Published Paper Details:

This study analyses Ashok Banker's Demons of Chitrakut via the framework of historical consciousness, exploring the novel's reinterpretation of conventional depictions of evil in the Ramayana. The study examines the intricate characterisation of demons and their socio-political contexts, illustrating how Banker opposes binary distinctions of good and evil, while elucidating the interplay between myth, memory, and cultural identity. The analysis demonstrates how the novel' s depiction of demons as multifaceted entities influenced by marginalization and structural inequities challenges conventional power dynamics and narrative legitimacy. Through this recontextualization, Banker elevates the epic from a mere moral narrative to a sophisticated examination of resistance, agency, and moral ambiguity. The study contends that this reinterpretation of the Ramayana illustrates the fluidity of historical consciousness in influencing cultural narratives and collective identity, while emphasizing literature's capacity to promote critical engagement with inherited cultural legacies. This study enhances our comprehension of how modern adaptations of ancient epics might function as mediums for tackling contemporary societal issues and reinterpreting conventional moral paradigms.