The Sialkot saga by Ashwin Sanghi

"The Sialkot saga" by Ashwin Sanghi. This book is published by Westland in Apr 2016 and has 588 pages.

This is the story of two men. Arvind, son of a Marwari businessman in Calcutta & Arbaz, son of a coolie working in Mumbai docks. Both are intelligent, daring, entrepreneurial in their own way, ruthless, capable and have flexible morals. They rise in their own chosen profession and meet one day. Most ancient secret society, Samrat Ashoka's "Nine unknowns", is still active. 

What happens then? Where will it lead? What is the connection with partition of India? What is the connection of Ashoka's legend of Nine Unknowns? What is Tirritopsis dohrnii?

The story starts with partition of India and arrival of last train, full of dead bodies, from Sialkot to Amritsar. It also ends with a flashback of same event, hence the book name. 

Ashoka's legend of Nine Unknowns seems tone very famous within Indian authors. This is fifth or sixth book on the legend that I have read. Author has however diverged from popular belief that it contained nine sciences. He has chosen just two. Alchemy and Immortality. 

It's a big book and takes us from childhood of Arvind & Arbaz, their struggle, their rise, their affluence and dealings, their old age, death and their kids and grand child. It's a long time span to cover. So it seems like you are looking at documentary rather than reading a book. The events are presented in bits and pieces forming the story. However I felt a disconnection. Story is not fluid. 

Author has used real life figures in the story like Atal Bihari Vajpeyi, Rajeev Gandhi, PV Narasimha Rao etc and a number of real events that happened at that time like assassination of Indira Gandhi, anti Sikh riots, release of movies, Sachin Tendulkar's test debut, Mumbai blasts, entry of private TV channels, 9/11 attacks, 26/11 Mumbai attacks, ICL & IPL etc. It gives the reader feeling of nostalgia. 

Initially the book is uninteresting, then it becomes slightly interesting, it is good, not so good, boring, curious and ok in patches. The book grows on you as you read it. However the death of protagonists is abrupt and author goes too far when he brings in Cheeranjivi. 

Although the book is good, it does not qualify to Ashwin's reputation. 

Read if you have time.