Posted in Book Reviews

Suryavamshi : The Sun Kings of Rajasthan (Book Review)

Marrying the facts with fiction is no mean feat, but then in the land of the brave Rajput people the romantic illusion of living life to the fullest is not only romantic but also an inspiration for ballads and songs.

Suryavamshi (The Sun Kings of Rajasthan) particularly focuses on the kings of Mewar who were said to have descended from the Sun God. The chronology of the kings isn’t what you can expect in this book but you can definitely have a wonderful storytelling that mixes James Todd’s Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan merged into a storytelling by Abanindranath Tagore, leaving you engaged till the end. The translation and adaptation from the original ‘Raj Kahini’ in Bengali to English by Sandipan Deb is a beautiful undertaking. This book is published by Juggernaut Books.

As a reader and reviewer hailing from the lineage of the Sun Dynasty, of course I would sound biased in my approach to the review of the book. However, I have tried and been objective in my approach to the reviewing.

The captivating story of Shiladitya, adventures of Bappa Raval, the love of Rani Padmini for her husband and the Jauhar story, Mirabai’s devotion, tracing dynasties and lineage till Chhatrapati Shivaji and the relationship of the Rajput kings with the Bhil kings has been vividly described with many other stories of challenges the sun kings faced. The political intrigue, drama, ascendance to the throne, the right way to rule and the kingdoms and dominions are all fantastically described with facts and fiction. Abanindranath himself had admitted to getting the facts from James Todd’s work.

To get the idea of how the emergence of kings, kingdoms and kinship arose from various tribes, we need to understand the historical implications of different situations. The role of Bhils in keeping Mewar from the attack of invaders however can never be ignored. If you see the insignia on the coat of arms you will find both standing proud on either side of the Sun God.

जो दृढ़ राखे धर्म को, ताहि रखे करतार – has been the pledge of the Sun Kings of Mewar but it can be also be taken into consideration for all of Rajasthan’s brave men and women including the royal families to have followed this path. The pledge translates as – The Almighty protects those who stand steadfast in upholding righteousness (dharma).

Gods and Goddesses also form part of storytelling, weaving into the fabric of Rajasthan’s religious practices without being too obvious about it.

Overall, the book brings into its stories a beautiful amalgamation of wars, politics, justice, rivalry, enmity, love and bravery. The only drawback is that the book doesn’t go beyond Maharana Pratap’s story, I wish there were more stories to encapsulate the rule of the later kings.

The book is ideal read for readers of 10+years and onwards in age. The confluence of fiction and non-fiction makes it a great read for all kinds of readers.

Book Blurb:

For over a century, Abanindranath Tagore’s Raj Kahini has been among the most beloved works of Bangla literature. Mixing history and mythology with an extraordinary visual imagination, it tells the tales of the Suryavamsha – the Sun Dynasty that ruled Mewar. Here we meet Shiladitya, child of the Sun God; Bappaditya, who builds an empire that stretches up to Persia; Hambir, the cheeky teenager who reclaims the throne of Mewar. We meet Padmini, the princess from SriLanka who becomes a goddess; Mirabai, who renounces her kingdom to be with her child-god, Nandalala.

On every page, we are exposed to emotions that define the human condition – love, sacrifice, jealousy, courage, greed and treachery. Honour and loyalty clash with villainy and evil, and the better side does not always win. Epic in their sweep, universal in their essence, the stories are timeless. Suryavamshi is a translation and adaptation of Abanindranath’s classic for twenty-first-century India.

About the Authors:

Abanindranath Tagore (1871–1951) was one of India’s most important artists and led the influential Bengal School of Art. A member of the Tagore family, he was also a well-regarded writer, especially known for his children’s books which includes the classic Raj Kahini.

Sandipan Deb became a published author at the age of eight when one of his stories was printed in Sandesh, the Bangla children’s magazine edited by Satyajit Ray. Since then his writings have ranged from business to cricket, cinema to artificial intelligence.

