Itihasa by Devdutt Pattanaik opens with a double meaning: in Sanskrit, itihasa is myth—a tale that insiders believe; in Hindi, it is history—a tale that outsiders verify. All beliefs are located in history, from auspicious bangles in pre-Harappan sites to 5000 years of Hindu continuity.
nn
About Itihasa
nn
Over time, more stories, symbols and rituals were added—following the arrival of horses, the invention of money, the rise of temples, the arrival of mosques and the imposition of passports. Deeply researched and painstakingly put together, this magnum opus by Bharat’s foremost mythologist explores how Hindu mythology changed with history, how Indian history changed with mythology, and how arguments about Indian culture and Hindu civilization reveal the myths inhabited by historians, rationalists, nationalists and activists.
nn
Published by India Penguin (Penguin Random House India), this substantial 464-page paperback (ISBN 9789377305635) is scheduled for October 2026 with an India MRP of ₹899. Readers of mythology, cultural history and civilisational debate will find Itihasa an essential companion to Pattanaik’s wider body of work, bridging scholarly care with accessible storytelling for a broad audience.
nn
Whether you are a long-time reader of Pattanaik or new to Indian mythology, Itihasa invites you to see history and belief as intertwined narratives that still shape public debate today.
