>Billjones94 at 10:47, 13 June 2021

2021-06-13T10:47:36Z

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{{sources|date=December 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox writer 
| name = Ashok Banker
| image = Ashok Banker (3rd from L) (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Banker at the Ten Kings book launch in [[Chennai]], 2014
| pseudonym =
| birth_name = Ashok Kumar Banker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1964|2|7}}
| birth_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Author
| nationality = Indian
| period = Contemporary
| subject =
| movement =
| notableworks = ''[[Ten Kings]]'' (2014) ''[[Blood Red Sari]]'' (2012) ''[[Slayer of Kamsa]]'' (2009) ''Prince of Ayodhya'' (2003) ''Vertigo'' (1994) ''[[The Iron Bra]]'' (1992)
| spouse = Bithika Banker (m.1987)
| partner =
| children = Ayushyoda Banker, Yashka Banker
| relatives =
| signature =
| website = {{url|http://akbebooks.com/}}
}}

'''Ashok Kumar Banker''' (born 7 February 1964 in [[Mumbai]], India) is an [[author]] and [[screenwriter]]. His writing spans crime thrillers, essays, literary criticism, fiction and mythological retellings.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131214151559/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-06/books/31215441_1_indian-authors-aspiring-writers-reading Ashok Banker on real art, honest emotions] Times of India, 6 April 2012</ref> The author of several well-received novels including a trilogy billed as "India's first [[crime fiction|crime novels]] in English",<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131214151533/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-05-16/book-mark/28297481_1_crime-indian-novelist-indian-author Mystery of the missing jasoos] Times of India 16 May 2010</ref> he became widely known for his retellings of [[Indian epic poetry|Indian mythological epics]], starting with the internationally acclaimed and best-selling eight-volume ''[[Ramayana]]'' Series.<ref name="nytimes1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20130412213221/http://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/09/the-return-of-the-ramayana/ |Why Does Indian Mythology Dominate Contemporary Fiction in India?]</ref> His books have sold over 2 million copies and have been published in 16 languages in 58 countries.<ref>[http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhopal/134621-on-comeback-trail.html On the Comeback Trail, The Pioneer, March 23, 2013]</ref> His Epic India Library is an attempt at retelling all the myths, legends and [[itihasa]] of the Indian sub-continent in one story cycle comprising over 70 volumes.<ref>[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120315/jsp/entertainment/story_15250066.jsp#.T5NmWe2Xtds The Forest of Stories] The Telegraph, 15 March 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article3024600.ece An epic undertaking] The Hindu, 21 March 2012</ref>

==Early life==

===Childhood===
Banker was raised by his grandmother, May Agnes Smith. She married Mr. D'Souza, an Indian Christian from [[Goa]], and the couple settled in [[Byculla]] in [[Mumbai]]. His grandmother financed the publication of his first book, a collection of poetry titled ''Ashes in the Dust of Time,'' which he self-published at age 15.<ref>[http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/interview_bollywood-the-worst-example-of-storytelling_1679070 Bollywood, the worst example of storytelling] DNA, 22 April 2012</ref>

==Career==

===Journalism===
Ashok Banker worked as a freelance journalist and columnist for several years, for publications such as ''[[The Times of India]]''<ref>[http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?207131 Star's Final Assault|Ashok K. Banker] Outlook, 15 March 1999</ref> and ''[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook magazine]]''. He was also a reviewer and commentator on contemporary [[Indian literature]], an essayist, literary critic and reviewer.<ref>[http://www.newstatesman.com/200108130035 Derogatory book reviews]: article from the [[New Statesman]] website.</ref>

===Literary contribution===
Banker is a contemporary Indian novelist.<ref>[https://archive.today/20121217194134/https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no57124.htm The Great Indian Novelists on English Literature/Naval Kishore Singh.] Delhi, Manglam Pub., 2008, viii, 268 p., {{ISBN|978-81-906650-2-5}}</ref><ref>Sistla, Lakshmi, [https://ssrn.com/abstract=1312203 Towards Integration: Childhood in Ashok Banker's Byculla Boy] (6 December 2008). The Icfai University Journal of English Studies, Vol. III, No. 4, pp. 29–35, December 2008. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1312203]</ref> His work has been included in anthologies such as ''The Vintage Book of Modern Indian Literature''<ref>[http://www.randomhouse.com/acmart/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375713002 "The Vintage Book of Modern Indian Literature"]: [[Random House]] Academic Resources website.</ref> and ''The Picador Book of Modern Indian Literature''.<ref>[http://www.panmacmillan.com/Titles/displayPage.asp?PageTitle=Individual%20Title&BookID=373430 "The Picador Book of Modern Indian Literature"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521234616/http://www.panmacmillan.com/Titles/displayPage.asp?PageTitle=Individual%20Title&BookID=373430 |date=21 May 2009 }}: [[Macmillan Publishers|Pan Macmillan]] website.</ref> His novel ''Vertigo'', published in 1992, was praised by critics and readers including the late [[Dom Moraes]].<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10162628/Flights-of-the-imagination-Amit-Chaudhuri-on-books-about-India.html Flights of the imagination]</ref>

