Pertanika J. Soc. Sci. & Hum. 28 (2): 1249 - 1262 (2020)

SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES

Journal homepage: http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/

Deconstruction of Lord in the Era of Post-Truth: A Study of Amish Tripathi’s The Immortals of Meluha

S. Karthik and Sangeeta Mukherjee*

Department of English, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632014, India

ABSTRACT

In the current era of Post-Truth, the concept of truth is not easily found out. Nowadays the false or fabricated appearance and ideas when presented make them appear more logical, reasonable and far widely accepted with emotional and personal belief, and appeal than the original and pure truth. Taking this concept into account, the current research paper aims to investigate how “Lord Shiva” who is worshipped by the Hindus the world over as the ‘Lord of Lords’, has been portrayed as a ‘human being’ possessing extraordinary prowess by Amish Tripathi in his first and debut novel of the Shiva Trilogy - ‘The Immortals of Meluha’. The paper examines the post-truth hidden in the evolution of myths and fables surrounding Lord Shiva and the other Indian deities and portrays the evolution of Lord Shiva as the ‘Supreme God’ from a ‘human being’ who lived centuries ago. The novel under investigation has been analysed using the Postmodern and Post-truth theories and perspectives.

Keywords: Deconstruction, fables, God, human, Meluha, myth, post-truth, Shiva

INTRODUCTION

ARTICLE INFO The novel The Immortals of Meluha was published in 2010 by Amish Tripathi. This Article history: was his first step towards the success series. Received: 22 September 2019 Accepted: 14 February 2020 He continued his success steps with The Published: 26 June 2020 Immortals of Meluha (2010), the first of the series of Shiva Trilogy, followed by The E-mail addresses: Secret of the Nagas (2011), and The Oath [email protected] (S. Karthik) [email protected] (Sangeeta Mukherjee) of the Vayuputras (2013). He then continued *Corresponding author with the Ram Series, the first book

ISSN: 0128-7702 e-ISSN 2231-8534 © Universiti Putra Malaysia Press S. Karthik and Sangeeta Mukherjee being The Scion of Ikshvaku (2015). He was portrayed as the marginalized class who the one who set the new trend of writing were treated as untouchables and had been Post-Modern Mythological Fiction and was isolated due to the sins they had committed followed by Ashwin Sanghi, Kavita Kane, in their previous birth. Shiva, the warrior, Anand Neelakantan, Udayasankar, liberated them from the unfair humility they Vamsee Juluri, and Anuja Chandramouli. had undergone. The research article discusses Amish Tripathi has re-narrated myths in the the marginalization of the Vikrama class and modern contemporary way by reviewing their emancipation from tyranny. ancient mythology with a new perspective. Singh (2016) in his research paper pointed out that some of the contemporary Review of Literature writers like Amish Tripathi, Ashok Banker, Paul (2017) pointed out that myth had been and Ashwin Sanghi had probed into the used as a metaphor by Amish Tripathi. genre of mythology by synthesizing it with She said that the author did not discover other genres of writing. This interblend a new world but used the magical realism of mythology with fantasy has initiated techniques to express the supernatural a novel practice of writing in the world elements with the usual and accustomed of fiction. Their objective had been to world. The actual truth of Shiva as the view the ancient mythologies from a new Lord of Lords, a mythical god, is covered perspective. Sharmely (2016) in her research by the Post-truth created by Tripathi in article discussed how Lord Shiva had been portraying Shiva as a mortal being who represented as a human being and it was due has risen to the state of Godhood through to his karma and resultant deeds in life that his Karma. This perspective helps us to made him God in Amish Tripathi’s Shiva identify the research gap for the current Trilogy. Balaji (2016) in his research paper study. Nair and Chandran (2017) in Amish stated that an author could reconstruct ancient Tripathi’s Shiva Trilogy asserted that ‘Lord mythology by adding some required objects Shiva’ or ‘Mahadev’ was prevalent in every to the ancient story to construct a new story. individual. An individual should discover Farsana (2015) too, opined that retelling the and regenerate the ability to captivate the actual myth in modern writing had become negativity and evil and redirect them to a trend in the past few decades. She stated have a positive effect on the others around that especially in Indian writings in English, them. Sumathi (2017) in her research article this way of writing had captured the attention commented that the novel The Immortals of of modern readers. The contemporary Meluha gave a perception about the culture readers developed a liking for the post-truth and ideologies of Prakriti and Karma - life ‘Shiva’ rather than the original Lord Shiva and the universe. Kaviya (2017) remarked as a mythical being. On the other hand, that in the novel The Immortals of Meluha, Kusugal (2015) probed into the credible the Vikrama-class individuals had been representation of equipment, medicine,

