Author: Sidharth Kanattil
This amazing historical takes you back by about 170 years. the author had diligently constructed plots in the opulent township of Shahajanabad, where the John company official Henry Haines schemes meticulously for the course of his future. An Indian spy for Mr. Haines, Amar Chaudhry makes a wrong decision which causes the snowballing of misfortunes for many of the characters in the story. As a result young Ratan is pushed into an alien world where he had to struggle for survival whereas the love of his life Radha has her heart broken ruthlessly and trampled upon. The story revolves around misplaced ambition and greed running deep into our morals which made the East India Company spread its roots deeper into our society.
The second volume opens throws light on how slavery held prominence including subjecting the ‘coolies’ to worst possible barbarism while they craved for death to escape the realms of torture by the French, actually indirectly the British colonies which had spread their tentacles far and wide. they had destroyed countries for filling their own coffers and every head raised in protest was uprooted. Ratan now seasoned by what life taught him seeks retribution for betrayal and yearns to meet Radha someday. Some of those who have joined hands to raise up against the English atrocities have now a long and a tough journey to reclaim what was once theirs.
The author takes us through a picturesque journey of the colonial times which are in tandem with what history has recorded. The research and linking of the plots to converge together and the parallel running of history is splendid. Highly recommended, especially if one likes to read a historical. I particularly loved the language lucidity and the flow which as a fast reader, didn’t result in any breaks for me. The language and dialectal variations have been aptly been played with to suit the times and the author has been careful not to over do it as it is usually seen in such genres.
I am looking forward for a Volume III where the plots can be finally tied up. In short the author has made me want for more.
Available on Amazon in both paperback and kindle formats.
