About the Book

In 2023, Sarpaylawka Publishing House acquired the translation rights to Asura: Tale of the Vanquished by Anand Neelakantan. The novel reimagines the Ramayana from the perspective of Ravana, the often-misunderstood antagonist of the epic. Across India and Southeast Asia, the Ramayana has long been told as a story of divine victory — but this version gives voice to the defeated, exploring power, justice, and destiny from the side history rarely honors. 

Ravana’s story holds special resonance in Southeast Asia, where local versions of the Ramayana from Myanmar’s Yama Zatdaw to Thailand’s Ramakien and Cambodia’s Reamker portray him not only as a demon king but also as a learned ruler, musician, and devotee. By bringing Asura to Myanmar readers, Sarpaylawka continues its commitment to presenting world literature that challenges traditional narratives and encourages readers to see ancient epics through new moral and cultural lenses.