1250 Pertanika J. Soc. Sci. & Hum. 28 (2): 1249 - 1262 (2020) Deconstruction of Lord Shiva: The Immortals of Meluha manufacture of Somras, enlightened lifestyle, Immortals of Meluha. The novel was set and the evolution of Shiva from the ‘chief’ in (Tibet) in 1900 BC of the Tibetan Guna Tribe to ‘Lord Shiva’. where Shiva was portrayed as a twenty- Choudhury (2014) stated that the Meluhans one-year-old chief of the Guna tribes who created an identity for other clusters by fought with the Pakratis every month for governing, controlling and subjugating the survival. Nandi was one of the captains of other groups based on their ethnicity and the Meluhan army who went to Tibet for residential identities. He went on to affirm some time to request the Guna tribes to that the dynamics of power and knowledge come as immigrants to his country Meluha were used to gain the power to govern other in lieu of by promising lands for cultivation groups. Amish Tripathi has thus projected and peaceful lives. One day the Pakratis the dominance of power and knowledge by attacked the Guna tribes and Nandi fought the Meluhans. against them. Shiva started trusting Nandi and after consulting with his tribe agreed to MATERIALS AND METHODS go with him. Nandi took them to Srinagar Objective and introduced them to Chitraangadh, an orientation executive, who arranged rooms The study explores how the traditional and for their stay. The Guna tribals were given mythological character of ‘Lord Shiva’ has medical rehabilitation under the supervision been decentered in The Immortals of Meluha of Ayurvati, the chief of Medicine in and projected as a ‘human being’. In light of Meluha, for seven days. the above observation, the present paper aims Ayurvati gave medicinal drink called to bring out the truth surrounding Lord Shiva Somras to all the Guna tribals in the and other Deities who have been portrayed rehabilitation centre. He also instructed as mortal beings rather than Gods in the era them strictly to maintain hygiene. As a of Post-Truth. result of consuming Somras, the guna tribals suffered from a fever which Methodology ultimately cured all their diseases. Ayurvati The theories implemented for analysing treated all the Guna tribals but Shiva did the text, The Immortals of Meluha by not contract the fever and instead, his Amish Tripathi, were Post-Truth and Post throat turned blue. Nandi and Ayurvati Modernism theories. The methodology used were surprised to witness this miracle. for the study was descriptive (observational Nandi addressed Shiva as “My Lord” method) and analytical (literary research). and “Neelakanth”. He informed Emperor Daksha who ordered him not to disclose it Background of The Immortals of Meluha. until he met him. Nandi introduced Shiva Amish Tripathi has portrayed Lord Shiva to the emperor who proclaimed him as the as a human being in his debut novel The ‘Neelakanth’ - the destroyer of the evil

