ANSWERS IN CAPS BELOW - THANKS FOR DOING THIS On Apr 4, 2007, at 5:35 AM, Zuracech Lordum wrote:
Thank you very much.
The questions concern primarily with the themes of the comic book.
Would it be correct in concluding that James, being a Sadhu, engineered the events in his life so that he be removed from worldly attachments? (Dada Thakur does say as such at one point. While it can be concluded as such, wikipedia does not allow original research or unverifiable claims and hence I may need to ask you things that might seem blatant at first)
YES - THOUGH IT'S NOT SO OVERT. DADA DOES IN FACT TELL JAMES THAT HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAS PASSED - FROM THE TRAGEDY PERPETRATED ON HIS FAMIL TO HIS OWN SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION, FOR THAT IS THE NATURE OF SELF. IT'S PART OF THE LARGER LESSON THAT "WE ARE NOT IN THIS UNIVERSE" BUT "THE UNIVERSE IS IN US."
There is the good side of Kali and the destructive side of the goddess as well. Does this affirm the presence of a duality or, in a crude example, the yin-yang ideas of righteousness being tempered by evil? So in a way, the two act as a symbiosis much in the same way as how Sadhu exists alongside Colonel Townsend.
THAT SOUNDS RIGHT TO ME! IN EASTERN THOUGHT, THERE IS LESS DEFINITION TO GOOD AND EVIL. IN FACT, THEY CO-CREATE EACH OTHER. OFTEN IT IS SAID THAT DIVINE AND DIABOLICAL, SACRED AND PROFANE, SINNER AND SAINT ARE JUST DIFFERENT EXPRESSIONS OF THE SAME BEING. KALI - MORE OVERTLY THE OTHERS - DEPICTS THIS. SHE IS BOTH FEROCIOUS IN HER WARRIOR INSTINCTS BUT SHE IS COMPASSIONATE IN THAT SHE IS ULTIMATELY A PROTECTRESS OF HER PEOPLE.
The idea of karma is explored heavily. Is it karma that essentially runs the actions of the individuals thus driving them forth? In that way, was James' decision to pursue Townsend a necessity as Townsend needs to get what he deserved for his crimes and past actions? But then, how can the apparent atrocities against James be justified?
TRADITIONALLY IN THE WEST, KARMA IS DEFINED AS YOUR REAP WHAT YOU SOW, BUT IN THE EAST WE ACTUALLY THINK OF IT WITH SOME MORE HEAVINESS. KARMA IS THE MATRIX OF ACTION AND CONSEQUENCE. THIS MOMENT IS THE CULMINATION OF ALL MOMENTS BEFORE. AND IT'S NOT JUST MY ACTIONS, BUT THE ACTIONS OF ALL THOSE PRIOR TO ME THROUGHOUT ETERNITY. I.E. MY NEXT VERY CHOICE (AS WELL AS YOURS CONSTANTLY) DETERMINES THE ENTIRE FATE OF THE UNIVERSE. TO THAT END, JAMES AND TOWNSEND ARE, AS WE SAY, LINKED KARMICALLY. INDEED, THEY CO-CREATE EACH OTHER. TOWNSEND'S SALVATION LIES IN HIS NEED TO BE VANQUISHED BY JAMES. JAMES JOURNEY TOWARD REDEMPTION HAS TO GO THROUGH TOWNSEND. SPOILER: JAMES IS NOT READY FOR THE 'MOKSHA' THAT HE YEARNS FOR. ONLY AFTER PUTTING TO REST HIS NEED FOR VENGEANCE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S GIVEN HIM NO PEACE, CAN HE CONTINUE UPON HIS SPIRITUAL PATH.
The idea of a simulated reality (reality is what you perceive) is not a new one but does it have its roots anywhere in particular in Hinduism?
ALL OF VEDANTA AND HINDU PHILOSOPHY IS THAT THE PHYSICAL WORLD IS "MAYA" OR AN ILLUSION. THIS IS THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF THE WHOLE FAITH. "THE WORLD IS AN ILLUSION," POPULARIZED BY FILMS LIKE THE MATRIX, IS AN IDEA THAT'S BEEN WELL CHRONICLED IN THE EASTERN PHILOSOPHICAL SCRIPTURES FOR MILLENIA.
Are themes of nationalism and the Indian freedom struggle going to be a part of the story or is Sadhu a supernatural character that lives beyond the events happening in the real world?
