Urnabhih by Sumedha Verma Ojha

Mandar's book review (17th Dec 2015)

"Urnabhih" by Sumedha Verma Ojha. This book is published by IndiaInc in 2014 and has 351 pages. This is author's debut novel.

Chandragupta Maurya, under guidance of Chanakya, has taken over Pataliputra in a bloodless coup. Chandragupta is going to be married to daughter of Dhananada. Chanakya employees Misrakesi, a ganika, in his Gupt Varangana Sena as a spy.

Is this a temporary assignment or there's more? Can Misrakesi be faithful to Maurya's? How does she prosper? Does she encounter ghost? Is there a man in her life? What is her ambition? Does she succeed?

What is the meaning of Urnabhih? Urnabhih means spider's web, a web of deceit and deception. An apt title for a spy story.

It is a story set at the rise of Mauryan empire. It's a story of spies and espionage. It's the story of rich and opulent. It's a story of politics. It's a story of human emotions and love. It's a story set centuries ago. It's interesting. It's intriguing. It's complex. It's exotic and its bold.

Sumedha Verma Ojha is a Switzerland based Indian author. She has done a commendable job, this being her first novel. Her writing style is good. Narration is interesting. You smell and taste the atmosphere.

The question that obviously came to my mind was 'Why name the heroin Misrakesi?'. There are so many minor characters with beautiful names, but the heroin had a very unglamorous name.

Author has given three maps. One of Mauryan empire, one of Pataliputra and one of Sugaang Prasad (Royal palace) to help readers understand the movements. However more than half the story happens out if the city.

It's a big book in terms of number of pages as well as it's page size, add to it small font and you have a big book to read. Holding it for long time while reading tires your hands. The paper quality is not good, print impressions can be seen on the reverse side of the page.

Full marks to the author for a good entertaining book. Good news is that there will be a sequel.

A very good book. Recommend reading.

Chandragupta - Path of a fallen demigod by Rajat Pillai

"Chandragupta - Path of a fallen demigod" by Rajat Pillai.

It is year 235 after Buddha. Nand dynasty founded by Mahapadmananda has ruled Magadh for three generations. It is now ruled by Dhananand. Chandra is a palace attendant. On the day of graduation of princes, Chandra is assigned in a team opposing princes. When Chandra fights the princes instead of succumbing meakly, fingers of his left arm are chopped off. On the same day a junior minister of Dhananand, Vishnugupta, is dismissed from job for opposing the king publically.

Vishnugupta and Chandra form alliance with like minded youth, called Karma Sena, with an ambition of overthrowing the Nandas, freeing Magadh and creating a kingdom with good governance. After a number of failed attempts, they take over Patliputra and Chandra is crowned Samrat. He becomes Chandragupta Maurya. His empire stretches from present day Iran to Bangladesh, from Afghanistan to Karnataka. He successfully repels the attack of Macedonian Selucus and governs in exemplary way.

But does the story end there? Who is Chandra? Why does the author call him fallen demigod? Does he rule happily ever after? Is he satisfied? Is there anything that bothers the first Samrat of India?

Author has a 'matter of factly' writing style. It was easy to depict Chandragupta and Vishnugupta (Chanakya) as men without flaws and larger than life. But author has tried to make them as real and human as possible. The author has ventured into description of detailed lifestyle of more than 1800 years ago only to the extent required for the story and thus has avoided the trap of possibly overdoing. The author keeps you interested till end. Although the book is 301 pages long, it is a large size book with small font. So it is as good as reading a 450 page book.

Chandragupta is not a magnificent king but a cursed human being who has a tendency of loosing his loved ones either to death or treachery or both. Thus although he is a Samrat in public life, he is a lonely sad man in his personal life.

On one side he is a brilliant strategist, just king, leader with a foresight. On the other hand he is a grieving husband, shocked friend, a general puzzled by treachery of his most loyal aid.

Reader can not but sympathize with this Samrat for being a sorry and lonely being who is a very disturbed soul in search of inner peace. This search eventually leads to abdicating his throne for his son and relinquishing all comfort to become a Jain monk.

A good book. Recommend reading.