Chaturanga
by
Anand Neelakantan
Genre: Fiction
Westland , 2020
"Make up stories and repeat them often. Scream about how no one who is against Mahishmathi is going to be spared. There will be enough fools to fall for it. Nothing sells like nationalism and religion in our country. Offer prayers at all the temples along the way. Talk about our ancient culture and tradition. Fools who have done nothing in life will feel proud that they were born in this goddamn country, though they are living like worms. Be their fucking hero. They will soon be devoted to you, willing to kill and die for you, and to lynch anyone who dares question you." - Chaturanga.
Chaturanga is the second book of the prequel trilogy of "Bahubali - before the beginning" and is possibly the best book I have read so far by Anand Neelakantan. Book 1 ends with the king demanding Sivagami kill her foster father ( the general of Mahishmathi and the one who took care of her since she was orphaned) to prove her patriotism to Mahishmathi. Book 2 - Chaturanga means Chess and the book is aptly titled as this is about politics of running a kingdom and how politicians deal with the economic collapse that can lead to political collapse. It also exposes the diversion tactics politicians employ to keep the people occupied while they go after their own vision of what is right while people die just to stay in power. So does Sivagami kill her foster father who is her father's best friend just to become a landowner? How does the slave Kattappa live with himself after killing his younger brother Shivappa at the command of the prince Bijalladeva who rapes and murders Shivappa's fiance despite knowing the prince is wrong? Will the slave ever be free? What happens to the book Sivagami's father has left her and which is stolen? Does she manage to retrive it? What about rebellion of the Vaithalikas - does it die with Shivappa's death? What is Pattaraya really up to? Will Acchi Nagamma and her network of spies be able to beat the Mahishmathi rulers at their own game? How does patriarchy conquer matriarchial culturally ruled places? In the chess game of politics, does truth or power triumph? How does a freedom fighting group of idealist friends change into enemies ? Who lives and who dies? What about the disappearing children? Will someone come to their rescue? Book 2 deals with all these questions and more.
From the power corridors of Mahishmathi to the matriarchial ruled Kadiramangalam, from the leper colonies to the secret temples in the forests, Neelakantan weaves a tale of power, betrayal, injustice and survival with an ease that only a master storyteller can do. The only book I can compare it with is the Indian epic Mahabharata for the sheer number of stories within stories. Even the epic seems too simple in comparison to Chaturanga where there is no Draupadi seeking revenge or fight between cousins for power. This one is much larger as no one is related or taking revenge for betrayal but is more realistic.
The writing is crisp, Not only has his writing got better but the narration and plot points are superb. If Book 1 was a surprise, this book will blow you away as it is not only a page turner but is a insight into real politics of the world. It cuts through the crap of politicians spewing ideology and explains how politics is done in the world where the political ideology is nothing but a diversion employed by politicians to stay in power. The book ends leaving you wanting for more as you are left wondering what will happen and I am looking forward to reading the book 3.
It is a great book to read during lockdown. If you wish to buy it, click this