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Chandravanshis. Daksha told Shiva that they fire arrow. Ayurvati treated her but she was were Suryavanshis and the Chandravanshis not confident whether she would recover were evil people who had joined the Nagas or not. Shiva advised her to consume the - the cursed people born with deformities. Somras after which recovered. Daksha Shiva met Sati at Meru near a temple asked Shiva whether he was willing to where he saved her from a group of marry Sati, to which Shiva readily agreed. kidnappers. He was unaware that she was A seven-day grand marriage function was the daughter of Daksha. One day he heard arranged that was attended by important the sound of someone dancing near the members. While returning from the marriage garden and found it to be Sati. He pointed ceremony, Brahaspati was brutally murdered out the small flaws in Sati’s dance steps, and by the Nagas; whereupon Shiva declared while teaching Sati, he accidentally touched war against the Chandravanshis. Shiva won her. He came to know that she belonged the battle and ten thousand Chandravansis to the Vikrama class. She asked him to go were killed and their emperor and his son for the Suthikaram because Vikrama class were captured. They were asked to follow people were cursed in their previous birth the Meluhan ways of life. Daksha declared and hence they were not supposed to be Parvateshwer as the governor. Anandmayi touched. Later Shiva came to know that – the Ayodhyan Princess met Shiva and Sati got married ninety years ago and gave revealed the truth that they were not evil birth to a stillborn child. Her husband too and they did not have any relationship with drowned the same day the dead child was the Nagas either. Shiva felt guilty of having born and after this she was declared as a killed ten thousand people without knowing ‘Vikrama’. the truth. In Ayodhya, Shiva met a pandit Shiva enquired about the Somras and who hailed him as ‘Mahadev’. The pandit found that it was manufactured in mount further proclaimed that Shiva’s karma would Mandar. Daksha requested him to save them guide his future. Sati, who had been waiting from the evil ‘Chandravanshis’ and asked for Shiva outside, was attacked by the Nagas permission to proclaim his arrival but he and the novel ends with Shiva rushing to refused as he wanted to visit the Somras save Sati. manufacturing site. Daksha, his family members, Nandi, Parvateshwer and Sati’s Postmodernism friend, Krittika visited the place. Shiva met Postmodernism is defined as “any of a Brahaspati, the chief Meluhan scientist, and number of trends or movements in the befriended him who explained how to make arts and literature developing in the 1970s Somras. The Chandravanshis and the Nagas in reaction to or rejection of the dogma, attacked them. principles of established Modernism,…” Shiva learnt that they were the trouble- (“Postmodernism,” n.d.). The impact makers and they even attacked Sati with a of Postmodernism was first initiated in

1252 Pertanika J. Soc. Sci. & Hum. 28 (2): 1249 - 1262 (2020) Deconstruction of Lord Shiva: The Immortals of Meluha the discipline of architecture and civil Post-truth engineering before its rays could fall in the The axiom “Post-Truth” got media-hype discipline of philosophy, art, technology, after being selected as the word of the year literature, and the other disciplines of study. in 2016 in Oxford English Dictionary. The The end of world wars brought hopelessness term was first used by Steve Tesich (1992) and insecurity in the hearts of people in his article The Watergate Syndrome which got reflected in all other fields. This – A Government of Lies in The Nation hopelessness and absurdity of life resulted magazine. Teisch discussed the fake moral in the development of Postmodernism. The face of Bush. Donald Trump’s way of giving basic notions that Postmodernism embraced alternative facts about the number of people were questioning, nihilism, inter-textuality attending his swearing-in ceremony was and decentering. more than Barack Obama’s but the truth was Postmodernism rejects the dominance just the opposite. of the center and its influence on the Pattanaik (2018) in his article titled “Is marginalized, and the dominance of the Post-Truth same as Myth?” commented aristocrats upon the subjected one, be it that in Post-Truth the concept of alternative human or ideology. facts or narratives was developed to hide The major proponents of the field were the original truth from the people whereas, Jean-Francois Lyotard, Friedrich Nietzche, in Indian mythology, there were many Jean Baudrillard, Jacques Derrida, and alternative narratives other than facts. Michel Foucault. Postmodernism thus aims He argued that people in the Middle East at liberating man from the shackles that and America believed in one God, which held them with various names of the center, resulted in singular and linear belief in all and from the strong ideologies and western fields of life. Therefore, the Western myth concepts as superior. considered the alternative narratives as false and myths in the 19th Century paved Deconstruction the way for the colonizers to conquer the Jacques Derrida, the founder of the places they wished to conquer. Pattanaik concept of ‘Deconstruction’, stated that (2018) commented that Western mythology deconstruction was a strategy or a tool neglected facts and the very nature and to “rules for reading, interpretation, and concept of diversity. The important concepts writing” (Dobie, 2012) the text in multiple that will be used for analysing the novel are perspectives. Deconstruction helps us puffery, confirmation bias, and alternative to understand that a text has numerous facts. interpretations. He borrowed the idea of a sign, signifier and signified from Saussure, and stated that a signifier would lead to different signified.

