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Interesting facts about Devdutt Pattnaik 

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Interesting facts about Devdutt Pattnaik 

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Devdutt Pattanaik was born on 11 December 1970 in Mumbai, India. He is ethnically Odia (his parents are from Odisha), and he speaks Odia as well as Marathi (because he grew up in Mumbai).

1. He Trained as a Doctor:

Devdutt Pattanaik did his MBBS (medicine) from Grant Medical College in Mumbai.

He worked in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector for about 15 years before becoming a full-time writer on mythology.

2. He Studied Comparative Mythology:

After medical college, he did a postgraduate diploma in Comparative Mythology at the University of Mumbai.

This academic background helps him approach myths not just as stories but as systems of meaning (symbols, rituals, worldviews).

3. A Very Prolific Writer:

He has written 50+ books on mythology.

Apart from books, he writes 1000+ newspaper columns in English and Hindi.

4. Also an Illustrator:

He illustrates many of his own books, which gives his mythological retellings a very personal and distinctive visual style.

He has worked in business as a “culture consultant” or “belief consultant,” helping companies think about leadership, belief systems, and values through mythological frameworks.

At Future Group (an Indian retail group), he was their “Chief Belief Officer” to help tie belief/mythology with business.

5. TV & Media Involvement:

He has hosted TV shows: e.g., Devlok with Devdutt Pattanaik (on EPIC channel) where he decodes myths, symbols, rituals. He has also consulted on TV mythological serials (like Mahabharata, Siya Ke Ram) to provide more nuanced mythological interpretations.

6. He Sees Mythology as a Toolkit for Modern Life:

According to him, mythology is not just about the past — it's a “tool kit” for understanding the human mind, cultures, and how people make sense of their world.

He believes myths help us understand “notions of right and wrong, good and bad, heaven and hell, rights and duties.”

7. He Tries to Make Mythology Accessible:

One of his goals: make mythological wisdom accessible to people who don’t have time to read academic or very dense religious texts.

He organizes ideas in modern frameworks: flow charts, bullet points, Venn diagrams to simplify complex mythology.

8. He Believes in Myths as Living, Plural Truths:

He argues mythology is not fixed. Myths evolve; they are shaped by perception, culture, and time.

He says that unlike some academic views, mythology is not just “old stories” it reflects how people think in a culture, through symbols and rituals.

Why Mythology Impresses Him and Drives His Writing :

1. Understanding the Human Mind: He feels that by studying mythologies (across cultures), one can understand “how human beings approach life” myths are a window into collective psychology. For him, stories, symbols, and rituals are not trivial they represent “cultural truths.”

2. Cultural Relevance & Diversity: He thinks myths show how different people imagine the world differently they help us appreciate pluralism. He also resists using only Western frameworks to interpret Indian mythology. He believes many Indian mythological stories are misinterpreted when forced into Western ideas of “good vs evil” or “savior narratives.”

3. Mythology as a Moral Compass: He sees myths as foundational to notions of morality: they help societies build ideas of what is right, what is duty, what is sin.

Myths are not “just stories” they are deeply moral, philosophical, symbolic systems that guide thinking and behavior.

4. Bridging Myth & Modern Life: He wants mythology to speak to today’s world business, leadership, ethics. That’s why he writes books like Business Sutra: A Very Indian Approach to Management. He believes myths can guide modern dilemmas and decision-making (in organizations, governance, personal belief).

5. Giving Voice to Overlooked Narratives: He often highlights less commonly focused mythological stories, or interprets myths in ways that talk about gender, sexuality, power. For instance, The Pregnant King (gender) or his queer-friendly reading of mythic tales. He uses myth to challenge orthodox, reductive, or rigid readings of traditional texts.

6. Intellectual Independence: He saw a gap: academic mythologists often write in a way that’s inaccessible to the general public; popular writers often don’t do rigorous interpretation. He wanted to “bridge the gap.” So his writing is both well-researched and very readable for non-experts.

Impact of His Work:

Because of his approach, many people now read mythology not just for entertainment but for self-reflection and cultural insight.

He’s brought mythological thinking into the business world, making it more acceptable to talk about belief, values, and symbols in corporate contexts.

His work encourages a pluralistic worldview: that mythologies are not rigid dogmas but evolving systems of meaning.

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Interesting facts about Rabindranath Tagore :

1. Rabindranath Tagore wrote the “Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata” song during the protests against the partition of Bengal by the British in 1905. But in 1911, Tagore first sang the song in a session held by the Indian National Congress in Calcutta. Later, a translated version of the song, “Jana Gana Mana,” was made the National Anthem of India.

