When in doubt, quote Ravan. Someone is arrogant? “Ahankar to Raja Ravan ka bhi nahin chala tha” (Even King Ravan’s arrogance did not prevail), as my grandmother loved to remind us. Someone kidnaps, cheats, lies, schemes, or becomes too ambitious? There is a Ravan quote ready for the occasion. Need a villain for your speech? Quote Ravan. Need a motivational lesson on failed leadership? Quote Ravan. There is probably no character in India with a worse public relations record. The poor fellow hasn’t had a day off for thousands of years.

If Ravan had hired a competent public relations agency and a few powerful television channels, his image might have been rather different. He was a scholar, a gifted musician, a devotee of Shiva, and by most accounts an able ruler who governed Lanka successfully for years before his fatal arrogance brought him down. He didn’t steal public money, spread fake news, troll strangers on social media, or betray friends for political convenience. As Jai tells Mausi in the immortal scene from the Hindi film, Sholay, “Mere dost mein sau burai sahi, par ladka achchha hai” (My friend may have a hundred faults, but he’s a good man).

Ravans today don’t need ten heads. One carefully managed face is usually enough.

In the words of Pratap Somvanshi –

Ram tumhare yug ka Ravan achchha tha,
(Ram, the Ravan of your era was better.)
Das ke das chehre sab bahar rakhta tha.
(All ten of his faces were out in the open.)

Imagine Ravan watching today’s world from wherever he is. He would probably file a defamation suit for being blamed for every human failing since the Treta Yuga.

Photos and text by Prerna Jain.