===Crime fiction===
[[File:Tata Literature Live! 2012, Panel Discussion on Women in Detective Fiction.JPG|thumb|Banker (far right) at a panel discussion in November 2012]]Banker has published in several genres, including crime [[thriller (genre)|thriller]]s.<ref>[http://www.livemint.com/articles/2009/12/10212140/Murder-in-the-city.html "Murder in the city"] Article on Indian Crime Fiction at [[Livemint, Wall Street Journal India]] website.</ref> His Kali Rising is a contemporary radical feminist thriller series featuring only women protagonists. The first book, Blood Red Sari, was launched at the Tata Literature Live! literary festival in Mumbai in November 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://latestbookreviews.net/blood-red-sari-by-ashok-banker-book-review/ |title=Blood Red Sari by Ashok Banker book review |access-date=7 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119210844/http://latestbookreviews.net/blood-red-sari-by-ashok-banker-book-review/ |archive-date=19 November 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Science fiction, fantasy and horror===
His ''Gods of War'' was released by Penguin in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.flipkart.com/gods-war-01/p/itmczyrphpzyhpkp | title=Gods of War: Buy Gods of War by Banker Ashok at Low Price in India}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web | url=http://books.theguardian.com/quiz/questions/0,,2147971,00.html |title = Quizzes (Books) | guardian.co.uk Books}}</ref>

===Autobiographical work===
Three of his novels contain autobiographical elements and are closely related to one another. His novel ''Vertigo'' is about a man struggling to make a successful career and home life in Bombay. ''Byculla Boy'' takes its name from the suburb he and his mother grew up in. ''Beautiful Ugly'' is a tribute to his mother.<ref>[http://ashokbanker.com/2005/06/22/my-mother-and-i-an-intensely-personal-note-by-ashok-banker-on-his-film-project-beautiful-ugly-expanded-and-revised-by-ashok-on-22-june/ My mother and I: An intensely personal note by Ashok Banker on his film project Beautiful Ugly (Expanded and Revised by Ashok on 22 June)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107062307/http://ashokbanker.com/2005/06/22/my-mother-and-i-an-intensely-personal-note-by-ashok-banker-on-his-film-project-beautiful-ugly-expanded-and-revised-by-ashok-on-22-june/ |date=7 January 2009 }}</ref>

===Mythological retellings===
Banker is best known for his Ramayana Series, a freely imaginative retelling of the ancient Sanskrit epic poem.<ref>[http://www.iblist.com "Internet Book List"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207044954/http://www.iblist.com/ |date=7 February 2007 }}: [[Internet Book List]] website.</ref> It has spawned the burgeoning mythology genre. <ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article3024600.ece An epic undertaking/The Hindu]</ref>

===Television work===
Banker has been credited as the creator and scriptwriter (story, screenplay and dialogues) for ''A Mouthful of Sky'', India's first television series in English, originally aired on DD Metro in the Indian sub-continent, retelecast on Star World. He was also co-writer of Malaysia's television series in English, titled City of the Rich, produced by UTV. Writing sporadically for television from the mid 1980s onwards, Banker scripted over 520 episodes of broadcast television for various series.<ref>http://www.bestmediainfo.com/2014/10/colors-announces-magnum-opus-chakravartin-ashoka-samrat/ | bestmediainfo.com 10 September 2014</ref>

===Feature films===
In June 2013, Disney UTV purchased the rights to Banker's ongoing Mahabharata Series, with Banker commissioned to adapt the epic for release in 2016/17. [[Disney India]] CEO [[Siddhartha Roy Kapur]] was attached to produce and Director [[Abhishek Kapoor]] signed to direct the film.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/Hindi/Bollywood/News-Interviews/Now-the-entire-Mahabharata-on-the-big-screen/articleshow/32548375.cms | title=Now, the entire Mahabharata on the big screen - Times of India}}</ref><ref name="deccanchronicle1">{{Cite web|date=24 March 2014|title=Disney India to bring Mahabharata to life on celluloid|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140324/entertainment-bollywood/article/disney-india-bring-mahabharata-life-celluloid}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/This-will-be-my-Lord-of-the-Rings-Abhishek-Kapoor/articleshow/32585485.cms |title = This will be my 'Lord of the Rings': Abhishek Kapoor - Times of India}}</ref> Banker has also confirmed that he has been commissioned by [[Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra]] to write the script for a forthcoming film.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Subhakeerthana |first1=S. |title=Narrating a Travelling Tale |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2014/nov/17/Narrating-a-Travelling-Tale-683316.html |website=The New Indian Express |date=17 November 2014}}</ref>

===Select bibliography ===
===Poetry===
* ''Ashes in the Dust of Time'' (1979)

===Literary fiction===
* ''Vertigo'' (1993)
* ''Byculla Boy'' (1994)

===Young adult novels===
* ''Amazing Adventure at Chotta Sheher'' (1992)
* ''The Missing Parents Mystery'' (1994)
* ''[[Vortal Shockwave]]'' (2013)

