Concept Note

There's no gainsaying that the Mahabharata and the Ramayana have long served as cultural, moral, and philosophical foundations of the Indian society, shaping its ethical and historical consciousness, and impacting the lives of millions in the subcontinent and beyond. These epics have been reimagined, retold, and adapted across time and genres. Contemporary adaptations, whether in the form of literature, television serials, cinema, dance recitals, etc., engage with these epics not just as sites of reverence but also as arenas of critique and contestation. The process of revisioning and retelling epics allows for critical engagement with the traditional narratives while offering new insights into gender, caste, class, and political ideologies in the contemporary times. However, such revisionism itself demands a critique as the adaptations sometimes reinforce dominant ideological structures rather than challenge them. The act of modernizing and politicizing the epics raises questions of authenticity, appropriation, and reinterpretation in a world where cultural memory is both preserved and reshaped. This edited volume seeks to explore the complex dynamics of contemporary epic retellings – how they navigate tradition and modernity, reverence and critique, creativity and fidelity. We invite scholars, researchers, and creative thinkers to engage with the evolving role of the Indian epics in literature, media, and the society in general, examining their resonance and reconfiguration in the contemporary world.

Themes and Sub-Themes

We welcome original, unpublished chapters that address the following areas (but are not limited to):

1. Reinterpreting Dharma and Morality

• The evolution of dharma, artha, kama, and moksha in modern retellings
• Ethical dilemmas and moral conflicts in the contemporary adaptations
• The reinterpretation of divine justice, fate, and free will in contemporary times

2. Gender and Identity Politics in Epic Retellings

• The role of women in the epics: agency, subversion, and silencing
• Dalit and subaltern retellings: voices from the margins
• Queering the epics: LGBTIQA+ interpretations and non-binary identities

3. Epics in Popular Culture: Cinema, Literature, and Digital Media

• The influence of epics in Indian and global cinema
• Mythology in graphic novels, animation, and gaming
• The digitalization of epics: memes, web series, and social media narratives

4. Political and Religious Appropriations of Epics

• Epics as tools for nationalism, regionalism, and identity politics
• The Hindutva discourse and mythological revisionism
• Secularism vs. religious reinterpretations of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata

5. Translation, Transcreation, and Cross-Cultural Adaptations

• The challenges of translating epics across languages and cultures
• South Asian and global receptions of Indian epics
• The influence of Greek, Persian, and indigenous narratives on epic storytelling

6. Any Other Relevant Topic

We are open to chapters that address innovative perspectives on epic retellings.

Submission Guidelines

Prospective contributors are invited to submit:

• A chapter abstract of 300–500 words (with 5-6 keywords) outlining the proposed topic, and key contributions
• A short bio (max 150 words) including institutional affiliation and relevant publications or experience

Please send your proposals to: reimagining.epics@gmail.com
Deadline for the submission of abstracts: December 15, 2025
Notification of acceptance: December 31, 2025
Full chapters (4,000–6,000 words) will be due by March 31, 2026

Please note that acceptance of an abstract does not guarantee the inclusion of the final chapter, which will be subject to further editorial and peer review as per the requirements of the publisher.

We are in touch with Peter Lang for a possible publication endeavour.

Editors:

Anindya Syam Choudhury, Professor, Department of English, Assam University, Silchar, Assam, India. PIN: 788011

Anup Kumar Dey, Professor, Department of English, Assam University, Silchar, Assam, India. PIN: 788011

Kinshuk Chakraborty, Asistant Professor, Department of English, Janata College, Kabuganj, Cachar, Assam, India. PIN: 788121