Mastani by Kusum Choppra

"Mastani" by Kusum Choppra - Incest? 

This book is published by Rupa Publications India Pvt Ltd. in 2012 and has 274  pages. 

This is the story of Mastani, the great beauty, astute Politician, daughter of Maharaja Chatrasal and second wife of Peshwa Bajirao.

Who was Mastani? Was she a dancing girl? Was she a Muslim? Was she married to Bajirao? How did she die?

Although this book is written as a fiction it contains number of historical references and references of letters. Author also quotes numerous authentic references and experts.  

In the early part of the book author clarifies that Mastani was not a Muslim. She followed Pranami faith of Swami Prannathji which sought to integrate Muslim and Hindu practices. Casting her as a Muslim or a dancing girl was politics. 

Chatrasal offered Mastani as Upastri (a keep) but Bajirao married her. This decision made him Chatrasal's son in law and he got Jaagir and a lot of money in dowry. This was given to him personally rather than to Maratha kingdom. Marathas also got a share in Panna mines. The decision to marry Mastani was a political masterstroke. In one fell swoop Peshwa's became rich. Maratha empire received much needed money to fund all the battles of Bajirao. Moreover, Chatrasal's influence and intelligence towards Delhi was invaluable and Bajirao didn't have to depend on unreliable Rajput's for access to Delhi. It also helped the dissenting voices (Radhabai, Chimajiappa etc.) in Pune to remain muted. However the Pune establishment never accepted Mastani, the kshatrani bahu. 

Mastani is portrayed as beautiful, kind, astute diplomat, one who wants to merge with Peshwe family. Bajirao is in love with Mastani. But his love is not blind. He understands her importance personally as his wife and politically as Chatrasal's daughter. But he is miffed and hurt with his family for their deriding of Mastani and smear campaign against her. That has lead to his excessive drinking. Kashibai is portrayed as sore loser and one who resents Mastani (whereas history suggests that Kashibai did not object Mastani). Chimaji appa  is the leader of Mastani opposition. Nana (Bajirao's son) is the villain. 

Bajirao was a military general par excellence. He never lost a battle in his life. However, the book covers his battles as passing remarks. A battle as important as Bhopal gets only two lines. The narration is not gripping. It took me a long time to complete this book. 

Author claims that Bajirao's mother had put a condition that if he wants Mastani he has to give up drinking. Rather than giving it up gradually Bajirao gave up suddenly causing withdrawal symptoms leading to depression, difficulty in thinking clearly, hallucinations and consequent illness. Author also claims that it was this and not heat stroke, that led to his eventual death.

Towards the end author suggests that there was an incest. She gives two alternative endings to the story. One in which Nana goes to Mastani and she rebuffs him and one where incest happens and Mastani commits suicide by eating poison. Author contends that second version is more likely because there are references of Matrugaman (Incest) in documents. There is no record of how exactly Mastani died and there is no record of expenses of her funeral (which is available for all other Peshwe females).

Why did I read this book? Mastani's tale.

What I didn't like? Author suggests incest, mentions Matrugaman but doesn't give references or circumstantial evidence.  

What did I like? Analysis. 

Recommending reading.

The vault of Vishnu by Ashwin Sanghi

"The vault of Vishnu" by Ashwin Sanghi -  Not satisfactory!

This book is published by Westland in 2020 and has 400 pages.

Doklam; extremely well built Chinese forces attack and massacre Indian and Bhutanese soldiers and mysteriously retreat. Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) assign the investigation of these Chinese soldiers and their supernatural power to DRDO scientist Paramjit (Pam) Khurana, daughter of decorated late Colonel Khurana.

What does she find? Where does the power of Chinese soldiers come from?  Who is Dr. Rao? Who is Shengli? What is the ancient Pallava connection? What exactly is vault of Vishnu?

Mark is CIA, Mossad, Corporate guy and also works for a company with Indian defense involvement. This character is not properly developed. Pam is the investigator. She is the one who tracks Dr. Rao and his daughter. She is the one who makes headway but also makes rookie mistake. Doctor appears in the story only through reference but it's impossible to believe that he doesn't know certain things. It's difficult to believe that a spy like Shengli works alone and does all dirty work alone. 

In parallel there is a story of travel of Chinese Monk Xuanzhang to India and back, more than thousands years ago. This story gives us a peak into life 1000 years ago. Needless to say this story and present day story are intricately related. 

This book shows Chinese intelligence has penetrated India. They have bought people at all levels; bureaucrats, politicians, businessmen etc.. It's a scary picture. 

Story progresses decently but then at about 70% of the book when the story hasn't progressed 70%, reader starts to get an inkling that it's going to be a hasty end. That's exactly what one gets. Many things appear to be either after thoughts or appendages. Not well thought out. Reference to vault of Vishnu comes only once or twice. 

Expecting India China relations to be cordial is naive. The guide knowing about identity of Shengli is impossible. Doctor not knowing the secret is laughable. Shengli carrying out all operations in person is unconvincing. The reason the traitors turned is weak. One would expect more from Ashwin Sanghi.