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS A few researchers claim that the origin of Mythology Shaivism during the Non-Aryan period is based on the archaeological excavation of Myths, according to Donald Mills (2003), the “Pashupati Seal” from the Indus Valley “are a cultural inheritance, a tradition handed Civilization. There exists many interlinks down from one generation to another, and between the Indus Valley Civilization and therefore invested with communal values. the Dravidian forms of in South This explains the close association between India. The Proto-Siva is almost identical to a community and its mythology”. On the the seated bull icons found in early Elamite other hand, mythology is Seals from 3000 to 2750 BC (Flood & the study and interpretation of often Flood, 1996). sacred tales or fables of a culture known Iyengar (1989), in his book Dravidian as myths or the collection of such stories India, cited few eminent scholars like which deal with various aspects of the Ragozin, Fergusson, and Steveson who human condition: good and evil; the strongly regarded Shiva to be a Tamil God. meaning of suffering; human origins; It can be said that Pre-Historic/Non-Aryan the origin of place-names, animals, Proto-Siva religious beliefs were Dravidian cultural values, and traditions; the in origin but after the Aryan invasion, the meaning of life and death; the afterlife; Dravidian Proto-Siva assimilated many and the gods or a god. (Mark, 2018). concepts from Aryan Vedic scriptures that Mythologies are abundant with the led Shaivism to evolve into an individual stories of gods or god-like humans the cult in itself. world over. In also, The further enhancement of Shaivism we find the mention of many gods and had its assimilation in the Vedic scriptures goddesses. Among them, Lord Shiva holds a such as ‘Rig-Veda’ (hymns 1.114, 1.43, special place and there exists diverse myths 2.33), ‘Yayur-Veda’ and ‘Svetasvatara surrounding him in both North (Aryan / ’ where he is known as God Vedic culture) and South (Dravidian culture) Rudra who is considered to be a precursor India. to Shiva in Aryan culture (Flood, 2003). Iyengar (1989) inferred that the worship Evolution of Lord Shiva in Hindu Mythology of Siva during the Stone Age existed in the form of ‘Linga worship’ which was The origin of Lord Shiva dates back to carried forward by the Aryans during the as early as the Indus Valley Civilization. Vedic period from 1500 to 500 BCE. Lord Shaivism or Siva traditions probably started Shiva is also mentioned in the during 200 BC to 100 AD. During the Pre- and the . In the Mahabharata, Historic/Non-Aryan period, the religion Pasupathas are mentioned as one of the and belief system of the Dravidians (South most ancient worshippers of Lord Shiva. Indians) were similar to that of Shaivism.

