Author: Arun Krishnan
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Genre: Mythology & History
Book buy link: @Amazon
Dr. Arun Krishnan, the author of
this book titled ‘Simha’s Roar’ is a polyglot who has studied and lived in
different cities across the world and settled now in Bangalore. He
can be reached through his Twitter @ArunKrishnan_ and Instagram
@authorarunkrishnan.
“The Battle of Vathapi Book 3 - SIMHA’S
ROAR” is his third work of fiction.
In this third book, the author brings
the conclusion of Pallava Emperor Mamalla Narasimha’s victory over the Chalukya
king Pulikesi.
Mamallan NarasimhaVarman I, son and successor of Mahendra-Varman,
is said to have vanquished Pulikesin in many battles and stormed his capital,
Vatapi. The struggle was renewed by
Vikramaditya I, son of Pulikesin II, who claims to have caused the destruction
of the family of Narasimha and captured the city, Kanchi.
The Pallava records, however, inform us that the
Chalukya attack was finally repulsed.
Undaunted by their failures, the Chalukyas once more overran the Pallava
dominions under the leadership of Vikramaditya II, great-grandson of
Vikramaditya I, in the first half of the eighth century A.D. They routed King Nandivarman Pallavamalla and
took the city of Kanchi. The Pallavas
were now threatened by enemies from the south as well as the north.
The Pandyas advanced up to the banks of the river
Kaveri and engaged in deadly conflicts with the decadent empire of Kanchi. The coup de grace was given by Aditya
Chola who defeated Aparajita Pallava and took procession of his kingdom towards
the end of the ninth century A.D.
The epoch of the Pallava of Kanchi is memorable in the
political and cultural history of India.
They built up the first great empire in south of the Penner and the
ThungaBhadra and carried their arms as far as Ceylon.
The list of characters, Author’s note, map, and
pictorial representation of the Battle of Suramara and the Battle of
Manimangala give the readers a proper understanding of this interesting
historical fiction.
Though the author appears to be concerned with the single
idea of focusing on the personality of Mamalla, he never fails to display his
keen interest in the other major and minor characters.
The trilogy of “The Battle of Vatapi” makes the
readers visualize the warfare activities that were already seen in the
historical movies and already read in the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Kamandakiya the great author of Indian
Ancient Statecraft defines that “Diplomacy consists of five limbs; 1.
Initiation of schemes, 2. The equipment of manpower and wealth, 3. The proper
time and place, 4. Prevention of dangers and 5. Success.”
Accordingly, the author provides
all these, so the readers of this book can understand that the statecraft of
diplomacy employed right will give rise to the power of the leader which lies
in financial and military stability.
Page 7
As I said, Captain, please ask your
men to stop. I would hate to kill my fellow singhalise.
This dialogue between Chaminda to
Hathurasingha suggests the echo of the Bhagavad Gita
“Svajanam hi Katham hathvaa
sukhinas syaama Maadhava” (37-I)
It is not right to kill our own kin and relatives, for
how can we hope for happiness by killing our people? O Madhava?
I see all the indications contrary to the good, and I
can't see how having killed our kith and kin in the war, can we hope for the
victory, the ownership of the state, and the happiness consequent to them.
Page 32
“Give me a couple of days, Sire, and I shall get all
the information we need to formulate a plan.”
The dialogue between Mamalla and Ilanthiraiyanar
suggests that Ilanthiraiyanar, placing his friends as guards around him, though
apprehensive, assumes his dependence after assigned tasks and proclaims his duty-mindedness.
Listen to me, Kannan.
You are the only man in my life……….I shall wait for you to come to me
after the war.
This dialogue between Indu and Kannan suggests that “Union
in marriage brought about by seeing each other of persons who are alike in
beauty, love, family status and age, occurs only in the case of few people as a
result of meritorious deeds done previously.”
Page 336
The phrases, when Maharaja Immudi Pulikesi, the great
Chalukya king was killed by King Mamalla in the war, Mamalla commanded his soldiers
not to cheer the moment that “there will be no cheering here because we will
demean the act of revenge by cheering the death of a brave man” and “these
seasoned soldiers, and they knew the death in battle could be even more
glorious than victory.”
This shows the real spirit of the heroism of the great
king Pulikesi as well as Mamalla. Both
victory and death while fighting face-to-face are praiseworthy and are held in
great esteem by the people.
Upon completely reading the trilogy, readers are sure
to have a great appreciation for the author for bringing up such a challenging part
of history which is worth a repeat as a historical fiction.
(Received a copy of the book from HarperCollins in
return for an honest review.)
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