‘Atheism provides a different lens to understand philosophy and life’: Amish Tripathi on India’s mythology, faith, traditions

Edited excerpts below.

Q: What led you to leave banking and pursue writing?

Amish Tripathi: It wasn’t planned. I come from a humble background and the India I grew up in had fewer opportunities. I took a practical path—an MBA, banking, and stability. But then an idea struck, and I wrote my first book, not expecting much, more for myself than anything else. I self-published it and it took off. The second book did well too, and eventually, I resigned to become a full-time author. It wasn’t some grand romantic decision—it was a very practical one, driven by the response my books received.

Q: Your journey from atheism to spirituality is intriguing. What aspects of faith drew you back?

Amish Tripathi: The process of writing my first book brought me back to faith. I grew up in a deeply religious family, so I was familiar with our traditions, scriptures, and way of life. However, during my college and early working years, I became an atheist. Writing my first book rekindled my faith—it wasn’t a discovery, but a return to it.

Q: Has that shift in perspective shaped your storytelling?

Amish Tripathi: Definitely. My atheistic phase allowed me to see the same philosophies I grew up with differently. It may have deepened my understanding of them. Depending on how you count, there are 12 or 13 schools of philosophy within the Dharmic religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism—and five of them are atheist. They don’t believe in a creator model. Faith in India is more about actions than belief, and atheism too can offer a unique philosophical lens.

Q: You attended the Mahakumbh Mela. How was your experience, and did your travels influence your storytelling?

 

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Amish Tripathi: The Mahakumbh was incredible. We took a boat to the Triveni Sangam. This event happens only once in 144 years, when the Sun, Earth, Moon, and Jupiter align perfectly. It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

It connected me deeply with my ancestors. India is the only pre-Bronze Age civilisation that’s still alive. The rituals we performed there have been followed for thousands of years. Milan Kundera once said that civilisation is a struggle between remembering and forgetting. We are a culture that remembers.

The diversity was stunning. People of all religions participated—my team had Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and foreigners, all experiencing dharma, which is beyond just religion. Dharma unites and balances.

Q: In past interviews, you have said Indian culture is inherently liberal. However, today, many perceive it as rigid or as a cultural tribe clinging to traditions. How do you navigate this contrast in your writing while maintaining authenticity?

I’m in Kerala. My driver is a Christian, and he also follows @ishafoundation teachings. He has a Cross and Adiyogi Shiva in his car. I love my India 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/zUIrtDaBNW

— Amish Tripathi (@authoramish) February 7, 2025

Amish Tripathi: True liberalism is about mutual respect, not enforcing views on others. Disputes should be resolved through debate, not violence. Some people believed invading Iraq and Libya was a “liberal project”.That’s not liberalism.

From that perspective, Indian traditions are inherently liberal. Indian traditions embody this—our scriptures feature women sages, independent queens, and third-gender recognition long before modern gender identity debates; Sanskrit, unlike English, already has grammatical constructs for it. Sadly, many Indians aren’t taught how liberal their heritage is. Knowledge is key to breaking these misconceptions.

Q: How do you differentiate mythology from history? Are they two sides of the same coin? Where should the line be drawn?

Amish Tripathi: Outside of mathematics, no subject can claim absolute truth. In literature, history, or mythology, perspective matters. History often claims singular truth, whereas mythology acknowledges multiple perspectives. History, on the other hand, often behaves like a stubborn child, insisting, “This is the only truth, and if you disagree, you’ll be cancelled!”

Take Winston Churchill, for example. From a British perspective, he’s a hero. From an Indian perspective, he’s worse than Hitler because of his role in the Bengal Famine, which killed four million Indians. Both perspectives are based on the same facts, but the interpretation depends on the observer. Mythology understands this—it doesn’t insist on a single truth but instead seeks to teach philosophical lessons.

Q: Speaking of modern discourse, with rising cancel culture and censorship, how do you view freedom of expression?

Amish Tripathi: Our Vedic tradition encouraged debate and discussion—there wasn’t even a translation for “blasphemy” in Sanskrit. Our Constitution was very liberal in terms of free speech, thanks to Dr Ambedkar. However, in 1951—before the first elections—the Nehru government introduced the First Amendment, which brought in “reasonable restrictions” on free speech. I’ve argued that we should revoke that amendment to restore true freedom of expression in line with Indian traditions.

Q: What do you hope viewers take away from Legends of Shiva with Amish, the documentary show?

 

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Amish Tripathi: There are several key takeaways. First, Lord Shiva represents contradictions—he appeals to all, the elite and the masses, the old and the young, and the ascetics and the materialists. The documentary showcases this beautifully.

Second, reaching most Shiva temples is a spiritual experience in itself––it’s difficult. When we filmed at places like Kedarnath or Kalinchowk, the journey itself was a form of tapasya. A sannyasi told me, “It’s supposed to be difficult. The hardship purifies the soul before you reach the temple.”

Finally, the documentary highlights the diversity of Shiva’s devotees—from intellectual mahants to Aghori babas, from traditional scholars to young people in urban ashrams. Despite their differences, Shiva unites them all. I think viewers will find the documentary visually stunning and spiritually enriching. It’s one of the best projects I’ve worked on, and I’m proud to be part of it.

Cherry Gupta, from the Indian Express, in conversation with author Amish Tripathi and Sai Abishek, Head of Factual and Lifestyle Cluster, South Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2025. (Express Photo)