Storyteller Spirit

A ghost that giggles and tells stories on a moonless night, a king whose intelligence is as sharp as his curved sword, meet them in this innovated yet authentic retelling of the Sanskrit classic Vetala-panchavimshati which goes back beyond the 11th century CE. Vetala Pacchisi (Twenty-five Vetala Tales) in Hindi is a household name. In Bengali, retold by educationist and social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, it pre-dates Indias First War of Independence. For generations, these stories have entertained as well as intrigued. They have been read and retold numerous times and yet have remained relevant. In the world of today, globalised yet divided, advanced yet insecure, they continue to be so. This is because they contain revelations of human nature as well as socio-political events, and can help the governance of countries as well as everyday conduct. Remaining loyal to the Sanskrit sources, here the author has both abridged and expanded the Vikram and Vetal lore prevalent in India. ***