Author : Arun Krishnan
Publisher: Harper Collins India
Genre: Mythology & History
Book buy link : @Amazon
Dr. Arun
Krishnan, the author of this book titled “Nandi’s Charge” is a polyglot and is
conversant in Tamil, English, Hindi, Bengali, Japanese and Kannada. He has studied and lived in different cities
across the world and settled now in Bangalore.
He started with a degree in engineering and a doctorate, he has
professionally indulged in different fields like IT, Bio-sectors, HR also
worked at various institutes as an assistant professor. He can be reached through his Twitter
@ArunKrishnan_ and Instragram @authorarunkrishnan. “The Battle of Vathapi Book
1 - NANDIS' CHARGE” is his first work of fiction.
Nature dominates in this entire
work with beautiful narration of Mamallapuram and Kanchi of Tamilnadu, the wild
destination Bannari Amman Temple, Kodimunai, Anuradhapuram of Sri Lanka etc.,,
The Author makes the readers visualise the picturesque locations.
In this
book, the author Arun Krishnan showed our nation’s ascendancy even after the
stupor of many centuries can look back with pride on its history, religion and
scriptures drawing not only spiritual solace but living courage for its future
progress.
According
to Sanskrit Poet Bharavi the author of Kiratarjuneeyam, the spies are considered
as the eyes of the kings, having the key role for the betterment of
governance of their own kings. In the
verse, “Kriyasu vrutthair Nrupa chaara-chakshusah”, one can understand
that the king had entrusted spy with an important mission and it would be the
basest treachery on his part were he to deceive him in that matter. Spies form, it is said the eyes of kings and
should therefore on no account deceive them.
He then reminds the king that what is the wholesome is not generally
palatable, the most beneficial medicines being often the most bitter. So, the readers of this book can easily
understand that the three captains Kannan, Elango and Muthu seriously indulged
in finding the secret of other kingdom and inform to their Master Narasimha Varman
Pallava, through General Ilanthiraiyanar who was assistant to
Commander-in-chief Paranjyothi, governing the armed forces of Pallava.
"Our
experience from Pullalur has taught us that our intelligence was not very good
then. Our spy networks in the Pandya, Ganga and Chalukya lands were almost
non-existent. Without your good intelligence, we didn't stand a chance, as was
born e out by the later events at Pullalur." Page 27.
In this context, the strategic considerations and the importance of effective
intelligence networks seems that the speaker is acknowledging the shortcomings
in their intelligence operations during a past incident at Pullalur. The
mention of spy networks in Pandya, Ganga, and Chalukya lands being almost
non-existent implies a lack of crucial information about potential threats or
events in those regions.
The
lesson learned from the experience at Pullalur is the significance of having
reliable intelligence. The speaker suggests that without good intelligence,
they were at a disadvantage, and this deficiency was evident in the subsequent
events at Pullalur. This aligns with the broader principles of statecraft and
military strategy outlined in the Arthashastra, which emphasizes the importance
of intelligence gathering for effective decision-making and strategic planning.
Mamallapuram
was referred to in the Sangam age poem Perumpanatruppadai as Nirpeyyaru. Page
62
"Perumpanatruppadai"
is a Sangam poem that celebrates the valor and heroic deeds of the Chera king,
Uthiyan Cheralathan. It is considered one of the classic examples of Sangam
poetry, providing insights into the social, cultural, and political aspects of
the ancient Tamil society.
On the
other hand, "Nirpeyyaru" is not a Sangam poem but a category of poems
within the Sangam literature. "Nirpeyyaru" means 'heroic poetry' or
'warrior poems.' These poems often focused on the deeds of heroes and warriors,
extolling their bravery and sacrifice in battle.
"Do
you really believe that Narasimhavarman will not make attempts to encircle us,
just as we encircled him without our allies" page 183.
This
statement attributed to Pulakeshin II reflects a strategic concern about the
potential actions of Narasimhavarman, a Pallava king. Pulakeshin II, who was
the Chalukya king, seems to be expressing scepticism about whether
Narasimhavarman would refrain from attempting to surround or encircle them,
considering that the Chalukyas had previously employed similar tactics against
him without the support of allies.
