Fiction. In Veena Damle's premier novel, I AM OM, one sees a blend of East and West, realism and fairy tale. "The vehicle she has chosen is the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata...As young Manju's grandfather, Azoba, relates the never-ending struggle of Mahabharat, a similar struggle is developing in the Sathe household as Manju's mother years for fame and the attention of a prominent surgeon. Manju's father, aware of the entanglement his wife is creating, wrestles with understanding his dharma, while Azoba strives for his final release into samadhi. Manju herself proves to be an admirable combatant in these struggles, worthy of her hero, the Archer Prince."