Devdutt Pattanaik

Devdutt Pattanaik was born and raised in Mumbai. His mother is Sabitri Pattanaik & father is Prafulla Kumar Pattanaik. He spent his childhood and student life in Chembur, Mumbai. He went to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour High School in Chembur, and graduated in medicine (M.B.B.S.) from Grant Medical College, Mumbai, he subsequently obtained a diploma in Comparative Mythology from Mumbai University. ==Career==

Devdutt worked in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry (Sanofi Aventis and Apollo Group of Hospitals, respectively) for 14 years and spent his spare time writing articles and books on mythology, which eventually became his full-time profession. His first book Shiva: An Introduction was published in 1997. Devdutt illustrates his own books. He was a speaker at the first TED conference in India held in November 2009. Devdutt has consulted Star TV network on mythological television series like Mahabharata, Siya Ke Ram and Vighnaharta Sri Ganesha; these serials have challenged conventional views of the narratives and opened up new avenues of interpretation. In the latter serial he added the narrative of Lord Jagannatha & Puri since he is an Oriya. He has also been the story consultant at Indian television network Star TV, where Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev is based on his work. In 2015, Devdutt presented the Hindi television series Devlok with Devdutt Pattanaik on the "EPIC ON" channel. In the show, he attempts to demystify and decode the folklore and traditions that accompanies Indian mythology. In December 2016, he made "his debut on the Forbes India Celeb 100 list, on the 93rd spot." Devdutt worked on Audible Originals (India)'s audiobook titled Suno Mahabharat Devdutt Pattanaik ke Saath and Revisiting Mahabharata with Devdutt Pattanaik. In his show he talks about the details of the war in the Mahabharata, how it affected the world, and what happened to India after the death of the Pandavas and the Kauravas. He also communicates the Vedic tenets which describes karma and dharma. == Art ==

Columnist Koral Dasgupta mentions, "Pattanaik’s art follows a particular style and is dependent on expertly sketched lines but the focus is never the perfection of hands and limbs and props. The pursuit is clearly that of beauty and depiction; not the grammatical detailing of a photograph!" == Views ==

Myth and Mythology Devdutt opines that "no society can exist without myth as it creates notions of right and wrong, good and bad, heaven and hell, rights and duties". To him, mythology "tells people how they should see the world... Different people will have their own mythology, reframing old ones or creating new ones." His desire is "to get Saraswati out of the closet. Saraswati belongs everywhere, she has to flow everywhere" and his body of work is aimed "to make knowledge accessible." In Shiva to Shankara: Giving Form to the Formless, Devdutt explores the layers of meanings embedded in Shiva's linga and the transformation of Shiva, the hermit, into Shankara, the householder by the Goddess. Culture: 50 Insights from Mythology contextualises mythology and proposes that myths are alive, dynamic, shaped by perception and the times one lives in. Western mythology, according to him, propagates the idea that the world is in need of changing, either by Greek heroes, or by Abrahamic prophets and kings, or by scientists, activists and capitalists. "Indic mythology presents the idea that the world is constantly changing, human intervention notwithstanding. There are no heroes or villains, no oppressor or oppressed, no saviour or martyr, just different ways of looking at reality...I do not claim objectivity; I am comfortable with subjectivity and well aware of my Indian gaze," he says. Business In his book, Business Sutra: An Indian Approach to Management, "the central theme … is that when individual beliefs come into conflict with corporate beliefs, problems surface in organisations. Conversely, when institutional beliefs and individual beliefs are congruent, harmony is the resultant corporate climate. It is when people are seen as mere resources meant to be managed [read: manipulated] through compensation and so-called motivation; it is when they are treated like switches in a circuit board; it is then that disharmony descends causing disruption". Politics Devdutt is wary of the influence of "white saviours" on liberals as well as religious radicals. He has been rather contemptuous of the hyper-nationalism of a section of American Hindus who are clueless about Indian realities. He also frowns on secularists and atheists who deny their own missionary zeal and mythic structure, and see themselves as "rational". Devdutt says, "Unlike fiction or history, mythology is a pluralistic truth with many interpretations, all of which needs to be respected." Sexuality Devdutt has been frank about the LGBTQ revolution in India. Pattnaik realised that he was gay in 10th standard and came out to his parents when he was 30. After the 2018 decriminalization of homosexuality in India, Devdutt came out as gay in a televised interview. He has written about the presence, and at several instances, the celebration, of the queer within the Indian mythos. Elucidating that karmic faiths can be used to affirm the dignity of queer people, he speaks of how when one discovers love and appreciation for the world as it is, not the way one wants it to be, one develops wisdom. ==Reception==

