The Bachelor’s Wife and Other Stories
Tales Inspired by The Ramayana
Author: Ashok Subramanian
Creative Editor & Co-author: Shweta Hitesh Joshi
ISBN: 979-8900892801 Notion Press, 360 pages

Author & Co-author

Ashok Subramanian is a poet, author, reviewer, and literary curator whose works explore introspection, human relationships, philosophy, and imagination. Beginning his literary journey in 2011, he has written across poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, with notable works including the Poetarrati series, A City Full of Stories, and The Bachelor’s Wife. His collaborative projects with poets and artists reflect his passion for creative experimentation and interdisciplinary storytelling. Ashok is also the curator of the Ponder series, a global poetry review initiative, and a regular contributor to literary and cultural discussions through essays and reviews. Based in Chennai, his writing continues to blend emotional depth, philosophical inquiry, and artistic exploration.

Shweta Hitesh Joshi is a creative editor, mindfulness coach, and co-author of the anthology Bachelor’s Wife and Other Stories. She also co-authored the poetry collection Verses of the Universe with Ashok Subramanian. Her poems have featured in the global annual poetry collection Ponder Series. With a background in management consulting, she brings expertise in digital strategy, organizational development, human resources, communication, and digital transformation, backed by a PGDM in HR and Marketing. 

Ashok Subramanian is a poet and fiction author based in Chennai, India.  In the preface, he mentions, “This is not a traditional retelling of the Ramayana. It is an exploration that leads us into the epic’s silences, its shadows, and its compelling side paths. It is an honest attempt to gaze past the blinding light of the gods and kings, and instead, focus on the fierce, relatable human emotions that pulse beneath: guilt, unconditional love, abiding faith, sheer resilience, and most importantly, the unyielding strength of the women who are tested and suffered, yet whose memory persists in a man’s tale.”

Co-author Shweta Hitesh Josh records: “Like the epic itself, the journey to complete this book was long—a period of three years marked by both creative breakthroughs and deep personal moments…this was not merely a collaborative effort but a shared emotional experience.”

Journeying through The Bachelor’s Wife & Other Stories has been an immersive and rewarding experience. From Valmiki’s Adi Kavya to Tulsidas’s Ram Charit Manas, the Kamba Ramayana, and numerous later interpretations, each era has found new meaning in the epic through various artistic expressions.  Undeniably, Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana has left a lasting impact on millions.  Reports state the Ramayana was telecast in fifty-five countries and had a viewership of 650 million or more.

It was something alive before their very eyes - an experience, not a distant legend. And if the Ramayana were merely a mythological tale with no deeper resonance, would it have captivated rational thinkers, scholars, and seekers from India and across the world for centuries? Its enduring appeal suggests that people sense it to be something more than a story: it’s a moral, philosophical, and cultural truth that speaks to the human psyche...

Commendably, Ashok Subramanian joins a host of contemporary writers who revisit the Ramayana with renewed interest, striving to find resonance with modern sensibilities. The present book is divided into two parts: Book 1, which includes twelve narratives, including tales inspired by the Ramayana.  Book 2 features the title story, the tale of Shanta, the lesser-known elder sister of Rama. Ashok has given voice to the marginalized -Shanta, Sampati, Jambavan, Jatayu, Indrajit, Angada, among several others who, in their own way, embody moral struggles, sacrifice, loyalty, and wisdom.

Shanta, as the Bachelor’s Wife, stands tall as an embodiment of resilience, courage, loyalty, unconditional love, and more. True to her name, she remained “peaceful” amidst all the turbulence around her.

“He lifted me in his hands only once…He saw me with regret and a tinge of hatred because he wanted a boy.” (p 269).  The author explains that an agreement was forged between the kingdoms of Kosala and Anga – a pact meant to seal trust and ensure lasting peace. King Dasaratha consented to give his daughter Shanta in adoption to King Romapada of Anga. (p. 272).  A composition from Saint Andal’s Tiruppavai comes to mind – “Born as the son of one woman in a single night…And raised in hiding as the son of another.”

Although Shanta’s detachment and acceptance of events in her life remind one of Kunti of the Mahabharata, Shanta’s sacrifices repeatedly reveal that dharmic strength can be silent, without lamentation.  “Ahalya, Draupadi, Sita, Tara, and Mandodari” aka the Panchakanyas, are revered as embodiments of dharmic strength, devotion, and resilience.  Remembering them is believed to grant liberation from past transgressions.

This forgotten sister, Shanta, deserves a rightful place among such Kanyas…

The Bachelor’s Wife is in the second part. I believe it’s not just to build suspense, but also because Shanta’s identity becomes meaningful only later in the narrative. In the narrative, Shanta is revealed primarily when Luv and Kush persuade her to share her story. By revealing her at this juncture, the author has allowed her voice to emerge at a crucial moment.

Soon after their wedding rituals, Sage Rishyasringa speaks to Shanta in a calm, contemplative tone. In that private moment of honesty, he reflects on his past life of discipline - “Chastity is not born from avoidance - it is born from the state of one’s mind.” (p 286).  From a philosophical standpoint, these lines reveal that virtue is not about running away from life, but about meeting life with a disciplined and conscious mind; again, self-control is by choice and not forced.

Societies flourish when people follow a wide range of life paths, each contributing something essential to the larger whole. History reminds us that those who lived beyond the pull of desire and moved past impulses were often considered guiding lights.  In today’s fast‑paced, overstimulated environment, distraction has become almost unavoidable, and the search for meaning feels more urgent than ever.

It is no wonder that more people seek out philosophers, therapists, spiritual teachers, and ethical leaders, all hoping to understand and attain that elusive ideal: Happiness.

In her notes, Shweta accentuates: “We sincerely hope these tales resonate with you, the reader, and offer a fresh perspective on a beloved classic.”

Without doubt, this yin-yang collaboration of Ashok and Shweta has proved to be the “current” that has shaped the tone and direction, diligently throwing light upon various incidents. For instance, Ahalya’s paused moment in time, Lakshman’s regret over the protective line, Sabari’s pure devotion, Sampati’s grief, and Hanuman’s mighty leap… all of them reveal the deep feelings of faith and destiny in the Ramayana. Indrajit’s tragic brilliance and Ravan’s final words of wisdom add more layers to the epic’s emotions.

At the center stands Ram, not just as a brave king, but as a husband who suffers, and a lonely figure carrying the weight of love, loss, and duty. His pain during Sita’s absence and his last goodbye to her remind us that even a divine being can feel the heavy burden of human sorrow. By his equanimity and personal conduct when he stands by his father’s vow, his kingdom, and his subjects above all, he has proved to be a leader par excellence – “Maryada Purusha,” who placed propriety, duty, and moral order above all, when he took a human form.

To reiterate, the Ramayana has inspired countless retellings since Valmiki, with each generation finding new meaning through literature, theatre, cinema, and more.  

Now, what sets this book apart is its courage to move beyond the familiar arc of Ram and Sita, giving voice to Shanta, Sampati, Jatayu, Indrajit, and other unvoiced characters.   Ashok and Shweta have exemplified that the 4 Ss - strength (dharmic), struggles, sacrifice, and surrender are shared across many lives, not just by the chief protagonists. The book urges the younger generation to see the Ramayana not just as a sacred text, but as a living guide for ethics, civic duty, and personal reflection.

May Bachelor’s Wife and Other Stories inspire us to pause, to reflect, absorb, and to carry its wisdom into our own lives.