The Ekkos Clan by Sudipto Das.

"The Ekkos Clan" a debut novel by Sudipto Das.

Story starts in Senpara, a village now in Bangladesh, before partition. How a family is devastated by the inhuman atrocities during partition and how a mother, Kubha, makes ultimate sacrifice to save 2 of her 4 children. This account is riveting.

Then there is a time leap to present time. Protagonist is grand son of Kubha. Kubha's family had migrated from Hindu kush region to Senpara long time ago. Kubha tells stories to her children that have been passed to her orally through generations. The same stories are passed on to the present generation.

There is a deep meaning in these stories. What is it? Are the stories very similar to Rig Ved? What does it mean? Someone is trying to kill Kubha's family and decendants. Why? Who is murdering? Is there a bigger conspiracy? What has Russia or a young and beautiful linguist of Pakistani origin to do with it? Who are Kalash people in Pakistan?

Scientific name of horse is Equus caballus.
It is said that before the arrival of Aryans (some say they never arrived, they were always here), India did not know the animal called horse. Hence the title of the book.

Sudipto has done a decent job in narration. The expectations and excitement is set high in the first few chapters during partition, but author could not maintain the same tempo in the rest of the book. Story gets boring at times. Sometimes  characters find very old information very easily which is far from reality. Although the seed of this book is brilliant the execution could have been better.

Chetan Bhagat has started trend of IITans writing books and Sudipto had continued the tradition. We can expect more from his next book.

An OK book. Read if you have time and patience or for a change.