Aug 16, 2013 01:25 AM
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This was my first attempt to read a political thriller, a genre which (cautiously) remains unexplored by me till now. But it was perhaps the first word of the name that caught my attention and I just couldn't hold to grab a copy of the book. We all know Chanakya as a great strategist, scholar and diplomat. His works like Arthashashtra continue to inspire people even now and find relevance even in today’s world. Some of his quotes really leave me in a state of awe wondering how the hell does he managed to represent the current helm of affairs such brilliantly even thousands of years ago!
Coming back to the book, the author Ashwin Sanghi, quite brilliantly, blends two stories from different eras to churn out a melodramatic package that has all (well..almost) the ingredients of making it a good read - wit, humor, conceit, deceit, treachery, jealousy and all other epithets associated with polity. Though, the basic soul of both the stories remain the same, the characters & treatment thereof, is something, that distinct them both. Full marks to the author for doing in dept research about the subject before resorting to create the aura of Chanakya’s ideology in current period. The story is very fast paced and with two stories of different era running simultaneously, it really binds the reader’s attention to the last page not leaving any scope of lousiness.
There's this Brahmin, in ancient India, who has been carrying the burden of the insult and agony of his father's gruesome murder determined to take a revenge & to give a responsible heir to undivided India. Then there's this Pandit from Kanpur, in modern India, anxious to have tryst with destiny to assume political supremacy in the country.
Two different souls from two different periods weave grappling & engaging political drama which is bound to keep you glued till the finish. The book indeed commands a read simply for the terrific twists and turns in the story & also for Chanakya's pearls of wisdom. The way the author crafts and weaves the plot is simply superb, this coupled with his master writing skills makes the book must read.
On the flip side, the climax of the novel is somewhat predictable and doesn't leave a lot to reader's imagination. Also, the fact that only two persons viz. Chanakya & Pandit Mishra are the sole heroes of the story, all other being just secondary to them (including the great Chandragupta & his modern India counterpart Chandani) might just not go too well with some of the readers. Also, with so many twists (though riveting) in the plot & sub plots, the characters might confuse the reader a bit but it all falls in right place at the end.
Must for all the lovers of political thrillers and also for those who want to have a stint in the genre. . .won’t disappoint for sure!
Rating: 3.5/5
Visit my blog to read a complete review of the book:
https://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2013/08/muse-3-book-review-chanaky
as-chant-by.html
