An exploration of the father-child relationship in Amish Tripathi's The Shiva Trilogy

Abstract

The Shiva Trilogy, by Amish Tripathi, which comprises The Immortals of Meluha (2010), The
Secret of the Nagas (2011), and The Oath of Vayuputras (2013), is a best-selling book series in
contemporary Indian English fiction. Though the trilogy is popular fiction, Tripathi has discussed crucial
issues like gender discrimination, caste system, etc., throughout the novels, which has also played a major
role in the success of the series. Apart from social and philosophical issues, Tripathi explores the dynamics
of kinship and friendship. This article focuses on the relationship between a father and his offspring, through
the character of Daksha. The research also explores how the actions carried out under the influence of the
self-conscious emotions can have dire consequences. It has been observed that the quality of the emotional
relationship between the child and the father plays a vital role in molding the child’s behavior from a very
young age until adulthood. The actions of Daksha, the father, are influenced by the treatments meted out to
him as a son. The article considers, in conclusion, that Tripathi is successful in bringing out the complexities
of the relationship between a father and his offspring, the actions accompanying it, and the consequences of
such actions, which affect not only the individual but also the people related to the individual.