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The Shiva mention Lord Shiva satiate her needs. The Primordial Goddess as the Supreme Being or the God of Gods. set on a search for a man and when she According to some historians, the word found none, she gave birth to Lord . ‘Shiva’ is derived from the Tamil word, Brahma grew up very fast and was the eldest Chivan or Shivan which means ‘red in of all. When the Goddess asked him to sleep colour’. In Dravidian mythology, mention with her he refused, since she had given is made of Punyakshi, a maiden with birth to him and was his mother. In fury, the extraordinary powers who wanted to marry Goddess opened her third eye which was Lord Shiva. Shiva travelled to South India in the palm of her hand. As a result of the to marry her but could not do so due to fire, Brahma was burned down to a heap of the tricks played by the people of her ashes. The very next day she created Lord community. Unable to bear this pain, , but he also ended up in a similar fate Punyakshi left her body in a place which (Ramanujan, 1990). later came to be known as ‘Kanyakumari’ Finally, on the third day, she created after her (Sadhguru, 2016). Thus there are Shiva. Once she created him, she asked him a lot of myths surrounding Lord Shiva in to sleep with her. She also warned him by Hindu mythology. showing the ashes of the other two. After learning the fate of his brothers; he accepted The Immortals of Meluha in the Light of to sleep with her but under few conditions. Deconstruction Perspective He asked her to teach all that she knew to Comparison of Actual Myth and Amish make him equal to her otherwise he will be Tripathi’s Novel. There are many myths inferior to her. He also said that no woman and fables surrounding Lord Shiva and other would like to have an inferior man as her Indian deities but the major myths have been husband, so he asked her to share all the deconstructed by the author in his text The powers and knowledge she possessed with Immortals of Meluha. Those myths have him; so that when they unite they would been altered by Amish Tripathi in a different complement each other. The Goddess perspective. Indian myths have diverse accepted those conditions and shared her narratives as discussed by Pattanaik (2018). power, knowledge, and wisdom with Shiva A few are discussed below which are mostly (Ramanujan, 1990). believed to be authentic myths and fables But in The Immortals of Meluha, the about Lord Shiva and other Indian deities. author portrays Shiva as a twenty-one-year- old young warrior and the chief of Guna Shiva. There is a popular myth that a tribes living at the foot of Mount Kailash in Primordial Goddess took birth just three Tibet in 1900 BC. Shiva and his Guna tribals days prior to the coming into existence of are seen migrating to Meluha for leading a the earth and universe. She grew up quickly peaceful and prosperous life as promised to into a woman and then yearned for a man to them by Nandi and other Meluhan officials.

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1900 BC, Mansarovar Lake (At the foot Neelkantha vs Neelkanth. Lord Shiva of Mount Kailash, Tibet). is also popularly known as Neelkantha Shiva gazed at the orange sky. The or the ‘blue-throated one’. The story clouds hovering above Mansarovar behind Shiva’s throat turning blue dates had just parted to reveal the setting back to the time when Devas (Gods) and sun. The brilliant giver of life was (Demons) were churning the ocean calling it a day once again. Shiva had () to acquire the potion of seen a few sunrises in his twenty-one life (Amrit). The first potion that came out years. But the sunset! He tried never to of the churning was Halahala, which was miss the sunset! ….. He squatted and in the form of a dark sticky foam. Halahala perched his lithe, muscular body on the could destroy the whole universe. To save narrow ledge extending over the lake. the universe, Shiva drank it and while he The numerous battle-scars on his skin was consuming it, Goddess Parvathi caught gleamed in the shimmering reflected hold of Shiva’s neck to stop the poison from light of the waters. Shiva remembered spreading into his body. The poison got well his carefree childhood days…. He stuck in the throat that made his neck turn still held the record in his tribe for the blue. It is also said that snake Vasuki (King highest number of bounces: seventeen. of Snakes) helped Shiva to hold the poison (Tripathi, 2010). in his neck. Shiva was overwhelmed by this gesture of Vasuki and accepted him around Brahaspati, the chief scientist of the his neck forever. Meluhan Empire, was very rationalistic In the above-mentioned original and told Shiva that all the people and the myth, Shiva’s throat turns blue due to the emperor might think of him as the saviour of consumption of the Halahala poison during the Suryavanshis. Brahaspati also said that the churning of the ocean but in the novel, there would be a scientific reason behind Amish Tripathi has retold the incident from Shiva’s throat turning blue and added that a different perspective. According to him, Neelkanth would only be a destroyer of Shiva is a warrior and the Chief of Guna Evil. Meluhans think that Shiva would Tribes in Mount Kailash, Tibet. He and his destroy Chandravanshis as they considered people are brought to Meluha by Nandi for them to be Evil but besides this, many other protection and in lieu of land and peaceful problems were there to be solved in Meluha. life. Shiva and his people migrate to Meluha. Daksha and Meluhans looked upon Shiva According to Meluha Immigration policies, as God and Savior of the Suryavanshis they should stay in Srinagar for one week but Parvateshwar and Brahaspati did not for medical examination and rehabilitation. consider Shiva as God and rather addressed During this juncture, Ayurvati gives Somras him as Shiva. to all the Guna tribesmen including Shiva. After drinking the Somras, the Gunas suffer

