Shackles? The word resonated inside my head a couple of times, going around till it became a distant echo. They also had a piece of rope around their neck. Their hands were tied behind their back with ropes which cut into their skins, revealing the bones. The children shifted uneasily, in pain. Their clothes were... Continue Reading →
The Ocean Whisperer – II
The Sun had finally gone, plonked into the sea as a ripe apple falls from the tree, leaving the world in relative darkness. The moon rose from the east, a white, cold disc of cheerfulness, shining a weak light over the ocean, and the forest adjoining the retreat. A few lights from the hotel twinkled... Continue Reading →
The Ocean Whisperer – I
The breeze was warm and moist, and carried a plethora of smells as it blew across the beach - it smelt of fishes, trees, wet sand and brine. It rustled the shrubs which bordered the beach and swayed the trees which stood solemnly at a distance from the hotel where we were staying. An occasional... Continue Reading →
Excerpts from ‘The Battle of Panchavati’ – VIII (Gautama)
Sujata was bewildered, and a little afraid. She was passing through the forest to reach her village on the other side, returning from her relatives’ place, when she saw him. Lying face down near the mountain stream, it looked like this ‘person’ was trying to reach the water. She had never seen anyone so emaciated,... Continue Reading →
Excerpts from ‘The Battle of Panchavati’ – VII (The Curse of Draupadi)
The royal assembly had slowly fallen silent. The unthinkable was happening. Silence and the weight of the events about to unfold hung heavy in the air, stilling the drunken chatter in the hall. The perfumes wafting through the assembly of Hastinapur seemed to wither and die down. The Pandavas had lost the gambling match, and... Continue Reading →
Excerpts from ‘The Battle of Panchavati’ – VI (Gangadhar)
The eight cardinal directions resonated with the sound of Namah Shivay, high in the cold environs of Mount Kailash, the land of the gods, the Devbhumi. No one sang it, no singing was necessary; nature herself sang praises to her lord, the Mahadev, the master of all realms. Near the very top of the mountain,... Continue Reading →
Book Launch Event
Happy to announce the book launch event of 'The Battle of Panchavati and Other Stories from Indian Scriptures' at the Oxford Bookstore, Connaught Place, New Delhi on the 6th of July, 2019. The event is being hosted by Jashn Event Managers and the Chief Guest is My Sushil Bharti, Director, Broadcasting, Marwah Studios, Film City... Continue Reading →
Excerpts from ‘The Battle of Panchavati’ – V (The Killing of Keechak)
The night was dark and tempestuous. Jet-black nimbus clouds had blotted out the moon and the stars, making the darkness overpowering. The winds howled through the kingdom of Matsya, uprooting trees, breaking branches, blowing dead leaves and foliage in the palace compound through the open windows and into the chambers of those who slept inside.... Continue Reading →
Excerpts from ‘The Battle of Panchavati’ – IV (The Battle of Panchavati)
In the peninsular part of the ancient land of Bharatvarsha, south of the Vindhya mountains, was located a territorial region known as Nashikya. Most of the land of Nashikya was covered with dense, impenetrable forests where light did not reach the ground, no vegetables grew and no flowers bloomed. This dense forest, akin to hell... Continue Reading →