Scion of Ikshvaku by Amish

"Scion of Ikshvaku" by Amish. This book is published by Westland Ltd on 21st Jun 2015 and has 354 pages. This is Book 1 of the Ram Chandra series.

Book 1 starts with Sita haran (सीता हरण) and then takes us to the past in flashback from before Ram's birth, his upbringing, his marriage, his exile (वनवास) and again ends at Sita haran (सीता हरण).

Amish has retained some concepts from Shiva triology like Naga (men born with physical deformity), Vayuputra (a tribe left behind by Rudra, the last Mahadev), Mahadev and Vishnu being positions not persons and their specific roles.

He has introduced some new concepts that counter the popular story e.g. Ram was hated by Ayodhyans, Sita was elder than Ram, Ram piercing eye of rotating fish looking into its reflection to win Sita etc. Author has also introduced interesting concepts of Masculine and Feminine societies.

Although he has tried to be consistent with Shiva trilogy there are some discrepancies e.g. Parshuram is a bandit warrior in Shiva trilogy but in this book he is the sixth Vishnu.

The map of Sapt Sindhu provided in the book is not very legible, should have been more legible. The cover says it's Book 1, not clear if it is a trilogy or more. The publicity for this book was very effective. I had ordered the book order release, received it the day after it was released and read it in 4 days.

The book is logically written. Author has tried to explain things realistically rather than taking refuge in magic or Godly wonders. Author has intelligently used modern day issues and philosophies with camouflage to explain conflicts of that era.

However this book doesn't have ground breaking and ingenious ideas and concepts like Shiva trilogy. It appears that Shiva trilogy and author's attempt to be consistent with it has put constraints on the artistic expression and creativity in this book. Or may be I expected too much after Shiva trilogy!

This book is not in the league of Meluha. But it's a good book.

Thr oath of Vayuputras by Amish

"The oath of the Vayuputras", much awaited, 3rd and final book of Shiva triology by Amish.

Destiny of Neelkanth is to identify the evil & take the evil out of equation without offering any alternative. Shiva identifies the evil and declares a holy war.

What is the evil? Who are the enemies? Does he meet the chief Vasudev? Where are the elusive Vsyuputras? What is the oath of Vayuputras? Is it fulfilled?

There is some very good philosophy in this book and its explained in very simple language e.g. overuse of good makes it evil, objectives of institutions of Mahadev & Vishnu etc. Amish has an amazing writing style. The story keeps you on tenterhooks.

You are glued to the book for 480 out of 565 pages. Then it starts going wrong. The great war turns out to be a damp squib. It becoms personal rather than based on principal. Mahadev, the living god breaks his promise. Vayuputras only make a guest appearence.

From a beutifully constructed epic by a master story teller, that captivated India for 2-3 years, Amish suddenly looses interest after page 480 & decids to end the book abruptly, leaving many errors & contradictions. It's wrapped up hurriedly. An anticlimax. Seeds of Mahabharat series are also sowed at the end.

Read it for first 480 pages. Read it bacause you can not 'not read it' after reading first two books. But I was disappointed.