The retelling of any tale with a new perspective has always been one of the most fascinating features attached to any book that has been written. “Lakshmana’s Last Stand: The Rise of Nagvanshis” by Raj Thambu is a book where, as suggested by the title, is about Lakshmana and his viewpoint on not just the scenario of the Ramayana but several facts and events surrounding it within and beyond. His inner self speaking is the salient feature of the book as through it, he presents an observation, analysis and mentions facts that only a confidante or friend could know.

Lord Rama is considered the idealistic form of a person with just the right traits to live a peaceful life. Lakshamana’s narrative successfully shows Rama as no less than an ordinary human being who became extraordinary due to his decisions and moral compass. This book ensures that the readers begin to see Rama for the human being he is and the challenges he went through with bravery and calmness. In light of this, Lakshmana not only describes the events of the epic but also shows Rama’s personality internally and his reactions externally. More than this, the interesting aspect the “looking back” factor. Lakshmana is in his later years and now wants to impart his acquired wisdom to his sons and nephews. The element of “looking back,” the nostalgia it invokes and the emotions that come along are the point where the readers feel the circle of life being completed. It is also the point of relatability for readers of different age groups.

The author’s endeavour of exploring life after the happily ever after is the most interesting aspect. Writing about the events that would have different versions in everyone’s imagination gives further encouragement to readers to explore “Lakshmana’s Last Stand” in depth with the viewpoint of reading a story, a historical event and a factually accurate book. Whether it is a school going student or a reader in their later years, everyone will find something that connects with their hearts and feel a personal connection with this book. Young readers will find an interesting story being told in the form of anecdotes, flashbacks and entertaining pieces of detail while the grown up readers would have a behind the scenes kind of experience while at the forefront was the mission of rescuing Sita and returning home after the long exile.

At the same time, it is interesting to observe the issues confronting Rama that the author explores. The issues are not of extraordinary magnitude but challenge his abilities in making decisions and evaluating the best and worst scenarios. It is a careful evaluation of these that gives him the strength of character to become an example of many generations to come across the globe. Lakshmana is the closest to Rama, even more than his wife. He is his confidante, friend and someone who can hear what he has in his heart. He knows his behavior and reactions and situations that trigger his reactions. Even though the readers may see Rama from the idealistic form, Lakshmana gives him the required human form and gives the readers a new way to look at him. 

Recommending this book to only a particular set of readers would not do justice to the readership of the book. Rather, every member of every generation should read this. Not only to have a re-reading of Ramayana and the events surrounding it but to understand the principles and ideals that governed the lives of its title characters that continue to be examples for us even today.