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Author: Ashwin Sanghi
Pages: 448
Publisher: Westland
Price: Rs. 125 on Flipkart (on a discount)
My rating: 4/5
Oh, what a book!I never thought a combination of history and politics could be so mesmerizing. I'd never been a fan of history in my school days, so attribute all my ignorance in that subject to the bland manner in which we were dished out history lessons. And, politics is a sphere I started to take interest in only recently. This book however kept me hooked on both levels.
The novel is actually two stories set in two eras ( one set about 2300 years ago and the other in the present) but connected wonderfully by a single thread-'Chanakya neeti' that is used to achieve a desirable consequence in the given set of political mish-mash. The parallel narration does more than fine justice to the stories from both eras, without compromising on the pace which is fast and gripping. I eased my way in and out of the two worlds without any jerk (in terms of waning interest or losing the thread in the flow of the story)-a proof of sound writing, IMO.
An insight into the blurb:
"The
book begins in the year 340 BC, and shows how a young Brahmin boy is
traumatized by the murder of his father. He decides to take revenge, and
uses his calculating brain to plan it. Slowly, he becomes an expert
political strategist and is known as Chanakya. He uses his skills to
unify the country Bharat (ancient India). This unity, teamed up with his
expertise, ensures that the army of Alexander the Great is defeated,
and Chandragupta is crowned the king of the Mauryan empire. With time,
Chanakya gets bored and decides to use his intelligence to pen down the Arthashastra.
Chanakya's Chant then shifts into modern India, two and a half
millennium later. It focuses on Gangasagar Mishra, a poor Brahmin
teacher. It turns out that this man becomes a puppeteer to people. He
witnesses how contemporary India is riddled with corruption, greed,
treachery, and hatred. He realizes that in order to succeed in this
society he too must indulge is such malpractices. However, Chanakya's
Chant highlights the possibility that this man could be a reincarnation
of Chanakya. Gangasagar plans to make a slum girl the Prime Minister of
India."
Interesting enough to grab a copy? Go ahead and you'll not be disappointed in all likelihood. And, do share your views if you've already read this one.
Author: Anand Neelakantan
Publisher: Platinum Press
Pages: 500
Price on Flipkart: Rs. 190
Ramayana re-told by the vanquished seemed like an interesting premise and I picked it up with a lot of expectations. However, I was disappointed.The book begins well, then drags, then picks up in bits and parts but finally drags so much that you want to just quit reading.
The story unravels through the voices of two persons- Ravana and a commoner Bhadra. The concept of having a third-point view of the story, told through a common man, seems novel and keeps you engaged. Some of the parts where he (Bhadra) brings out the voice of an ordinary citizen in the backdrop of an unjust life, braving against the odds and his grouses with the government of the country seems very relevant and realistic. Yet, Bhadra sometimes assumes a profile than is even larger than the main protagonist and you just want him to mind his own business after a while.
Ravana, according to the original mythology, although portrayed as a demon-God, was known to have shades of goodness in him. He was an intelligent ruler and a Shiva-devotee with a great love for arts. However, in Asura, these very qualities are just mentioned in some parts and that too sketchily. Ravana comes across as a very confused person, always with conflicting thoughts, even though he has a fierce and strong ambition to succeed. His goodness rarely comes across except in his thoughts. His decisions, action and their results seem quite accidental. You don't really feel any sympathy towards this Asura who is telling his side of the story. The plot seems far-fetched in many areas and the parts where the final battle is depicted is quite outrageous. I can understand that since it is Ravana's story, Rama has to come out as an evil person. Yet, it is difficult to stomach the twisted details towards the end.
I couldn't help comparing this book with The Shiva Trilogy, also a mythological fiction. Although, the third book was a let down, the book overall had a well-rounded effect with the plot flowing out naturally.
The twists and plot of Asura seemed contrived and laborious in comparison.
The book also was found wanting in the editing part with quite a few grammatical errors.
There are quite a number of good reviews for this book and I seem to be on the minority side. So, probably this is just me and you may like it.
Have you read this one? What are your thoughts?