In 2014, Devdutt was listed in the top category of bestselling Indian authors. His book Devlok, based on the television programme of the same name, was one of the year's bestsellers in 2016. Forbes India had ranked Devdutt among the 100 celebrities of India in 2016. Fiction author Ashwin Sanghi has said that Devdutt attempts to "explain mythology in simple words". Psychologist Urmi Chanda-Vaz, who calls Devdutt "India's most beloved mythology explicator", praised his book My Gita. Academic Shiv Visvanathan has praised Devdutt by saying that he has made myth-reading "an open, playful, almost domestic game, like Chinese Checkers or Scrabble". Neil Gaiman praised Devdutt Pattanaik for his 2016 book Olympus: An Indian Retelling of the Greek Myth. "I read a fantastic Indian writer recently where he told Greek myth but from an Indian perspective... He makes it so easy to understand but what is lovely is that he does from a very proud Indian connect." ==Publications==

Mythology • Shiva: An Introduction. Vakils, Feffer and Simons Ltd., 1997. . (Based on Shiva). • Vishnu: An Introduction. Vakils, Feffer and Simons Ltd., 1999. . (Based on Vishnu). • Devi, The Mother-Goddess: An Introduction. Vakils, Feffer, and Simons Ltd., 2000. . (Based on the concept of Devi). • The Goddess in India: The Five Faces of the Eternal Feminine. Inner Traditions/ Bear & Company, 2000. . Translations: Hindi. • Hanuman: An Introduction. Vakils, Feffer and Simons Ltd., 2001. . (Based on Hanuman). • The Man Who Was A Woman and Other Queer Tales from Hindu Lore. Harrington Park Press, 2002. . • Hindu India. Brijbasi Art Press, 2003. . • Indian Mythology: Tales, Symbols, and Rituals from the Heart of the Subcontinent. Inner Traditions/ Bear & Company, 2003. . • Lakshmi, The Goddess of Wealth and Fortune: An Introduction. Vakils, Feffer, and Simons Ltd., 2003. . (Based on Lakshmi). • Myth=Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology. Penguin Books India, 2006. . Translations: Hindi, Marathi, Turkish. • Shiva to Shankara: Decoding the Phallic Symbol. Indus Source, India. 2006. . Translations: Czech, Hindi (Based on Shiva). • The Book of Ram. Penguin Books India, 2009. . (Based on Ram) - Part of a book series on mythological figures published by Penguin. • 7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art. Westland Ltd., 2009. . Translations: Gujarati, Hindi (Based on Hindu Calendar art). • ''Hanuman's Ramayan''. Tulika Publishers, 2010. . (Based on Hanuman). • Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata. Penguin Books India, 2010. . Translations: Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil (Based on the Mahabharata). • 7 Secrets of Shiva. Westland Ltd., 2011. . Translations: Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Russian, Telugu (Based on Shiva). • 7 Secrets of Vishnu. Westland Ltd., 2011. . Translations: Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Russian (Based on Vishnu). • ''99 Thoughts on Ganesha: Stories, Symbols and Rituals of India's Beloved Elephant-headed Deity''. Jaico Publishing House, 2011. . Translations: Gujarati, Hindi, Malayalam, Marathi, Telugu (Based on Ganesha). • Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana. Penguin Books India, 2013 . Translations: Hindi, Marathi, Tamil (Based on the Ramayana). • ''Shikhandi: And Other Tales They Don't Tell You''. Zubaan Books & Penguin Books India, 2014. . Translations: Hindi, Marathi. • 7 Secrets of the Goddess. Westland Ltd., 2014. . Translations: Hindi, Italian, Marathi, Russian (Based on the Goddess). • My Gita. Rupa Publications India, 2015. . Translations: Hindi, Marathi (Based on The Gita). • Devlok with Devdutt Pattanaik. Penguin Random House India, 2016. . • Olympus – An Indian Retelling of Greek Mythology. Penguin Random House India, 2016. (Based on Greek mythology). • Devlok with Devdutt Pattanaik (Book 2) – Publisher: Penguin Random House, 2017 Translations: Hindi • Shiva to Shankara: Giving Form to the Formless. HarperCollins India, Indus Source 2017. . – Based on Older Book / Reprint • My Hanuman Chalisa. Rupa Publications, 2017. (Based in the Hanuman Chalisa). • Devlok with Devdutt Pattanaik (Book 3) – Publisher: Penguin Random House, 2017 . • Shyam: An Illustrated Retelling of the Bhagavata. Penguin, 2018 (Based on the Bhagavata). • Ramayana Versus Mahabharata: My Playful Comparison. Rupa Publications India, 2018 (Based on the Ramayana & Mahabharata). • Hindu Trinity: 21 Life-enhancing Secrets Revealed Through Stories and Art. Westland India 2019. . – Based on Older Books / Reprint • Wisdom of the Gods for You and Me: My Gita and My Hanuman Chalisa. Rupa Publications India 2019. . – Based on Older Books / Reprint • Faith: 40 Insights into Hinduism – Publisher: HarperCollins, 2019 . • Pilgrim Nation: The Making of Bharatvarsh - Aleph Book Company, 2020 . • Dharma Artha Kama Moksha: 40 Insights into Happiness - HarperCollins, India, 2021 . • ''Marriage: 100 Stories Around India's Favourite Ritual'' - Rupa Publications India, 2021 . • Adi Purana: Entire Veda as a Single Story - Westland, 2021 - quick read • Hope: Wisdom to Survive in a Hopeless World - Juggernaut, 2021 . • Eden: An Indian Exploration of Jewish, Christian and Islamic Lore - Penguin Random House, 2021 . • The Stories We Tell: Mythology to Make Sense of Modern Lives - Aleph Book Company, 2022 . • Dharm Aur Samlaingikta/धर्म और समलैंगिकता - Penguin India, 2022 . • Garuda Purana and Other Hindu Ideas On Death, Rebirth and Immortality - Westland Books, 2022 . • Tales From the Land of Jagannatha - Odia Media Private Limited, 2023 . • Bahubali : 63 Insights into Jainism - Harper Collins, India, 2023 . • Tirthankar: Jain Dharm Par 63 Vichar - HarperHindi, India, 2023 . • ''Sati Savitri: And Other Feminist Stories They Don't Tell You'' - Penguin, 2024 . • Ahimsa : 100 Reflections on the Harappan Civilization - Harper Collins, India, 2024 . • Escape the Bakasura Trap : Let Contentment Fuel Your Growth - Juggernaut, 2025 . • Flower of India: Ways of Seeing the Lotus - Aleph Book Company, 2026 . Management • Business Sutra: A Very Indian Approach to Management. Aleph Book Company, 2013. . Translations: French, German, Hindi, Italian, Marathi, Tamil. • The Success Sutra: An Indian Approach to Wealth. Aleph Book Company, 2015. . – Based on Older Book • The Leadership Sutra: An Indian Approach to Power. Aleph Book Company, 2016. . – Based on Older Book • The Talent Sutra: An Indian Approach to Learning. Aleph Book Company, 2016, – Based on Older Book • Culture: 50 Insights from Mythology. HarperCollins India, Indus Source 2017. . • Leader: 50 Insights from Mythology. HarperCollins India, Indus Source 2017. . • How to Become Rich: 12 Lessons I Learnt from Vedic and Puranic Stories – Publisher: Rupa Publications India, 2019 . Fiction • The Pregnant King. Penguin Books India, 2008. . Translations: Hindi, Marathi • Is He Fresh?: Aka Kaula Hai? (Penguin Petit). Penguin UK, 2015. Children's books • Fun in Devlok: An Identity Card for Krishna. Puffin India, 2011. . • Fun in Devlok: Gauri and the Talking Cow. Puffin India, 2011. . • Fun in Devlok: Indra Finds Happiness. Puffin India, 2011. . • Fun in Devlok: Kama vs Yama. Puffin India, 2011. . • ''Fun in Devlok: Saraswati's Secret River''. Puffin India, 2011. . • Fun in Devlok: Shiva Plays Dumb Charades. Puffin India, 2011. . • Fun in Devlok Omnibus. Puffin India, 2014. . – Reprint (Compilation) • Pashu: Animal Tales from Hindu Mythology. Penguin Books India, 2014. . Translations: Hindi. • The Girl Who Chose: A New Way of Narrating the Ramayana. Puffin Books, 2016. (Based on the Ramayana). • The Jaya Colouring Book. Penguin Random House India, 2016. . – Based on Older Book • The Sita Colouring Book. Penguin Random House India, 2016. . – Based on Older Book • The Boys Who Fought: The Mahabharata for Children. Puffin, 2017 (Based on the Mahabharata). • Vahana: Gods and Their Favourite Animals - Rupa Publications India, 2020 . • Shyam: Our Little Krishna - Puffin, 2021 . - Based on Older Book • Greek Gods, Monsters and Heroes: Read and Colour - Puffin, 2023 . - Based on Older Book • ABC of Hinduism for Kids - Aleph Book Company, 2024 . • Gana-Bajana - Puffin, 2024 . • Astra Shastra: Weapons of the Hindu Gods - Puffin, 2025 . Textbook • Indian Culture, Art and Heritage For Civil Services Exam – Publisher: Pearson India, 2021 (1st Edition) . Foreword/Contribution • Close, Too Close: The Tranquebar Book of Queer Erotica. Westland, 2012. • Celebrating Public Spaces of India. Mapin Publishing, 2016. . • The Illustrated Mahabharata: The Definitive Guide to India’s Greatest Epic. DK Publishing (Dorling Kindersley), 2017. • I Am Divine. So Are You: How Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Hinduism Affirm the Dignity of Queer Identities and Sexualities. HarperCollins, 2017 . • Padmavat: An Epic Love Story. Rupa Publications, 2018. . -Illustrator • Behold, I Make All Things New: How Judaism, Christianity and Islam affirm the dignity of queer identities and sexualities. HarperCollins, 2019 . • Kabir, Kabir: The life and work of the early modern poet-philosopher. Westland, 2021 . -Illustrator • Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Chant Book: A Collection of Chants, Kirtans, Prayers, Sutras, Shlokas, Shastras, Devotional Songs, and Inspirational Texts for the Modern Yoga Practitioner. -Illustrator Co-authored • Yoga Mythology: 64 Asanas and Their Stories – Publisher: HarperCollins, 2019 . • Aranyaka: Book of the Forest – Publisher: Westland, 2019 . ==References==