1256 Pertanika J. Soc. Sci. & Hum. 28 (2): 1249 - 1262 (2020) Deconstruction of Lord Shiva: The Immortals of Meluha from sudden high fever except Shiva. The Daksha back to life by fixing a goat’s head. consumption of Somras turns the colour Many years later, Sati took reincarnation as of his throat to blue and hence he is called Parvathi. Parvathi often incarnates as Neelkanth. and to kill evil whenever it takes the Ayurvati just pointed at Shiva’s neck. upper hand on earth (Cartwright, 2018). Nandi looked up. The neck shone an Sati in the actual myth is regarded as the eerie iridescent blue. With a cry that ‘blessed one’ and she is considered married sounded like that of a long caged animal only to Shiva. But in the novel understudy, just released from captivity, Nandi she belongs to the Vikrama class who are collapsed on his knees. ‘My Lord! You considered to be ‘cursed’ due to the sins have come! The Neelkanth has come!’ perpetuated in their previous birth. She was ……‘What the hell is going on here?’ considered to be cursed since she gave birth Shiva asked agitatedly. to a stillborn child and her first husband died of drowning in the river at the time of the Holding a hand to his freezing neck, he birth of her child. Sati was also portrayed as turned around to the polished copper a fierce fighter and a warrior in the novel. plate and stared in stunned astonishment at the reflection of his neel kanth; his ‘What! Sati was married?!’ blue throat. (Tripathi, 2010). ‘Yes. That was around ninety years back. It was a political marriage with one of Sati. Sati was the daughter of Daksha and the noble families of the empire. Her is also called Dakshayani. According to the husband’s name was Chandandhwaj. legend, Daksha was against the marriage She got pregnant and went to the Maika of Sati and Shiva. As an act of vengeance, to deliver the child. It was the monsoon Daksha arranged an auspicious ritual to season. Unfortunately, the child was which all the gods were invited except stillborn.’ Shiva. On hearing this news, Sati became ‘Oh my god!’ said Shiva, empathising very furious and went to the ceremony alone with the pain Sati must have felt. where she was humiliated by her father. ‘But it was worse. On the same day, her Unable to bear this, she threw herself into husband, who had gone to the Narmada the auspicious fire that was ignited in the to pray for the safe birth of their child, ceremony. When Shiva learnt of Sati’s death, accidentally drowned. On that cursed he created two demons Virabhadra and day, her life was destroyed.’ Rudrakali from his hair. The two demons …. ‘She became a widow and was created destruction in the ceremony and declared a vikarma the same day.’ beheaded Daksha. The other Gods rushed (Tripathi, 2010). to Shiva and appealed to stop the chaos and destruction. At their behest, Shiva brought

