#604 - Once Upon a Beginning : Incredible Origin Stories From India
by Nalini Ramachandran and illustrated by Athulya Pillai, Chinmayee Samant, Damini Gupta, Ishan Trivedi, Sahitya Rani, Sandhya Prabhat & Viplov Singh
“Once Upon a Beginning : Incredible Origin Stories From India” by Nalini Ramachandran and illustrated by Athulya Pillai, Chinmayee Samant, Damini Gupta, Ishan Trivedi, Sahitya Rani, Sandhya Prabhat & Viplov Singh. Published by Hachette. A unique collection of fascinating and lesser known stories from the different regions of India about the origin of things.
Most stories start with the phrases “Once upon a time” or “Long long ago”. What if this time long ago was the beginning of everything on earth when there was nothing? Well, this is the timeline for the thirty stories in this book. Across the world there are legends and myths which explain the origin of natural phenomena. These tales are known as aetiological tales or origin stories which tell us how or why something started happening. They can be therefore considered to be some of the foremost stories of the world. In addition to Indian mythological versions about the creation of universe, there are many lesser known folk and tribal creation myths that deserve to be remembered. This book is a celebration of these fascinating and wildly imaginative indigenous tales.
In the beginning there was nothing. Then the earth met the sky. The sun married the moon. Birds were given the gift of night. They learnt to build nests when the first shower of rain fell in earth. People came to live on earth. They cooked food for the gods and ate with the tiger. They started believing in magic and sorcery. Birds learnt to fly. Death, tears, sorrow came to humans from a bird. Humans had to fight the twelve forms of a shape shifting demon resulting in the creation of a calendar and zodiac signs. Human hands evolved from flat flippers to fine fingers. Treasured and passed down through generations by the diverse indigenous tribes and communities from all across India, these rare stories are like pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle that pieces together the mysteries of life and evolution. Read this one of a kind book to get spirited away right to the beginning.
Nature and its creations are often a source of marvel. To imagine beginnings of many creatures or events through a treasure trove of stories like the ones in this book was a wonderful experience for both me and my eleven year old son. The collector’s edition of the book is a delightful feast for the senses. The bright and cheerful illustrations present the characters and settings in all their glory. It was amazing to see the way in which the author has beautifully integrated some of the endemic flora and fauna in most of the tales. Also each story ends with a brief explanation of the tribe or community from which the tale originates and what scientific evidence or anthropological knowledge points towards the happening explained in the story. Except one story, all were new for us and we found them very interesting. The book is a remarkable ode to the cultural as well as the wildlife diversity of India. The birdwatcher in me was thrilled to read stories featuring so many of my favourite birds. A reference section at the end has details of all the resources that have been referred by the author while writing. This can be used by those who wish to know more about any of the stories. The book strives to preserve the rich and incredible heritage of storytelling. It is supported by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) which is one of the world’s largest cultural organisations. Overall this is a “MUST READ” that has to be part of everyone’s bookshelves.
Recommended Age
The book is apt for anyone aged 10 and above.
Disclaimer - We received this book from the publisher, Hachette India, for review. Thank you to Samiksha, from Hachette, for sending across the book!