“Manthara had no one to love, no family to care for and took no responsibility toward people dependent on her. An emotionally weak person attempts to grab security through acts of insensitivity.”

Shattered Dreams is the sequel to the national bestseller, Rise of the Sun Prince, in the new spiritual and motivational series Ramayana – The Game of Life being written by Shubha Vilas.

The book, being a sequel, narrate story behind the 14 year exile into forest for Rama. The story is of some shattered dreams of king Dasharath which eventually became shattered dream of every citizen of Ayodhya with turn of event. This story is not just a story of Rama but this is philosophic tale of everyday life of all of us. We all have some shattered dreams, dharm, adharm, and riddle of our life. This book begins with dilemma and end with a riddle. The book reaches us to handle temptation and exploration beyond our comfort zone.

Story wise a chapter related to anti – hero Rawana seems out of perspective but give us a sense of satisfaction with information and knowledge. Drama and philosophy intensify in later chapters.

The book offer satisfactory reply to queries which may come into mind while reading story with logics. I immediately got satisfaction when raised question about Rama recommend Sumantra tell a lie. Five management mantra offered by Rama to Bharat are one of the great essences of the book.

Book also offers information usually unknown like Dasharath was bound to offer throne of Ayodhya to son of Kaikayi, who eventually is Bharat.

Narrative is very simple compare to minute complex details of story and goes philosophical when philosophy slips into its way. Writing style is lucid, crisp and quite engaging. To keep simple uses footnotes to describe backgrounds details, explanations and short takeaway points. The footnotes give deeper insights to each character and situation. I like boxes used in the book to explain important points. These boxes are real jewel of the book. A collection of these boxes make this a reference and self-help book.

The book offers something to everyone from day-to-day life thinking to management lesson, palaces to hut, cities to forest, and industry to environment. I find one jewel:

Bharat did not want to spoil the sanctity of place by imposing thousands of co-travelers upon the ashram, not to mention the chance that water bodies be polluted, trees uprooted ad inmates harassed for constant favours.

The book talks about personal relations of husband and wife through beautiful cordial relationship of Rama and Sita. Depiction of verbal and non – verbal communication of Rama and Sita is one essence of the book.

Test of intention given by Bharat on his way to forest for meeting with Rama are heart touching. This not only offer epical value but also management, politics, communication, dharm, duties and ethics. Bharat give 6 mission tests to different person in different perspectives before success. Not to mention, all these tests was given after beginning of his journey before that also Bharat had to face mothers, ministers, guru and commoners of Ayodhya.

As any other good book on great Indian epics, this book also requires more than one reading to get more and more jewels.

Book Details:

Title:  Shattered Dreams, Book 2,

Series: Ramayana: The Game of Life

Author: Shubha Vilas

Publisher: Jaico Publishing House

Publication Year: 2014

Genre: Mythology/Religion & philosophy/ self-help

ISBN 13: 9788184955316

Binding: Paperback

Number of pages: 387

Price: Rs 350

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