What makes us believe in something - The idea behind Ragnarok

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The idea behind Ragnarok, my upcoming science fiction satire, came exactly three years ago when I was talking to a friend. This friend of mine (who has explicitly asked me not to name him) was harping on and on about how religion is necessary for faith and belief. That put the idea of God in my head. For as long as I remember, I was an agnostic about the concept of God. I never faced any crisis that would make me look for a higher power or ask for forgiveness.

But my friend put the idea that there has to be someone out there looking out for us. That was the definitive moment when the idea popped into my head. See, here is the thing, we all want to believe that someone out there is looking out for us. Everyone, even an atheist, at one point in time want to look up and say, hey this is not my problem, this is yours.

Here is the idea, if everyone (or most of us) talk to someone all powerful to solve their problem, what kind of pressure are we putting on that one person? And what if, he is as limited as our imagination? 

The idea of God is personal to everyone, we all choose to believe in someone. When I set to write my own God, I had to believe in something. Having never believed in anything, it was a difficult proposition. That set me on a journey to read as many religious dogmas as I could. I met some incredible people who made some incredible points and slowly a picture of what I could believe in emerged. 

The idea behind Ragnarok is massive and it certainly isn't conventional. It is not a story that has a protagonist and an antagonist, not in conventional term. It is not a story where a hero battles against all odds to defeat the villain.

Ragnarok is about life, about the idea called HUMAN BEING. Ragnarok is about the ultimate test of faith. And finally as the actors on this stage will tell you, Ragnarok is about proving ourself what it takes to remain Human in terms of extreme duress.

What will you do when everything you know is about to end and the thing responsible for the ending is the one thing you believe in?

So as I said before, get ready for the journey of epic proportions through space and time. And what's more awesome? Before the epic launch, the book is available online at a discounted price. If there is a best time to buy it, it is now.

http://www.amazon.in/Ragnarok-Siddhesh-Kabe/dp/8192893642/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1439671732&sr=8-2&keywords=siddhesh+kabe
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Why did I choose the name: Ragnarok?

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I stand on the eve of a monumental achievement. After a long effort of four years, I finished my first novel- Ragnarok. It is a science fiction satire based in a fictional world just like us. There were a lot of questions around Ragnarok and I chose to answer some of them. The most common one was, why Ragnarok? Those who know me, know about my obsession with Hindu Mythology but still for the first novel, I chose a title with Norse Mythology.
To those wondering, my Ragnarok is not about mythology. It is a science fiction satire based in a modern world. The only thing related to the old mythology is the title of the book and the chartered name of the secret society planning on world domination.

Just as a disclaimer, it has nothing to do with the Marvel movie. Ragnarok literally means The End of Gods in Norse mythology. Ragnarok is described as a decisive battle between Gods and Titan to determine the successor for the throne of Odin. The following is a poem that is roughly translated in English about Ragnarok.

Brothers will fight
and kill each other,
sisters' children
will defile kinship.
It is harsh in the world,
whoredom rife
—an axe age, a sword age
—shields are riven—
a wind age, a wolf age—
before the world goes headlong.
No man will have
mercy on another

English translation of old Norse poem Volva, The state of Humanity during Ragnarok


If we look at modern world, I believe we are fighting the same old battle against God. We are perfecting the world that was given to us by making better roads, better houses and better lives by destroying nature. At the same time the nature is turning unpredictable; we have seen increase in natural calamities. It is resisting our efforts. That according to me is modern Ragnarok.

No other mythology comes closer to this moment. Essentially, Ragnarok leaves the end hanging. All other culture show that Gods obviously win but in Ragnarok, the end is indecisive. Sometimes the Titans win and sometimes the Gods. Norse Ragnarok talks about the triumph over the most powerful force in the Universe. My Ragnarok deals with modern humans, scientist and researchers, trying to take over nature.

The story is same, the titans are new. US. Humans. Between this battle of Humans and Gods, which side will you choose?

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