2. Tagore was born on seven May 1861, in Kolkata. At home, his nickname was “Rabi”. He is popularly known as “the Bard of Bengal ” and is also addressed as Gurudeb, Kobiguru, or Biswakabi.

3. Rabindranath Tagore’s father was Debendranath Tagore, who played a significant role in influencing the Bengali Renaissance. Similarly, Rabindranath Tagore played a crucial role in shaping and transcending Bengali Art, Literature, Music, and Theatre for future generations.

4. Rabindranath Tagore grew up in a joint family, with as many as 200 Tagores living in a vast complex known as Jorasanko in northern Calcutta. Tagore has around 11 siblings who were writers, musicians, and philosophers.

5. Bengal’s first female novelist was Tagore’s own sister, Swarnakumari Devi. Tagore’s elder brother, Satyendranath Tagore, was the first Indian to be in the formerly all-European ICS(Indian Civil Service).

6. Coming from a family of accomplished individuals, Tagore started writing poetry at the age of 8 years. He was mainly taught at home by tutors of high intellect.

At 11, Tagore’s father took him on a trip to the Himalayas and taught him Mathematics, Sanskrit, and ancient religious texts.

7. Tagore suffered from Protanopia, a condition that causes partial color deficiency.

8. Tagore was 14 years old when he did his first public poetry recitation at a Bengali cultural and nationalistic festival organized by his brothers. His poem on the greatness of India’s past, expressing sorrow at its present state under British rule, was acclaimed.

9. At 16, Tagore embarked on a literary adventure and composed 22 padavalees. This composition came to be known as “Bhanusimha Thakurer Padavalee,” which he published under his pseudonym – Bhanusimha, meaning Sun Lion.

10. Tagore’s father wanted him to become a lawyer. So he briefly studied law at the University College London before leaving it to study Shakespeare’s plays. Finally, he returned to India without earning any college degrees in 1880.

11. Tagore was a multifaceted individual. In addition to being a writer, Tagore was a painter, a composer, a social reformer, a dramatist, a novelist, a philosopher, and an educationist.

12. He wrote around 2000 songs popularly known as Rabindra Sangeet, most of which are inspired by his experiences traveling the world.

13. A Global Author, Not Just a National Poet-

Though deeply rooted in Indian culture, Tagore wrote with a universal humanist vision. His works explore identity, freedom, inner conflict, dignity, and compassion making them resonate across cultures. He translated many of his own poems into English, helping international audiences access Indian literary thought.

14. Some of his notable works in Bengali are:

Original Poetry: Sonar Tari(The Golden Boat),1894; Gitimalya(Wreath of Songs),1914

Original Dramas: Valmiki Pratibha(The Genius of Valmiki),1881; Chitrangada(Chitra),1892; Raja(The King of the Dark Chamber),1910

Plays: Jeevan Smriti(My Reminiscences),1912

15. In addition to the National Anthem of India, he wrote “Amar Sonar Bangla,” the national anthem of Bangladesh. He also inspired the Sri Lankan national anthem, “Sri Lanka Matha,” written by Ananda Samarakoon, a Tagore’s disciple.

16. He was the first non-European, the first Asian, and the only Indian to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. He received the Nobel prize for “Song Offerings,” an English version of his book Gitanjali(1910), a collection of Bengali poems.

17. Someone unknown stole Tagore’s Nobel prize from a safety vault at Visva-Bharati University, where it was stored. After this incident, the Swedish Academy presented two replicas of the award, one of gold and the other of bronze, to the University.

18. Rabindranath Tagore used his Nobel Prize money to set up a school, Visva-Bharati, in Shantiniketan – a unique neighborhood built by Tagore’s father. This school was the first of the co-ed systems in that period. It followed a novel education system, completely different from the education system prevailing in those times. He also founded Visva-Bharati University there.

19. In 1915, Tagore was bestowed with the honor of knighthood by King George V of England. However, in 1919, he disclaimed the knighthood in protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre that killed 379 peaceful and unarmed demonstrators in Amritsar, India, by the British troops under the command of General Dyer.

20. Einstein, a world-renowned physicist who received the Nobel Prize in Physics, and Rabindranath Tagore had one of the most talked about discourses and debates across the world in those times, which was a face-off between spirituality and science. Though both have opposing beliefs, they discussed god, humanity, science, truth, and beauty. This conversation was later transcribed under “Note on the Nature of Reality” and is available online.