THE "BIRTH STORY" OF THE SADHU OBVIOUSLY ROOTED INA PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME IN INDIAN HISTORY THAT GAVE US A LOT OF SUBSTANCE TO PLAY WITH. HOWEVER,I DO ENVISION IT AS "FRANCHISE CHARACTER" AND ONE THAT TRANSCENDS ANY SPECIFIC NATIONALISTIC AND CULTURAL BORDERS. IN FUTURE ARCS OF THE COMIC SERIES, WE DEFINITELY PLAN TO BOTH TAKE JAMES BACK TO INDIA AS WELL AS TO OTHER FAR OFF PLACES.
Regarding other matters:
How are the comic book sales?
MODEST - AS WE EXPECTED THEM TO BE. THESE DAYS IN THE WORLD OF COMICS, CHARACTERS THAT DON'T WEAR CAPES AND TIGHTS RARELY GARNER HUGE SALES. THAT SAID, WE'VE BEEN PLEASED WITH THE INITIAL DOMESTIC SALES AS WELL AS THE EXPECTATION WE'VE FELT IN SOME OF THE FOREIGN MARKETS WHERE WE LAUNCH THE BOOK THIS SPRING. BIG COMIC MARKETS LIKE FRANCE (THE SECOND IN THE WORLD) THAT ARE LESS FOND OF TRADITIONAL SUPERHEROES AND MORE INTRIGUED BY MYSTICAL AND CULTURAL CHARACTERS. WE'RE ALSO OBVIOUSLY EXCITED BY THE ASIAN MARKETS THAT WE SEE AS BEING A GREAT HOME FOR THE SADHU AS A COMIC AND BEYOND.
ALSO, IN MARKETS LIKE INDIA AND ASIA, IT'S NOT THE COMIC THAT WE EXPECT TO SPREAD THE STORY. IT'S MOBILE COMICS ON CELL PHONES. WE'RE NOW WORKING WITH TWO PARTNERS IN INDIA SPECIFICALLY TO CREATE SUCH STUFF. I AM VERY CONFIDENT THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL EXPERIENCE SADHU THAT WAY THAN ANY COMIC WE PUT OUT.
How has it been accepted amongst circles of critics?
REVIEWS POP UP HERE AND THERE ON THE INTERNET AND IN TRADE MAGS AND THEY HAVE BEEN PRETTY GOOD FOR THE MOST PART. ALSO, WE GET LETTERS THAT EXPRESS A LOT OF FONDNESS FOR THE STORY WHICH IS ALWAYS POSITIVE.
How has it been seen in India? I'm afraid I have not been able to find many links but that may be because I may not know where to look for them.
THE BOOK HAS ACTUALLY NOT YET BEEN RELEASED IN INDIA. THAT'S JUST HAPPENING NOW AND WE'VE GOT OUR FINGERS CROSSED. YOU NEVER KNOW BUT THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL EXCITEMENT SO I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT.
What were the influences in writing Sadhu, the comic book series? Were there any other particular characters that you looked towards? Did any figures from Indian history or mythology serve as the springboard or inspiration? Unless I'm mistaken, Parashurama was an avatar of Vishnu who was a priest but who also rid the world of evildoers and sinners. Is there any possible resemblance?
THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF INFLUENCES IN THERE - FROM THE YOGA VASHISHTA TO PARASHURAMA TO SOME OF THE MEDITATIONS OF J KRISHNAMURTI. THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER BOOK CALLED "I AM THAT" WHICH I FIND PARTICULARLY INFLUENCING. ASIDE FROM THAT, GENERAL BOOKS ON THE HISTORY OF THE TIME, CENTERING ON THE SEPOY MUTINY AND THE TAIL END OF THE EAST INDIA COMPAY WERE USED FOR GENERAL REFERENCE.
I do realise that you are not at the liberty of releasing full details in order to not spoil the story. Whatever answers you provide would be greatly appreciated. Also, if there is anything that I miss or you think should be worth including then please do inform me. Sadhu appears to be quite a challenging read and I hope that the wikipedia page will be an informative and useful source for fans and also pique the interest of potential readers in the future.
Please also note that wikipedia only accepts verifiable and reliable sources so any response through online communication will not be allowed. So in that light, would it be possible for you to state your answers onto your online blog? I will then be able to post up a link on the wiki article and thus it would be acceptable.
I must say that I enjoy the issues very much. If there is any word regarding the artwork that you can get from Jeevan Kang, then that would be greatly appreciated as well. I, however, do not know what to ask regarding the artwork and hence I would not like to waste his time but if any particular information regarding the artwork is given, I would really like to know about it.
Thanks once again,
ZL
On 4/4/07, Gotham Chopra <<a href="mailto:gotham@virgincomics.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"> gotham@virgincomics.com</a>> wrote: Zuracech
Got your email re: Wikipedia. Feel free to send me any questions on
Sadhu and I will do my best to answer.
GC
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