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Daksha is very happy to learn that surprised Nandi looked up, bowed again Shiva is in love with Sati whereas, in the and said, ‘Yes Sir. I mean, yes, Shiva.’ original mythology, Daksha is against their (Tripathi, 2010). relationship. The Immortals of Meluha in the Light of Nandi. Surabi was the mother of cows in Post-Truth Perspective heaven. Unexpectedly, she started giving Puffery. Mohler (2005) in his article titled birth to too many cows. As a result, milk The Post-Truth Era – Welcome to the Age from all these cows oozed out and flooded of Dishonesty discussed the key concepts the meditation house of Shiva. Shiva, being and ideologies of the post-truth era written disturbed and angry by this act of the cows, by Ralph Keyes in his book titled The burnt all the cows with his third eye. The Post-Truth Era: Dishonesty and Deception Gods rushed to calm Shiva’s fury and anger in Contemporary Life. Keyes (2004) only and offered him a magnificent bull named concentrated on the American culture and Nandi. Nandi was born from the union of society whereas today the elements or Surabi and Kasyapa. Shiva accepted him characteristics of Post-Truth have spread and rode upon him. Nandi also received a all over the world and are not restricted to boon that whoever whispered their wishes certain parts or nations in the world. Keyes in his ears would get them granted by commented that ‘puffery’ had become an art Shiva immediately. Nandi thus became the in itself in America. guardian of other animals (Chauhan, 2016). Puffery, according to Oxford English Nandi has been portrayed by Amish Dictionary means “exaggerated or false Tripathi as a human and he holds the praise” (“Puffery”, n.d.). Individuals, position of Captain in the Meluhan Army. institutions or groups acquire the old He is considered to be a vicious warrior. concepts, materials, subjects or ideologies Nandi’s character is introduced in the novel available and recoat them in a new way as an official who helps to immigrate Shiva to get high recognition or for promotional and Guna tribals to the city of Meluha. Shiva purposes. Similarly, Keyes (2004) said that considers Nandi to be his close friend: individuals overstressed the truth with new ‘Of course, you may. You don’t need to facts that were false to hike up the societal take my permission, Nandi,’ said Shiva. ranking. ‘But in return, you have to promise me Amish Tripathi, a banker, turned to something, my friend.’ writing novels and wanted to write a ‘Of course, Sir,’ replied Nandi bowing philosophical thesis on the nature of evil. slightly. His family members, especially his brother and sister, asked him to write an adventurous ‘Call me Shiva. Not Sir,’ grinned Shiva. novel messed with a philosophical touch in ‘I am your friend. Not your Chief.’ A it because it was the writing trend prevalent

1258 Pertanika J. Soc. Sci. & Hum. 28 (2): 1249 - 1262 (2020) Deconstruction of Lord Shiva: The Immortals of Meluha in contemporary times. Tripathi had used and a few sets of standard beliefs. When the old myth and fables surrounding Lord the human brain receives new beliefs or Shiva but deconstructed the existing myth information about the already existing with a scientific explanation stating that standard belief it holds; the brain analyses Shiva’s karma and actions raised him to the both the beliefs and information and retains status of God. only the set of beliefs or information that Over the centuries, no foreigner matches or correlates with the already who came to our land — conqueror, existing sets of beliefs or information; and merchant, scholar, ruler, traveller — this process is termed as Confirmation Bias. believed that such a great man could Dieguez (2017) commented that in the possibly exist in reality. They assumed era of post-truth, politicians were speaking that he must have been a mythical God, with more freedom which of course was whose existence could be possible only utter gibberish and the fake news was in the realms of human imagination. propagating swiftly. She stated that the Unfortunately, this belief became our worst of this swiftly propagating fake news received wisdom. (Tripathi, 2010). was that the human brains tended to love it more than the actual truth. This work is, therefore, a tribute to Lord The Immortals of Meluha and the other Shiva and the lesson that his life teaches two novels received much criticism because us. A lesson lost in the depths of time of Tripathi’s portrayal of Lord Shiva as a and ignorance. A lesson, that all of us human being and the reversal of the actual can rise to be better people. A lesson, myth with rationale. Due to the reversal that there exists a potential god in every of actual myth, it gained controversial single human being. (Tripathi, 2010). comments and criticisms. Many individuals have ‘confirmation bias’ of considering Tripathi had decentred Shiva - the Shiva as God. Due to their strong belief in Lord to an ordinary human being with the idea of Lord Shiva as God, they are not extraordinary powers who had raised ready to accept the perspective of Amish himself on the societal ladder and attained Tripathi’s Shiva as a Warrior who rose from popularity around the world. the status of a human being to Lord.