21. Tagore has visited over 30 countries and five continents. He introduced Bengali culture to foreign lands and tried to induce the positive aspects of his visits to his motherland. In honor of his visits, the foreign governments there pledged thousands of dollars to Vishwa Bharati University.

22. In Tagore’s lifetime, he met many luminaries of that time, such as George Bernard Shaw, an Irish playwright; Robert Lee Frost, a poet; Ananda K Coomaraswamy, a metaphysician; Romain Rolland, a French novelist; Thomas Mann, a German essayist; Uday Shankar, one of the excellent classical dancers of India.

23. Rabindranath Tagore immensely supported Gandhi’s ideology of independent India. Tagore was the first to call Gandhi “Mahatma.” Since then, it has become Gandhi’s identity.

24. The original surname of Rabindranath Tagore was Kushari . The ancestors of Rabindranath Tagore migrated from Kush (Kushari) village in East Bengal (present-day Bangladesh) to Burdwan (Bardhaman) in West Bengal, and later settled in Kolkata. Over time, the family name “Kushari” gradually changed to “Thakur” (Tagore). When the British came to India, the Bengali surname “Thakur” was anglicised as “Tagore.” This is how the famous Tagore family came to be known by this name.

25. Today, there are eight museums dedicated to Rabindranath Tagore, with three in India and five in Bangladesh. Museums in India are:

Rabindra Bharati Museum at his ancestral home in Jorasanko Thakur Bari, Kolkata.

Rabindra Bhavan Museum, at the Vishwa-Bharti University, Shantiniketan.

Rabindra Museum, at a house he once stayed in Mungpoo, near Kalimpong.

Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary, also known as Rabindra Jayanti, falls on May 7 and is celebrated yearly by his followers worldwide. According to the Bengali calendar, his birthday is on the 25th day of the Bengali month, Boishakh. On Tagore’s birth anniversary, various cultural events and Rabindra Sangeet gatherings are organized every year to commemorate his works. The day calls for special celebrations at Shantiniketan and Visva-Bharati University. In 2011, to mark the 150th Rabindranath Tagore birth anniversary, the Indian government introduced a five-rupee coin. Rabindranath Tagore is an artist and philosopher who pictured nationalism as transcending culture beyond boundaries. His work continues to inspire and encourage upcoming artists and young leaders.

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Rick Riordan (born June 5, 1964) is an American author best known for transforming ancient mythology into engaging contemporary fiction for young readers and adults alike. His work has played a significant role in reviving popular interest in classical myths in the 21st century. Below is a detailed look at lesser-known and insightful facts about his life, writing, and impact.

From Classroom to Bestseller Lists:

Before becoming a full-time writer, Rick Riordan worked as a middle school English and history teacher in Texas for over 15 years. This teaching background strongly influenced his writing style—his books use humor, fast pacing, and accessible language that appeal to reluctant readers while still introducing rich historical and mythological content.

Percy Jackson Was Born from Parenting:

The idea for Percy Jackson & the Olympians emerged when Riordan’s son, who has ADHD and dyslexia, grew tired of hearing the same Greek myths at bedtime. Riordan invented a new hero who shared these traits. This decision reframed learning differences as strengths and helped normalize neurodiversity in mainstream children’s literature.

Champion of Neurodiversity:

Riordan’s portrayal of ADHD and dyslexia as useful survival traits in a mythological context (e.g., battle reflexes, ancient-language wiring) has been widely praised by educators and parents. His books are frequently recommended for students who struggle with traditional reading, and many readers report feeling seen and validated by his characters.

A Cross-Cultural Mythology Project:

Riordan’s success with Greek mythology expanded into a broader, ambitious literary project:

Greek & Roman: Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus

Egyptian: The Kane Chronicles

Norse: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard
This multi-mythology approach introduced young readers to global myth traditions while maintaining a shared universe feel. It also reflects Riordan’s academic interest in comparative mythology.

Advocate for Inclusive Storytelling:

Through his imprint Rick Riordan Presents, he actively promotes authors from underrepresented cultures to tell stories rooted in their own mythologies (e.g., Hindu, Korean, Mayan, African, and Indigenous traditions). This initiative addresses long-standing gaps in publishing by amplifying authentic voices rather than retelling those myths himself.

From Adult Crime Fiction to YA Fantasy:

Riordan initially wrote adult mystery novels featuring the character Tres Navarre. His transition to children’s fantasy was not planned; it emerged organically from storytelling within his family. This background explains the strong detective-story pacing, clues, and twists present in his fantasy series.

