Sundar Nathan Revives the Ramayana and Mahabharata

(August 21, 2024) Sundar Nathan teaches at the University of Texas at Austin as he crafts his next books in ‘The Naraka Cycle’ series – ‘Demons & Their Gods’ and ‘Prince of Naraka’. An engineer, product marketing leader, and entrepreneur in the software industry, pursuing a successful career in Silicon Valley, Nathan embarked on a seven-year journey culminating in his first mythological thriller – Ravan’s Trial. ‘The Naraka Cycle’ series will comprise nine books, with they being released every quarter starting March 2024.

An epic start

Sundar Nathan has been passionate about mythology and storytelling since he was a boy when his grandmother Namagiri and his mother Saroja regaled him with tales from the great Indian epics – The Ramayana and the Mahabharata. “I grew up in a family with a vibrant Indian cultural background, wherein my childhood was deeply influenced by the epic tales of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. These stories, fondly narrated by my grandmother Namagiri and mother Saroja intrigued my interest in mythology. My passion for technology, marketing, and entrepreneurship helped me explore various roles in product marketing which then led me to start a go-to-market strategy company,” he tells Global Indian.

Sundar Nathan

Words worth

Despite a successful career in Silicon Valley, the urge to pursue storytelling continued in his mind strongly across various instances in his life. The tales about the ancient myths he grew up with left an ineradicable mark on him, and he found himself compelled to keep these timeless narratives alive through modern storytelling. This passion for epic tales and the desire to explore the depths of human nature through the lens of mythology drew him to become an author. “My debut novel, Ravan’s Trial, is a mythological thriller that brings ancient myth and modern turns together. It’s part of a larger vision that I have for a nine-book series titled The Naraka Cycle. My recent book, Demons and Their Gods transfers the readers to a world where celestials, hybrids, and demons coexist in a fragile fabric. This story follows Ravan, a young prince of the Asuras, and explores complex relationships, challenging traditional concepts of good and evil,” he says.

Striking the balance

He admits that balancing a demanding career in Silicon Valley with his writing pursuits requires meticulous time management and a deep-seated passion for both fields. “I view my tech career and writing as complementary rather than conflicting interests. The discipline and analytical skills I developed in my tech roles have been invaluable in structuring my writing process. At the same time, the creativity of storytelling provides a fulfilling counterbalance to my tech endeavours,” he explains. And it helps that he is deeply motivated from the stories and teachings of his childhood. “The epics narrated by my grandmother and mother instilled in me a deep understanding and appreciation for mythology and the moral questions it poses. My drive comes from the deep desire to bridge the ancient with the modern, creating narratives that reverberate with modern-day audiences while idolizing the timeless wisdom of these epic tales,” he adds.

So what is his advice to aspiring authors? “The first thing that any author must pursue is to remain persistent in their approach to the story. They must remain true to their voice always. Writing is a journey that has its own set of challenges and introspection, but in the end, it has a deep reward that awaits to be explored. One must accept their unique perspective, seek inspiration from the experiences, and be prepared for real-time learning and growth opportunities. Also, maintaining a balanced approach to writing, with a fair focus on creativity and structure is crucial,” he says.

Book 2 of The Naraka Cycle

Breaking blocks

Overcoming challenges for him has been a matter of resilience and adaptability. While transitioning from the job at Silicon Valley to writing, he came across innumerable roadblocks, right from time management fiascos to creative blocks. “I overcame them by remaining deeply committed to my goals, seeking support from mentors, and continuously upgrading my skills. Accepting challenges as opportunities has been a crucial part of my process to keep growing continuously,” he says. And these have taught him some valuable lessons too. “I have learned that while taking up the role of an author include the importance of persistence, the invaluable support of your peer circle, and the need to have a balanced approach to creativity as well as discipline. I have also realized that storytelling is a powerful tool for connection and that genuineness in writing connects deeply with the readers,” he adds.

Looking ahead

During my free time, Sundar Nathan enjoys spending time with his family, especially travelling, and immersing in literature to explore new ideas from different cultures. He also finds joy in teaching and sharing his knowledge and experiences with students at the University of Texas at Austin, which keeps him engaged and inspired. “Travel opens new vistas in my mind. The world-building ideas in my books emerge when I travel both within the United States, i.e., cross-country road trips with my dog, and travelling internationally which includes visits to the temples in South India or exploring the heritage of Egypt and Africa,” he says. His plans as of now will be continuing to expand The Naraka Cycle series, diving deeper into the mythological worlds and characters that keep him fascinated. “I aim to understand and leverage new narratives that make a reader think from different perspectives. Also, I hope to expand my teaching activities, helping the next generation of storytellers and thinkers to shape their conduct better,” he concludes.