symbols and rituals. It is transmitted from generation to generation. Every one does it unconsciously. I am doing it consciously. We live in a world where everything somehow needs to be explicit. Since we are busy outsourcing our children's education to schools, perhaps we need books to make things easier for parents and schools.u00a0
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How easy or difficult was it to narrate complex plots and sub plots that usually crowd Indian mythology, into simple stories for children?
It is easy if you are clear about it and tough if you are confused about it. I wrote each story in two working days. The only fear is that of adults who have so many presumptions and presuppositions that they forget the simplicity and profundity of the tales.u00a0
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What is the charm of getting acquainted with stories from Indian mythology?
They tell us of how life truly is. Today, we live in a world where we don't exist without out identity cards, and people have a lot but no happiness. We also don't realise that cows are lovely animals and not just milk-making machines.