Educational Impact and Literacy Advocacy:

Libraries and schools worldwide use Riordan’s books to:

Encourage independent reading habits

Support struggling readers

Introduce classical literature and mythology in an engaging format
Educators appreciate that his novels spark curiosity about original myths, often leading students to explore Homer, Roman legends, and world folklore.

Global Reach and Cultural Influence:

Riordan’s works have been translated into dozens of languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide, creating a global fanbase. His stories have influenced modern portrayals of mythology in pop culture, shaping how a generation visualizes ancient gods in contemporary settings.

Critical Voice on Adaptations:

Riordan has been openly critical of earlier film adaptations of Percy Jackson, citing lack of fidelity to characters and themes. His involvement in newer screen adaptations reflects his commitment to protecting the integrity of the source material and respecting the expectations of long-time readers.

Legacy: Making Mythology Relevant Again:

Rick Riordan’s greatest contribution lies not just in entertainment, but in reframing ancient stories for modern values—inclusion, diversity, and self-acceptance. His work demonstrates how classical literature can remain culturally relevant when paired with contemporary voices and lived experiences.

Rick Riordan’s journey from educator to globally recognized author highlights the power of storytelling grounded in empathy, education, and cultural respect. His writing has shaped modern children’s literature, strengthened reading culture, and opened doors for inclusive myth-based storytelling. For adults, his work offers insight into how literature can bridge classical heritage with modern social values.

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1. Youngest-ever Nobel laureate in literature
Kipling received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907—and at 41, he was the youngest person ever to win it at the time.

2. Born in India
He was born in Bombay (Mumbai) in 1865, and his early experiences in India strongly influenced his writing.

The Jungle Book (though written in the U.S.) is based on Indian geography, animals, and folklore.

Kim, Plain Tales from the Hills, and many short stories are deeply rooted in Indian culture.

He felt India was the place   “most alive,” even though he had complex, colonial-era attitudes.

3. Author of The Jungle Book
His most famous work, The Jungle Book, introduced characters like Mowgli, Baloo, and Bagheera. He wrote it while living in Vermont in the U.S.

4. Wrote “If—”, one of the most popular poems in English
The poem If— is widely quoted and has been voted Britain’s favorite poem multiple times.

5. Helped popularize the term “jungle” in English literature
Although the word existed earlier, Kipling’s stories greatly shaped how the English-speaking world imagines the jungle.

6. Turned down a knighthood
He refused several honors, including a knighthood and the position of British Poet Laureate.

7. His son inspired “My Boy Jack”
Kipling’s son, Jack, died in World War I—an event that deeply affected him and led to some of his most emotional writing.

Lesser-Known & Surprisingly Strange Facts About Rudyard Kipling

1. He almost died because of poor eyesight

Kipling had severe vision problems from childhood.
When he was young, his aunt told his mother, “Ruddy needs glasses,” which saved his eyesight—and perhaps his entire writing career.

2. He was rejected by the British Army

Because of extremely weak eyesight, he was not allowed to enlist—a rejection that haunted him, especially after his son was allowed to enlist and later died in WWI.

3. He wrote one of the first modern “spy thrillers”

His novel Kim (1901) influenced the development of espionage literature and was studied by actual intelligence officers.

4. He used to write in the nude

Several biographies report that Kipling sometimes wrote while naked in the morning because he believed it helped his energy and concentration.

5. He was a technophile

Kipling was fascinated by new technology—steam engines, ships, electricity—and wrote many stories featuring early machinery and scientific ideas.
He even predicted things like:

videoconferencing

automatic doors

something like modern 3D-printing

6. He created the phrase “The white man’s burden” for a specific reason. The famous (and controversial) poem was written specifically to encourage the U.S. to take control of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War—its purpose was political, not philosophical.

7. He inspired the U.S. postal system’s “dead letter office” stories Kipling wrote a humorous short piece called “Dead Letters” that became widely circulated in American newspapers, long before his books became popular in the U.S.

8. His daughter Josephine died because he refused to leave America. Kipling loved living in Vermont, despite its harsh winters. His daughter caught pneumonia during a cold spell, and her death devastated him.
He wrote almost nothing for months afterward.

9. He once disappeared for several days

During a fierce quarrel with his brother-in-law (the Beatty family feud), Kipling left home, didn’t tell anyone, and caused a minor panic. He returned quietly after things cooled down.

10. His handwriting was almost unreadable

Editors joked that it looked like “spider footprints.”
He often had to read his own manuscripts aloud because typesetters couldn’t decipher them.