Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik (born 11 December 1970) born and brought up in Mumbai and completed his MBBS from Grant Medical College. After working for 14 years in pharma and healthcare industry, he turned into leadership consultant, mythologist and an author. His works focus largely on the areas of myth, mythology and management.
He has written more than 30 books. The illustrations in his books are drawn by Mr. Pattanaik himself. Below are the list of books that we found are among his best work.
Gay rights are “western influence” and “Not Indian Culture”?
Think Again!
In this book, Devdutt Pattanaik immerses in the vast ocean of Hindu mythology and bring form the stories and incidences that deals with Queerness, Homosexuality and Transgender.
The book includes stories of Shikhandi: the woman who turned into a man for her wife’s sake, Mahadeva, who transformed into a woman so that he could deliver a child for his devotee, Chudada who had to turn into a man for the sake of her husband’s enlightenments and many such stories.
[schema type=”book” name=”Shikhandi and Other Stories They Don’t Tell You” author=”Devdutt Pattanaik” publisher=”Zubaan and Penguin India” pubdate=”2014-07-20″ isbn=”9789383074846″ ebook=”yes” paperback=”yes” ]
Till date, there are three books in this series:
Book one: 7 secrets from Hindu calendar art which deals with the stories and the myths surrounding the paintings in the temples and palm leaf manuscripts. The seven secrets that are dealt with in this book are: Ganesha’s secret – Different people see God differently, Narayana’s secret – What dies is always reborn, Ardhanari’s secret – God is within, Goddess without, Shiva’s secret – Withdrawal leads to destruction, Devi’s secret – Desire and destiny create life, Vishnu’s secret – Detached engagement brings order and Brahma’s secret – Human life is an opportunity.
Book two: 7 secrets of Vishnu which deals with the stories of Vishnu’s rise to prominence. The book deals with chapters on gender and how it explains the fundamental metaphysical concepts that are in line with Hinduism, how a human is different to an animal and the differences between Devas and Asuras which can also be viewed as to how extremes can be dangerous, one struggles with controlling their insecurities, and other with controlling their ambitions..
Book three: 7 secrets of Shiva, which deals with stories, symbols and rituals that are associated with Shiva.
[schema type=”book” name=”The 7 Secret Series, #1-3″ author=”Devdutt Pattanaik” publisher=”Westland Limited” isbn=”8189975676″ ebook=”yes” paperback=”yes” ]
In this book the author takes lessons from Indian Mythology for business.
Unlike the management lessons taught in the business schools, this book factors in beliefs which are quite subjective.
We are taught business from a very objective western approach which is linked heavily to goals and results, while this book deals with questions like why are we doing the business? What will we get by doing this?
[schema type=”book” name=”Business Sutra: A Very Indian Approach to Management” author=”Devdutt Pattanaik” publisher=”Aleph Book Company” pubdate=”2013-03-04″ isbn=”8192328074″ ebook=”yes” hardcover=”yes” ]
Maryada Purushottama (The ideal man who knows his values and limits) and Ekam Pati Vrata (Devoted to a single wife), both are popular names for King and Hindu Lord Ram, who abandoned his wife in the forest to protect the family honor. But he also refuses to remarry even for the sake of providing heirs to the throne.
The book uses more of Sita’s journey and how relationship with the environment as well as people around her were important for the story.
Much like Jaya, this book also contains illustrations as well as author summaries of important plot points as well as variations that have evolved in different areas.
[schema type=”book” name=”Sita An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana” author=”Devdutt Pattanaik” publisher=”Penguin” isbn=”0143064320″ ebook=”yes” paperback=”yes” ]
In the ancient Hindu epic, there is a story of King Yuvanashva, the honest and just ruler of Vallabhi.
The story deals with the secret tragedies of the king’s life like his mother, Shilavati refusing to let him fight in the battle of Kurukshetra as he fails to sire a worthy heir for the throne. So, he seeks the counsel of two powerful sages: Yaja and Upajaya, who give him a potion to make his wives pregnant. The king accidentally drinks the potion himself.
The story then deals with the king’s dilemmas of Dharma and Society’s expectations.
[schema type=”book” name=”The Pregnant King” author=”Devdutt Pattanaik” publisher=”Penguin Books India ” pubdate=”2008-02-05″ isbn=”0143063472″ ebook=”yes” paperback=”yes” ]
Hinduism is a religion of paradoxes, it has one God, as well as 330 million Gods: Male, female, half-male and half Female, Half human and half animal, Animal, Personal, family, households, village gods, as well as gods of earth, space and time as well as lot other kinds of Gods. Along with the Gods, Hinduism also has various demons.
In this book, the author revisits all the ancient stories and legends and analyses all the paradoxes to find the answers.
[schema type=”book” name=”Myth = Mithya A Handbook of Hindu Mythology” author=”Devdutt Pattanaik” publisher=”Penguin” pubdate=”2006-12-31″ isbn=”0143099701 ” ebook=”yes” paperback=”yes” ]
This book has been a bestseller in India for a few months now.
It is an interesting take on Mahabharata epic for the modern reader. The stories are condensed into one or two page short stories with lots of illustrations as well as short author’s analysis and also, how each story differs in various other Indian retellings.
Very simple but powerful wordings are used so this book can be found enjoyable by all: the beginners as well as the well versed, those who know Mahabharata as well as those who have no previous knowledge of the epic.
Check out a more detailed review here: http://thereandtheir.wordpress.com/2014/09/07/jaya-book-review/
[schema type=”book” name=”Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata” author=”Devdutt Pattanaik” publisher=”Penguin Global” pubdate=”2011-10-05″ isbn=”014310425X” ebook=”yes” paperback=”yes” ]
You can follow Devdutt on Facebook and Twitter. You can read more about him at http://devdutt.com/about
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