Exploring The Indian Lineage In DC Comics

November 22, 2017

Much like in Marvel, there are characters in DC as well that have Indian lineage.

Rooted in Indian mythology, these characters are quite different from Marvel, some of them even addressing some social issues that are still prevalent in India

Rama Chandra

Born as the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, Rama Chandra, is depicted as righteous like the Rama of our mythology. He’s also a skilled in combat, archery and swordsmanship.

Interestingly, he was initially created as a potential love interest for Wonder Woman.They were both stuck in a realm where they lived under the illusion of being happily married. After they broke free though, Rama remained infatuated with Wonder Woman.

Ravan

He is is portrayed as the last surviving member of India’s Thugee Cult, and seems like a misdirected man, who believes that every life he sacrifices prevents the onset of Kali Yuga which is another significant theme in the DC comics.

A terrorist group called the Kobra Cult’s prime objective is to bring about the Age of Chaos, the Kali Yuga) by every thousand years.

Kalki alias Ashok Desai

He is an aging mad scientist who believes himself to be the final avatar of Vishnu, Kalki. Ironically, the DC comics has rendered the Kalki as a God of Destruction, which Ashok believes he is,but in the actual mythos, Kalki is the avatar of Vishnu who will end the chaotic Kali Yuga; Ashok Desai intends to bring on the age of Kalki when in fact, it is believed the Kali Yuga has begun already and Kalki is believed to deliver humanity from the Kali Yug.

Aruna Shende

This superhero’s history is interesting as addresses the caste system in India. Her parents are shown to be victims of caste abuse. Her power is the ability to shapeshift, which is why her gender is never truly understood even by her parents. Her superpower in itself is interesting as despite whatever she chose to be, her caste would haunt her in her childhood days till her parents disappeared. She meets Batman & Batgirl who come to Mumbai to investigate the disappearance of an Indian actor…

Maya aka Chandi Gupta

A sorceress with elemental powers, her storylines deal with the child sacrificing cults in India and the fear of the unknown; her parents, worried about her powers, leave her with a cult who, believing her to be a reincarnation of Shiva, aim to sacrifice her. She escapes, until her powers manifest completely. Maya was originally only able to manifest a mystical bow. She has used it as a conventional bow, able to fire sometimes devastatingly powerful projectiles usually made of mystical fire or water, or, on one occasion, to enhance her speed and strength.