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like? Conclusion.  

What did I like? Chinese monks travels. 

Not a must read. 

Aru Shah and the song of death by Roshani Chokshi

"Aru Shah and the song of death" by Roshani Chokshi - Rick Riordanish!

This book was published by Rick Riordan presents in 2019 and has 400 pages. This is Book 2 of Pandava series. 

Kamadeva's bow and arrow is stolen. Army of heartless is rampaging. Aru discovers third Pandava. Pandava's are accused of the theft and they have to absolve themselves by undertaking a quest to retrieve the bow and arrow. Council of guardians assigns a non Pandava to accompany them for the quest. 

Who is the representative? Where is Boo? Who stole the bow and arrow? Why does Kamadev doesn't miss his weapon? Who is Meenakshi?

The story moves on similar lines of previous book and Rick Riordan books. The demigods are on a quest. They meet celestial beings and magical creatures. These beings are fans of modern things like goggles, modern music etc. Some help them, some don't. The actions of these beings are deeply rooted in events from their past i.e. from Hindu mythology. It's the same old formula. 

The quest is long. Sometimes the story slows down considerably. For most part its interesting. There is a big betrayal. Events below ocean of milk are anti climactic. 

It's not the end, two more pandava's are still to be discovered. They make a guest appearance towards the end of book. The battle is won, but war is not over. The story will continue in Book 3 that is already published. 

Why did I read this book? Book 1 was decent. 

What did I like? Use of Hindu mythology. 

What I didn't like? Not intense. Same old formula.

Read, if you have read first book. 

Who painted my money white by Sree Iyer

"Who painted my money white" by Sree Iyer - More fact than fiction?

This book is self published by Sree Iyer in 2019 and has 288 pages. This is Book 1 of Money Trilogy.

As per the author,  this is a fiction inspired by real events about fake currency and note bandi. 

Author uses real life characters with altered names, so little is left to reader's imagination. The finance minister Maida is from Chennai and has left the ruling party to form his regional party and later rejoined ruling party. Prime minister Dhillon is from world of academics and has been Governor of RBI and is called accidental PM. Party supremo Madam pulls the strings. Biplap Banerjee should have become PM, but was overlooked as he was not 'manageable' by party supremo. Dalpat Dalvi is a slippery politician without morals who has floated his own regional party. Home minister changes 4 outfits in a day. Maker Wirewala, a flamboyant man with penchant for using heavy English even for small things and with a very active sex life worked at UN once. The list goes on..

The story starts from ruling  party installing puppet Prime Minister and continues through spate of scams, ministers following orders of party chief rather than PM, more scams, friction between PM and party chief, elections, rise of the chief minister of Gujarat, opposition winning general elections, new dynamic PM, media campaign against him, note bandi. Sounds familiar?

In between this there is black money, fake currency and terrorism. Author spends a lot of page space for the events that we already know, rather than the fiction part of the story, thereby leaving little space for the main story (fiction). Assassination attempt is not dramatic enough. Instead of manufacturing weapon in India, why Pakistan doesn't simply smuggle it?

Author's writing could have been better. With so much masala, the author should deliver a compelling story that sounds like a movie. But more often than not it sounds like a news report.

Second book of this series is already published. 

Why did I read this book? I saw a clipping of author taking about this book. 

What did I like? Boldness. Author does not disguise. 

What I didn't like? Story telling. 

Recommend reading, if you want to relive past events with some masala added to it. 

Time Bomb by Gerald Seymour

"Time bomb" by Gerald Seymour. This book was published by Hodder paperbacks in 2014 and has 448 pages. 

Major Yashkin is unceremoniously retired from Russian military due to cost cuts. So steals a WMD as revenge. He and his retired friend, Colonel Malenko, go back to retrieve it years later. House of a money launderer is penetrated by an undercover agent. Christopher Lawson, a legendary British intelligence officer known to be rude and obnoxious sets up an operation code named "Heystack" to capture the WMD. Time leap back to WW II. A young jewess, in concentration camp, decides to live and survive at any cost. 

What is the WMD? How is launderer connected to it? What is Lawson's goal? What is 'Heystack'? Will he succeed? What is the cost of survival for the jewess?

It's a typical Seymour book where things are explained systematically, story is slow and English bureaucracy works. 

Story happens in 2008 but goes back to period during WWII repeatedly. The antagonist of this story is a prisoner of the past of his grand mother. He is stuck with the past that he wasn't part of and can't escape it. The English spy develops Stockholm syndrome by design. 

WWII era story is very interesting. Along with the antagonist, author is also unable to determine how much weightage should be given to WWII era. Should it work as background to the story or is that the real story?

The end is anti climactic. Death of a character appears unnecessary. Love of other two characters also appears unnecessary. 

Why did I read this book? Title. 

What I didn't like? Lack of past - present balance 

What did I like? Details. 

Not a must read!