Vritrahan

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About the Book

Vritrahan reimagines the ancient tale of Indra’s cosmic struggle with the serpent Vritra, casting this primordial conflict in a form that bridges mythic narrative with literary modernism. This work plunges readers into a distinctly Bharatiya worldview in which themes of heroism, cosmic balance, and the moral ambiguities of power resonate against the carefully crafted backdrop of a liminal world where even immortals cannot escape consequences. Through the lens of this legendary battle, Vritrahan meditates upon the many dualities that shape the universe—good and evil, creation and destruction, order and chaos.

Crafted entirely in free verse, Vritrahan draws on the storytelling tradition of Katha, where narratives serve as reflections on life’s fundamental dilemmas rather than as mere entertainment. This innovative structure evokes the atmosphere of an oral performance as it might have been experienced centuries ago. Blending the grandeur of an epic with an intimate, contemplative yet contemporary tone, Vritrahan is both a triumph of storytelling as well as an exploration of timeless truth.

About the Author

Ratul Chakraborty was one of the most accomplished video game makers in India. He is fascinated by History and People, the two lenses which form the foundation of his creative perspective.

After more than a decade of procrastination and other assorted excuses, he finally gathered enough courage in late 2019 to complete his highly regarded collection of short stories, Sutradhar.

He is the curator of Shared Roots: Tales from the Indosphere, an anthology of tales celebrating the common history and cultural heritage between India and Cambodia.

His latest book, Vritrahan, is a groundbreaking work in contemporary literature and has been hailed as a modern masterpiece.

Ratul loves to travel across India doing street photography, and is also a lifelong follower of Juventus FC. He is based out of Kolkata, where he lives with his parents, his wife Surela and their four-legged daughters- the rescued indies, Truffles and Mowgli.

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