Ashok K. Banker is a former journalist and literary critic turned author. His novels are spread across many genres, from crime fictionand later, stories based on Indian mythology. He is now identified with his retelling of the ancient Indian epics, especially the Ramayana. Other books by him include Amazing Adventure at Chotta Sheher, The Missing Parents Mystery, Siege of Mithila, Armies of Hanuman, Bridge of Rama, King of Ayodhya, Vertigo, Byculla Boy, Beautiful Ugly and Sons of Sita. Banker has written many works of fiction spanning different genres. Three of his first books were crime fiction stories. He also wrote three semi-autobiographical novels based loosely on his on life. Ashok Banker was born in 1964 in Mumbai, to an Anglo-Indian mother and a Gujarati Hindu father. He was brought up by his mother and grandmother. His mother had converted to Islam to secure a divorce. He had a multi-religious background. When he was given the freedom to choose his religion, he opted to choose none. He grew up in a Christian household and was educated in a Jewish school. He worked as a freelance journalist, contributing columns and cover stories to mainstream publications like The Times of India and Outlook Magazine. He also worked as a literary critic, reviewing contemporary Indian literature.