Confirmation Bias But what if we are wrong? What if Sebastian Dieguez (2017) in her article Lord Shiva was not a figment of a rich Post-Truth: The Dark Side of the Brain imagination, but a person of flesh and analysed Post-Truth from the perspective of blood? Like you and me. A man who psychology. Dieguez discussed the concept rose to become god-like because of of confirmation bias wherein she stated that his karma. That is the premise of the the human brain had strong affirmations Shiva Trilogy, which interprets the rich mythological heritage of ancient India,

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blending fiction with historical fact. ‘Not this time,’ said Shiva holding out (Tripathi, 2010). his hand. ‘This will change our lives completely. I believe the change will Post-truth by Indifference be for the better. Anything will be better Monod and Lipetz (2017) in their article titled than the pointlessness of the violence Between Post-truth and Epistemocracy: we face daily. I have told you what I Positioning a Democratic Politics discussed want to do. But the choice to go or not two types of ‘post-truth’- the first type was is yours. Let the Gunas speak. This time, where an individual, group or institution’s I follow you.’ (Tripathi, 2010). beliefs were upheld and considered significant than the truth that could be Thus the above quote portrays Shiva as proved logically and the second type of truth a democratic leader rather than an autocratic was ‘Post-Truth by Indifference’ which was leader. He asks for suggestions and opinions a premeditated creation of fabricated facts, from the tribals before implementing plans. principles and beliefs. This indicates the indifference of Amish Tripathi had read all the old myths Tripathi towards the actual myth of Shiva surrounding Shiva and had knitted the new where he is considered as an Ultimate. fabricated story about Shiva based on the old prevalent myths. He had a rich knowledge CONCLUSION about myths and Gods that he inherited from his grandfather who was a Pandit. He had Amish Tripathi in his novel The Immortals of re-created the existence of Shiva as a leader Meluha has deconstructed the original myth of the Guna tribe in the opening chapter ‘He of Shiva which is difficult to be accepted as Has Come!’ of his novel. Shiva as Leader or true and real. Tripathi had portrayed Shiva Chief of tribes says: as a human character who made sarcastic comments on the class system that was ‘I keep nothing secret from you. All of prevalent in Meluha. Shiva disliked being you are aware of the invitation of the hailed and addressed as Lord or Sir in the foreigners,’ continued Shiva, pointing to novel. Tripathi has deconstructed various Nandi and the Meluhans. ‘They fought myths that are prevalent among people. shoulder-to-shoulder with us today. The characters of Shiva, Sati, Nandi, and They have earned my trust. I want to go Neelkanth are deconstructed to portray them with them to Meluha. But this cannot be as human beings rather than as mythical my decision alone.’ Gods and Goddesses. Similarly in the post- ‘You are our chief, Shiva,’ said Bhadra. truth perspective, Tripathi used myth to ‘Your decision is our decision. That is climb up the social ladder by publishing the tradition.’ the mythological novels. He faced both controversies for projecting Lord Shiva as a human and hailed for his creative work in

1260 Pertanika J. Soc. Sci. & Hum. 28 (2): 1249 - 1262 (2020) Deconstruction of Lord Shiva: The Immortals of Meluha literature. He suggested that every human Farsana, B. (2015). Amish Tripathi’s The Immortals being had an inner voice which guided them of Meluha as cocktail of myths and fiction. in their difficult times. When humans listen International Research Journal of Humanities, Engineering & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1(1), to their inner voice, they reach the state of 62-65. God like Shiva. Thus, Amish Tripathi has courageously deconstructed the myth of Flood, G. (Ed.). (2003). The Blackwell companion to Hinduism. Chicester, England: John Wiley Lord Shiva in the contemporary Post-Truth & Sons. Era. Flood, G. D., & Flood, G. D. F. (1996). An introduction to Hinduism. New York, USA: Cambridge ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS University Press. The authors would like to thank the Iyengar, T. S. (1989). Dravidian India. New Delhi, reviewers of this article for their valuable India: Asian Educational Services. observations and suggestions. No fund or Kaviya, K. (2017). Marginalisation in the immortals grant was received for this research. of Meluha: A study of the Vikarma class. Bodhi International Journal of Research in Humanities, REFERENCES Arts and Science, 1(2), 47-49.

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