Reflections

Book Review : Mastaan The Fallen Patriot Of Delhi Vineet Bajpai Vineet Bajpai has done it again… after the immensely successful and thrilling Harappa tri-series, he is back with a bang, and how! This time, with a book on the First War of Independence. This book actually surpasses the first 3 with ease; for reasons as to why it is so special, read on! Suffice it to state for the opening paragraph here, that this is a must read for all Indians. Kudos, Vineet – and thanks for a really special landmark book! THE PLOT The book is themed on 1857, and based on the background of a love story that intertwines with the freedom struggle. The key protagonist is Mastaan, a Subedaar in the East India Company’s Army, and a devoted servant of the EIC. The EIC Officers, particularly one kindly gent, had helped his family, and he thus holds almost a worshipping attitude towards the EIC. His best friend and senior is Chhagan, a Subedaar Major, who is the exact opposite – someone ...

This promises to be among the bluntest reviews I have written; I don’t mean to state I wont do justice to it – that I will, most certainly so. But in this particular book, there is no scope, to be anything but perfectly honest. Now that doesn’t mean it is a bad book : it is not a bad book by any means. But, as a good reviewer, I need to place both my opinion as well as an unbiased, factual review of the book basis my experience of reviewing books for that past 6+ years and nearly 180 books so far as I can recall. In this, this is an exceptionally demanding task, for reasons that are stated in the next paragraph THE NEGATIVES This is a book that purportedly is based on The Tenth Avatar of Lord Vishnu -the yet to come Kalki, at the end of the Kalyug era. Lets start with the negatives – so that we can close with the positives. My biased rating is 1 star, and unbiased rating will be 2.5 stars, perhaps   3-3.5 stars. Why this difference? First, the concept of this histo...

This book has been a long time coming; 4 months was much too much a wait, given the cliffhanger exit of the first novel of this series – Harrappa { Reviewed Here }… It closed on a point that had brought us to tenterhooks. Mr Author, when you place someone on any hooks, tenter or otherwise, do remember to take us OFF the hook. The second book just carries on from there, and continues without a pause, without a break – and stops right dang in the middle of…. ­ I don’t want to give spoilers . Yes, you start on Tenterhooks, and stop on them. 5 Stars. THE BOOK This is the revenge of Vivasvan Pujari – intertwined with the rise of Vidyut Pujari in the parallel timeline of thousands of years later. The story revolves around these two primary timelines; and introduces a new segment, that of the slow rise of Manu Pujari, the son of the greviously wronged Vivaswan Pujari. In the ancient timeline, as Vivaswan Pujari takes revenge – the mysterious Matsya prophecies the coming Pralay,...

The fantasy genre seems to be the in-thing for Indian writers nowadays; we have seen a series of books around this theme, a few having reached my blog as well. This is in keeping with a rising trend among Indians, a fascination for our past – which  has both positive as well as negative overtones and ramifications. One of the positives is the emerging trend of fiction writing using our past as a backdrop; this is a significant factor, as these writings influence the public to seek more of the truth, as well as get regarded by some as based on truth. That is why it is incumbent on the authors who are indulging in this genre to be as close to the truth as it is feasible for them to be – and give a proper bibliography at the end of such  books so that fact can be separated from “literary licence” – that is, the padding used by the author to flesh out the story. East or west, most writers {save one} have failed on this score; they just neglect to give a proper bibliogr...

Disclaimer: This is a work of historical fiction – and if some of it has any basis in facts, I, the reviewer, am not aware of them {insofar as they pertain to underlined word} MY RATING : As a Fiction Book : 4.5 Stars… As a work of Historical Fiction :   2-2.5 Stars… Why this difference? Because I am an amateur historian, and a researcher on the Indian Colonial Period in particular, having studied well over 40 authentic books and manuscripts from all possible viewpoints in a research study that is into its 9 th year now, and will in all likelihood continue for at least another few years to come. The increasing penchant to study the INA is welcome, as its contribution is not known to us Indians. But the rising popular belief that it was only the INA that got us independence does not have basis in the facts so far as I am aware; basis my long study. And that is why I don’t welcome fiction works on the INA, it is way too important a subject.   THE FACTS AS PER...

ASHOK - THE LION OF MAURYA by Ashok K Banker Only a select few persona from history have as wide and as huge an impact on Modern India, and Indians in general, than Devanampiya Piyadassi , from the Maurya dynasty. This is one name that actually does reverberate across the length and breadth of the land; this name invites immediate recognition, and sense of pride, a sense of awe, and a sense of deep respect. He does this by the virtue of his deeds which encompass the achievements of a fearsome warrior king, a development focused good monarch, and a deeply spiritual peace-loving ruler of the land. People may not know his by his full name, but will immediately recognize his better known name : Ashok! Not much is known about the real Ashok; that said, there are extensive surviving literary records, most of them in the manuscripts Ashokaavadaan, Mahaavamsa and Paalivamsa, which as per my readings {Given here - Book Review: Ashok The Great } , are the principal literary sources ...