Audio medium links us to age-old oral traditions, says author of mythological books

AUTHOR Devdutt Pattanaik, whose story about the Hindu deity Lord Krishna is out on Audible, said Indians have a natural affinity for the audio medium which he believes helps to stir the listeners’ imagination

In Krishna 360 Degree, Pattanaik talks about the Hindu god Vishnu’s avatar [reincarnation] on earth, who balances rural life with that in urban areas.

“His village life is surrounded by women, as described in the Bhagavada Gita. His city life is surrounded by kings and politics, as described in the Mahabharata,” the author said.

Pattanaik explained why it is called Krishna 360 Degree. “We wanted to appreciate Krishna from every angle – as a child, a musician, dancer, wrestler, cowherd, strategist, soldier. Hence, it’s titled Krishna 360 Degree on Audible.”

The author is known for his interpretations of ancient Indian scriptures. He said Krishna’s “greatest” achievement was his ability to recognise how wealth and power made people foolish and forget the important things in life, such as love, affection and generosity.

“If we can, like Krishna, recognise that wealth and power are only useful when it makes us kind and generous, we will learn a lot.”

Pattanaik, who has also presented Revisiting Mahabharata on Audible, said the audio medium has a “powerful, primal draw”.

“I have been giving lectures for a very long time to live audiences. I have always found the audio medium to be very powerful, perhaps because it connects us with our old oral tradition,” he said. “Humanity was telling stories orally long before we started writing and reading stories.”

Indians have a natural attraction towards the audio medium because it formed part of the country’s age-old tradition and culture, Pattanaik said.

“Even today, we like to listen to stories more than read them. But unlike a visual medium, the audio medium helps stir one’s imagination. That is what is attracting people today,” he said.

“In an audio format, you try to be more informal. You try to talk to people as if you’re talking to a friend. You have to imagine that the person sitting in front of you is your friend, child, or your student and accordingly, you balance yourself.”

He added, “Audio is very popular among those people who travel in trains or cars on the same routes daily. It is also used by people on the go, like those taking a morning walk. They love the audio medium. So, they can do two things at the same time.

“Reading a book is a solitary activity. You need to sit down and read – and it has a very different audience. These are people who do not want to do two things simultaneously. They wish to sit down and relax.”