About the Book Reviewer:

Reviewed by Kavita Jhala, Founder of Kaffeinated Konversations – a Bibliophile, writer and artist. You can reach out to her on FacebookInstagram and Linkedin. If you want your book to be reviewed, drop an email to kaffeinatedkonversations@gmail.com

Posted in Book Reviews

Rajasthani Stories Retold by Rima Hooja (Book Review)

Most of the people who hear the word ‘Rajasthan’ have this romantic notion of a desert place with brave kings ruling the place. While that is fine, what we all need is the gathering of stories that go beyond just kings and kinship. Rima Hooja in her book ‘Rajasthani Stories Retold’ has picked up the untold stories, most of which even I haven’t come across in my long years of reading books!

What makes Rima’s stories different from the usual? This particular book touches upon stories that you might have not read in textbook history or commonly heard it. These stories pick on particular and peculiar incidents that somehow shaped a different historical narrative. Though partly fictionalized, it is all credit to the author that a reader can easily visualize what would have occurred and how they feel as the story progresses.

When we talk about warriors, we don’t just talk about men but also of women who have imparted a new direction to how the lives are supposed to be worth defending or fighting for. Loyalty, bravery and selfless love are all part of the package that Rajput heroes and heroines in these stories inspire. Even the most ordinary persons did extraordinary feats and their actions are recognized in these stories.

Overall, it was an immersive experience as a read as if the ‘time travel’ into past opened up rich stories to explore for me. I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves historical storytelling.


About the Book –

Rajasthan continues to fascinate the world for many reasons. Some of the more obvious ones include its colours, music and dance, venerable history, forts, fortifications, palaces, step-wells and old towns, and rich textile tradition. Rajasthan also brings to mind the vast tracts of golden desert to its north-west and west, juxtaposed by the scattered green and dust-mantle clad valleys, plains and hills of its south-east and east, with their rivers and rivulets and lakes.

Rajasthan is also famed for its rich oral and written traditions, drawn from mythology and religious tales as much as from the history of the area. The oral and written traditions are sometimes coloured by the blood of battles, sometimes romantic with the folk-remembered tales of Moomal, Dhola and Maru, Nihal-de, and often based on real-life tales of sacrifice and duty of valourous men and women like Maharana Pratap, Prithviraj Chauhan, Jaimal, Patta, Gora, Badal, Panna-dhai, Achaldas Khinchi, Durgadas Rathore and countless ordinary citizens.

Dipping into this rich heritage, this book brings to its readers a collection of short stories from Rajasthan. These are based on real people and events, but are somewhat fictionalised in the narration. The nine Rajasthani tales in this book are but a fraction of the amazing legacy of Rajasthan.


About the Author –

Archaeologist, historian, and writer Rima Hooja is Consultant Director (Library & Archives) Maharaja Swami Man Singh II Museum, City Palace, Jaipur; Managing Trustee Jaipur Virasat Foundation; Editor Journal of Heritage Management; and Adjunct Faculty at Ahmedabad University’s Centre for Heritage Management.

She has been a Member of India’s National Monuments Authority (2011-2014), Director Minnesota University’s MSID India Program (2003-2014) and Faculty Director New York State Independent College Consortium for Study in India Program (November zeta-February 2016). A PhD from Cambridge University, Distinguished International Academician of Minnesota University, and Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society, the author has held several academic posts and served on various governing boards, committees and councils.

Rima has several books, research papers, newspaper articles, and conference presentations to her credit. Known for her fondness for animals, she runs an organisation named Animal Care Trust, and currently cares for 80-100 cats in Jaipur. She occasionally also writes!


About the Reviewer –

Reviewed by Kavita Jhala, Founder of Kaffeinated Konversations – a Bibliophile, writer and artist. You can reach out to her on FacebookInstagram and Linkedin. If you want your book to be reviewed, drop an email to kaffeinatedkonversations@gmail.com