In
essence, Pulakeshin II is highlighting the dynamic and unpredictable nature of
political and military strategies. The statement suggests a recognition of the
cyclical and reciprocal nature of conflict, where a tactic used by one party
may be employed by the other in response. It underscores the need for strategic
foresight and an understanding of the potential actions and reactions of
adversaries in the context of historical and geopolitical rivalries.
The
statement of Sivanadiyan " I cannot abandon my duties just because some
soldiers might want to harm me. If they do, they do. I will see that as my
Karma. But I shall not serve from my Dharma." Page 308
The
statement by Sivanadiyan reflects a strong commitment to duty and
righteousness. Sivanadiyan acknowledges the potential danger posed by soldiers
who might want to harm him, but he refuses to abandon his duties. He expresses
a willingness to accept any harm that may come his way as a result of
performing his duties, viewing it as his karma (fate or destiny). However, he
is steadfast in his resolve not to deviate from his dharma (duty or
righteousness). This statement highlights the importance of adhering to one's
principles and responsibilities, even in the face of personal risk or
adversity.
Soldier
Kannan finally arrested King Paravikrama. Kannan's sword whistled out of
its scabbard and its point nicked Paravikrama's throat. Page 449
The brief
scenario described indicates that Soldier Kannan has successfully arrested King
Paravikrama by drawing his sword. The use of the term "whistled out of its
scabbard" suggests a swift and decisive action. The fact that the sword's
point nicked Paravikrama's throat implies a tense and potentially dangerous
situation, where Kannan has managed to physically subdue the king and is now in
control of the situation. The brief description captures a moment of conflict
and captures the gravity of the encounter between Soldier Kannan and King
Paravikrama.
The
statement of of Annamalai a young captain of the army of Durai Singam the king
thagadur "The trick to being a good general is to know when to stop
fighting" Page 485.
The statement by Annamalai, a
young captain in the army of Durai Singam, emphasizes a crucial aspect of
military strategy and leadership. By saying, "The trick to being a good
general is to know when to stop fighting," Annamalai suggests that an
effective military leader must possess the wisdom to recognize the appropriate
moment to cease hostilities.
This perspective aligns with the
idea that prolonged conflict can have detrimental consequences, both in terms
of human lives and strategic objectives. A skilled general understands that
continuing to fight without purpose or when the costs outweigh the benefits may
lead to unnecessary losses. Knowing when to pursue peace, negotiate, or
withdraw from a conflict can be as important as knowing when to engage in
battle. It reflects a nuanced understanding of the broader context, diplomacy,
and the strategic considerations necessary for long-term success in military
endeavors.
The statement of Elang to KIng
HarshaVardhan, "I have a duty to perform on behalf of my king. I
thought it would be remiss of me not to do that. With that Elango took
out the sealed olai that General Ilanthiraiyanar had given him many moons ago,
and handed it over to King Harsha" Page 512.
In this statement, Elango is
expressing his sense of duty and loyalty to his king. He informs King
HarshaVardhan that he has a responsibility to fulfill on behalf of his monarch
and feels it would be negligent of him not to carry out that duty. Elango then
takes out a sealed olai (possibly a document or message) that General
Ilanthiraiyanar had given him a long time ago, and he presents it to King
HarshaVardhan. This act signifies Elango's commitment to his role as a
messenger or representative, highlighting the importance of fulfilling
obligations even in the face of changing circumstances or new allegiances.
In this way there are numerous
incidences in the book featuring the various qualities of ruler which emphasis
the need to learn a lot of things from history. Though the book is voluminous, it’s
worth spending time with it.
It’s time
to remember these words- “There is an element of truth in our thinking that the
present age we live in is peculiarly an age of tradition and change. The whole conception of history of our
country being the names of a large number of kings and emperors, and our
learning them by heart, is long forgotten. I hope at any rate though it
forgotten because anything more futile their children’s study of the record of
kings’ reign and battles, I cannot imagine.”- says Jawaharlal Nehru in
his book PROMISES TO KEEP.
(This book review is a part of Blogchatter's Book review program)