===Ramayana series===
* Prince of Ayodhya (2003)
* Siege of Mithila (2003)
* Demons of Chitrakut (2004)
* [[Armies of Hanuman]] (2005)
* Bridge of Rama (2005)
* King of Ayodhya (2006)
* [[Vengeance of Ravana]] (2011)
* [[Sons of Sita]] (2012)
* [[Ramayana Series: The Complete Omnibus]] (2013) (''Ebook only'')
* "Prince of Ayodhya: Volume I, The Graphic Novel" (2010)<ref>[https://archive.today/20120730064503/http://www.asianage.com/life-and-style/epics-reloaded-modern-avatar-172 Epics reloaded in a modern avatar/The Asian Age]</ref>

===Collected as omnibus volumes===
* ''Prince of Dharma'' (2007)
* ''Prince in Exile'' (2007)
* ''Prince at War'' (2007)
* ''King of Dharma'' (2011) (''Ebook only'')

===Krishna Coriolis series===
* ''[[Slayer of Kamsa]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Dance of Govinda]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Flute of Vrindavan]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Lord of Mathura]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Rage of Jarasandha]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Fortress of Dwarka]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Rider of Garuda]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Lord of Vaikunta]]'' (Expected 2015)
* ''[[Krishna Coriolis: Complete Omnibus]]'' (Expected 2015)

===Mahabharata series===
Prequel Series
* ''[[The Forest of Stories]]'' (2011)
* ''[[The Seeds of War]]'' (2011)
* ''[[The Children of Midnight]]'' (2015)
Mahabharata Series
* ''[[The Darkness Before Dawn]]'' (2016)
* ''[[The Eclipse of Dharma]]'' (2016)
* ''[[The Sons of Misrule]]'' (Expected 2017)

===Epic love stories===
* ''[[Ganga and Shantanu]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Satyavati and Shantanu]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Shakuntala and Dushyanta]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Amba and Bhishma]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Devayani, Sharmistha and Yayati]]'' (2012)

===Kali Rising===
* ''[[Blood Red Sari]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Burnt Saffron Sky]]'' (2012) (''Ebook only'')
* ''[[Rust Black Heart]]'' (2013) (''Ebook only'')
* ''[[Silver Acid Rain]]'' (2013) (''Ebook only'')

===Crime fiction===
* ''The Iron Bra'' (1993)
* ''Murder & Champagne'' (1993)
* ''Ten Dead Admen'' (1993)

===Itihasa series===
* ''[[Ten Kings: Dasarajna]]'' (2012)
* ''[[ASHOKA: Lion of Maurya]]'' (2015)

===Future history===
* ''Gods of War'' (2009)
* ''[[Vengeance of Ravana]]'' (2009)
* ''[[VORTAL: Shockwave]]'' (2014)

===Non-fiction books===
* ''[[The Pocket Essential Bollywood]]'' (2001)
* ''[[The Valmiki Syndrome]]'' (2012)

===Other works===
* ''Gods of War(novel)'' (2009)<ref>[http://www.penguinbooksindia.com/en/content/gods-war Penguin Books website] website</ref>
* ''[[A Mouthful of Sky]]'' -TV Series created and written by Banker (1995–96)<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0307780/ ''A Mouthful of Sky (1995 TV series)'']: [[Internet Movie Database|IMDB.com]] website, credited as India's first Television Series in English.</ref>
* "[[City of the Rich]]" -TV Series co-written by Banker (1996–98), credited as Malaysia's first Television Series in English.
* ''Bad Karma'' Online serial (first published on Top Write Corner website) (1998)
* ''Brandwarriors'' Magazine series published in The Advertising Brief, now defunct ad magazine published by Mid-day Group (1999)
* ''Swing City'' (2000) Book-length novel published as an online serial on Rediff.com
* ''Vortal'' (2000–01) Multimedia serial published in CD-Rom magazine "Mahazine"
* “Bombay Times”, a novel, published by AKB, in 2009 is about the rich society of Bombay.

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{refbegin}}
#<li value="14">''Sunday, article in issue of January 1993.''
# ''Society Magazine, cover story titled "Byculla Boy", August 1993.''
# ''The Week, cover story, August 1993.''
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ashok Banker}}
* [http://www.ashokbanker.com/ The official Ashok K. Banker website]
* [http://www.akbebooks.com/ AKB eBOOKS: Website offering ebook editions of Banker's work]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121119210844/http://latestbookreviews.net/blood-red-sari-by-ashok-banker-book-review/ Preview of Ashok Banker's upcoming book, Blood Red Sari]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Banker, Ashok}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian male novelists]]
[[Category:Indian male journalists]]
[[Category:Indian male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Indian literary critics]]
[[Category:Indian male essayists]]
[[Category:Writers from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Indian television writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian essayists]]
[[Category:Journalists from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Novelists from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Male television writers]]
[[Category:Hill Grange High School alumni]]

Ashok Banker - Revision history

>Billjones94 at 10:47, 13 June 2021