Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik is a medical doctor by education. Mythology is his passion. He is the author of the popular books ‘Myth = Mithya : A Handbook of Indian Mythology’ and ‘Book of Ram’, both published by Penguin India. His columns also appear in different magazines and newspapers. This interview is part of a series of interviews done with specialists in different fields relevant to India. I spoke to Devdutt Pattanaik on Indian mythology.
How relevant do you think Indian Mythology is to urban India today, given the fast-paced and technology-driven lives we lead?
Your question is based on the assumption that mythology is simply fantastic stories of gods and goddesses. Gods and goddesses are merely symbols whose stories reflect the eternal issues that plague the human mind. Myth is subjective truth communicated through stories, symbols and rituals. Every human being, whether or not he/she is technologically-driven, has a subjective truth. In other words, every human being lives in a personal reality constructed by stories that shapes his/her understanding of the world at all times. This personal reality, this private subjective world, is indifferent to rationality. Thus mythology is always relevant.
Do you think Indian youth today understand mythology the way it should be understood? Or, is there a gap?
The gap is the assumption that we are logical creatures. We are not. Our issues are the same as that of our ancestors, mobile phones and iPads and cars notwithstanding.
If there is a gap, what’s the best way to address it?
There’s no need to address it. People who seek answers will automatically drift towards it. The rest will remain lost until they take responsibility to make sense of it all.