The Lost River: On the Trail of the Sarasvati

Writer: Michel Danino
Genre: Non Fiction

The Triveni Sangam in Allahabad is a confluence of 3 rivers - Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. Can someone please look at the map and identify those 3 rivers. Well, of these three rivers, Saraswati is invisible and is said to flow underground and join the other two rivers from below. Typical mythological references one would say! Is it so really? Why does it always take a non- Indian to dish out some amazing facts of our country?

A great book that dissects the history of the so called 'invisible' Saraswati river. A book with a lot of cross references and insight into various civilizations that flourished in the Indian sub continent! Towards the end one actually understands what lends the invisibility aura to this mystical river who seems to have passed most of her characteristics to the Ganges.

A great book for my collection!

One of the best reviews that propelled me to read this book can be found here.

The secret of the Nagas

Writer: Amish Tripathi
Genre: Fiction

The first book saw Shiva defeating the evil Chandrawanshis. And when that was done he realized that Suryawanshis and Chandrawanshis are just two different people or rather two different ways of lives. So who is the evil?

This book talks about Shiva deciding to vanquish the Nagas because they are evil. Evil, because they are deformed humans who are bearing the sins of their past life! But there is more to this vengeance - it was a Naga who killed his dear friend, Brahaspati. Just when Shiva is sure about evil - the Nagas, there is a change of plan by the almighty for his love, and now his wife, Sati is related to a Naga. And related in what way!

Shiva along with his trusted lieutenants decide to enter the forbidden Naga kingdom. And more surprises await him en route. As there seem to be no distinction between friends and foes, Shiva questions himself about what's good and what's exactly evil?

The second book of the trilogy is a fast read and the last lines of "to be continued" almost kills the curious reader. Well! no choice but to wait for the third and final part of the trilogy.

Immortals of Meluha

Writer: Amish Tripathi
Genre: Fiction

Shiva, the chieftain of the Guna tribe has an offer from the Meluhans to leave his native land and migrate to Meluha - a near perfect place. Tired of the constant wars Shiva and his tribe migrate to Meluha, the land of Suryanwanshis who are the descendants of Lord Ram.

The Meluhan kingdom is a near perfect place and on their first night stay at Sringar his tribe is affected by some kind of viral fever.Ayurvati, the doctor treats them with Somras and the treatment results in Shiva's neck turning into a blue color. The effect is dramatic and the Meluhan's declare him as the saviour they were all waiting for - the Neelkanth. Shiva travels to the capital to meet king Daksha who pleads with him to save the Meluhans. The Saraswati, which is the major ingredient for their Somras is drying up. The Meluhans know that their arch rivals, Chandrawanshi's are behind the river's fate. The Chandravanshi's have also taken the Nagas help to perpetuate terrorist attacks in the kingdom of Meluha.

Shiva ends up acknowledging being the Meluhan's saviour when he realizes that for marrying his love, Sati, he has to abolish certain laws which he can do only when revered as the Neelkanth. And so Shiva becomes the Neelkanth! When his friend, Brahaspati, is killed in a terrorist attack, Shiva decides to wage a war on the Chandrawanshis to avenge his friend’s death. The Meluhan's fight a fierce war and overpower the Chandrawanshis. When the Chandrawanshi king sees Shiva, he tells him that the Chandrawanshis have the same fable of a Neelkanth saving them. The dumbfounded Shiva is lost! He visits the old temple in the kingdom for answers and just then Sati is attacked by a Naga.

So ends the first book of the Trilogy.

Probably a first attempt by an Indian writer to humanize the gods albeit in a non-controversial way! It's a one-time read and my favorite part in the book is when the protagonist searches for answers about good and evil. More than the story I think I liked the attempt of putting the Indian scriptures and mythology in a story that's contemporary and a little less revered.