Book Review - Immortals of Meluha

Amish Tripathi’s first novel is the epic fantasy. Immortals of Meluha is based on the belief that perhaps the actions, deeds and karma are the only determining factors to metamorphose an ordinary man to a god like figure or god! This is a  story of a 21 years old Guna tribal chief Shiva. The story starts with the Kailash parvat resident Guna tribe fighting with other tribe Pakrits for the land near holy lake “Mansarovar”. Then the plot twists surprisingly as Shiva accepts foreigner Nandi’s offer to migrate to his Country Meluha, the land of Suryavanshi’s. This starts the  beautiful, fascinating journey of Shiva’s life. That was the time when oracles used to turn the wheel of fortune and kingship was seen as an order of divinity, a time which we believe never existed in reality but only in epics and mythologies. And herein lies the greatness of our Classical super-past that always allows us a window to look through it only to find ourselves little insignificant beings in front of such a stupendous cultural cosmos. We also come to know about certain cultural rites beliefs and the logic behind such Dos and Don’ts. The story truly has captured the spirit of those bygone ages in their true color.

Author has used the mythological kernels and factoids beautifully to develop the story. Though it is a fantasy, the knowledge and timing of the mythological incidents and characters is beautiful.  The characters develops slowly but completely as the story unfolds but somewhere it also makes the story predictable. There are variety of reasons to like this book. The pace of the book is very good, the language is simple though it may be difficult to get some words for the people who do not have  insight to Indian mythology

The jargons(includes ‘idiot’) used in the books gives us the feel as if the characters are talking in today’s era and they sound inappropriate. This is the point most readers have criticised Amish for. It would have been better if writer would have avoided the jargons so that reader can actually travel 4000 years back and feel the time. Also in the chapter where Daksha allows Sati to travel with Shiva on the tour to Meluha is the point where Amish goes completely bollywood.  This journey could have been started with some stronger and story complimenting reason. Also the maika system of taking away newly born children from their mothers and being raised in Gurukul, keeping their identity under wraps is something I wonder if Indian society ever had.  However Amish has gone a long way to say how our rich heritage could be used in the modern day and age. It is a very noble beginning. I hope we see more writers taking Indian mythology as the base of their books.

 


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