What is it like to create a modern, feminist retelling of an ancient, foundational text? Vaishnavi Patel–author of the instant New York Times bestselling novel Kaikeyi, a reimagining of the Hindu epic the Ramayana–paints a vivid picture in this episode of Book Dreams. Vaishnavi’s novel “tells the story of the evil stepmother character [Kaikeyi], who sets off the whole epic by exiling Rama, and then just sort of disappears. [The novel] asks, What if she had reasons for doing what she did? What if the story was a little bit different and we can understand her actions rather than them just being spur-of-the-moment jealousy, which is what we get in the Ramayana?” In this conversation with Eve and Julie, Vaishnavi relates why she became fascinated by Kaikeyi’s story; how her research led her to surprising evidence of feminism in the Ramayana source material; how she’s handled backlash from people who “believe in some sort of Hindu supremacy” and who deem her novel a threat; and why the novel in fact strengthened her relationship with Hinduism, as well as the connection of some of her readers to their Hindu faith.

Vaishnavi Patel is an attorney focusing on constitutional law and civil rights and the author of the New York Times bestselling novel Kaikeyi. She writes at the intersection of Indian myth, feminism, and anti-colonialism.

One more thing: Book Dreams Inc.—a nonprofit that Julie and Eve founded that provides books to kids who lack them—is co-hosting a holiday event for students at the Monarch School, which serves homeless children in San Diego. They’re covering the cost of filling a bookmobile with books for all 300 students. The bookmobile will arrive at the school, and each child will be able to choose a book for themselves, just in time for the holidays. If you’d like to help, go here and click on the yellow donate button. No amount is too small, and any extra funds will add books to the school library. All donations are tax-deductible. And as a thank you, the Book Dreams podcast will send you a list of book recommendations from more than 50 Book Dreams guests, some of whom are probably among your favorite authors.

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Since you’re listening to Book Dreams, we’d like to suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows about literature, writing, and storytelling like Storybound and The History of Literature.
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