Ashok Kumar Banker was born on February 7, 1964 in Mumbai. He started writing scince his childhood.He has multi-facted talent.So far he worked as a journalist, columnist, scriptwriter for television series and documentaries, and in advertising.
He wrote in different subjects like -fiction, mythology,fantasy science fiction and cross-cutural subjects etc.His first three novels were crime thrillers. It is said, as the first written crime thriller novel by an Indian novelist in English.He earned widespread critical attention and a reputation for those novels.After that he stopped writing crime novels and started writing mythological interpretation.His "Devi" series are brief works, focussed on avatars of the Hindu goddess and was published in various science fiction, fantasy, and horror magazines. Now, he is famous for his retelling of the great epic,Ramayana.He penned three interrelated novels - Vertigo, Byculla Boy ,Beautiful Ugly which are full of autobiographical elements.The last one is about the tragic life of her mother and has been made into documentaries.Vertigo reprents his early life where he was struggling for a successful career.
At present Banker is engaged in translating the great epic Ramayana into English in eight volume.He got worldwide attention for this work.it is being said that it will be made into motion picture.He dealt with indian history in this major work. His forthcoming retelling series is Krishnavatara.He also wants to translate Mahabharata in the same way.He not only just translated those but also incorporated new views and interpretation which is much more important.He also wrote another history series named"The Indus Saga" which is full of innovative ideas and imagination.
Before novel writing he was a famous columnist.He did not like the urban orientation of media and made sevaral controversial attacks on celebrity and glamour obsessed media.He thought that media did not represent the proper India and it`s problem.He also disliked corporatization of media.He belives in internationalism and opposed to any political border.He also opposed to war and its violence and fully committed to disarmament and destruction of war weapon.This views completely reflects on his writing.his major works are Amazing Adventure at Chotta Sheher (1992), The Iron Bra (1993), Murder & Champagne (1993), Ten Dead Admen (1993) , The Missing Parents Mystery (1994) , The Missing Parents Mystery (1994) , The Pocket Essential Bollywood (2001) .His many works are yet to be published.
