The Sacred Sword by Hindol Sengupta

Book: THE SACRED SWORD.

Author: Hindol Sengupta

Publisher: Penguin Random House Pvt Ltd.

Code : ISBN 9780143440192

Let me say it very clearly, this is a book that I picked up with the most anticipation and excitement.

It is a story of the Religious leader of one of the most brave, jubiliant, warm and welcoming sects of India, the Sikhs.

It is also a story of a warrior, religious head.

That means it has all the ingredients to make it an instant hit.

It is set in ancient India. It is set against the backdrop of barbarity of the Mughals. It traces the story of Guru Gobind Singh.

But frankly this book to me read like a documentary. 
I was left with a wish to taste more. I would have wished for this book to be a series of 3 books and detailed stories. Or atleast this book to be 1000 pages and allow more detailed introspection into the life of Guru Gobind Singh.

It doesn’t. 
It left me dissatisfied.

To be honest, the author has an awesome story telling style. Beautifully builds up the scenes, tension and drama. But I would have wished for more depth.

Also the author wasted a lot of pages and my attention in meaningless word breakup of war cries or the Sikh salutation.

Having said that, I loved that someone wrote this book. A book on one of the favourite religious leaders of India. I would request the author to write a longer, detailed, in depth book.

A definite must read. This could even be made into a movie.

  

SEVEN ELEMENTS that have changed the world by author John Browne

Book: SEVEN ELEMENTS that have changed the world
Author: John Browne
Publisher: Hachette India (www.hachetteindia.com)
ISBN: 978 0 2978 6989 4

The book Seven Elements that have changed the world by author John Browne is a unique mix of science, history and politics. It is the story of the elements Iron, Carbon, Gold, Silver, Uranium, Titanium and Silicon. Interwoven with them is the authors extensive personal andprofessional experience. The author, now Lord Browne of Madingley, joined BP in 1966 and served as group CEO from 1995 to 2007. He is an engineer, collector and businessman.  His memoirs, Beyond Business, were published in 2010.

This book is about the seven elements, as mentioned before. This book traces individually in every chapter, about every element, the historical references and significance, the origins, the availability, its discovery and subsequent recovery, its significance in world economy, its usage, its ulterior uses and world events shaped by this element.

Humans have put the Earths resources to extraordinary uses. Carbon provides us with heat, light and mobility at the flick of a switch. From silver came photography, the preservation of memories, and a task which for centuries was confined to painters,  sketchers and our imagination.  Silver in turn was replaced by silicon, an element which enables us to communicate and transmit information across the globe in an instant.
Titanium pervades modern consumer society.

But our use of Earths resources is not always for the benefit of mankind.  Our relationship with the element is of great ambivalence. Uranium produces both productive nuclear power and destructive atomic bombs. Iron is the bloody weapon of war and also the economic tool of peace. Our desire for alluring gold is the foundation of global trade but also has lead to death of millions.

This book vividly describes how seven key elements have changed the world around us - for good and for bad.

Ruler of the World by author Alex Rutherford

Book: Ruler of the world ( Book 3 of series www.empireofthemoghul.co.uk )

Author: Alex Rutherford

Publisher: Hachette India ( www.hachetteindia.com ) (www.headline.co.uk)

ISBN 978-0-7553-4757-5

In his series, “Empire of the Moghul”, the author: Alex Rutherford, as always, relies on historical facts and deftly weaves them into a fictional biographical story that encompasses the mightiest and longest dynastical rulers of India, the Moghuls. Book 1 was the story of Babur the emperor and conqueror. Book 2 was the tale of his son and 2^nd Mughal emperor, Humayun.

Book 3 : Ruler of the world, is the story of India’s most remembered, oft quoted and oft written Mughal emperor, Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar . Or better remembered as just Akbar the great, the 3^rd Mughal emperor.

This book explores in detail how Akbar from birth itself was raised and nurtured on the battle field and in the bastions of an army perpetually on move. He was under the care of a faithful alamgir and a wet nurse, whom he called his second mother.

This book also explores Akbars rise into an individual from the cloistered confines of a protected childhood into a man who will be India’s most loved and remembered Mughal king.

But as is the curse of the Mughal dynasty, Akbar while building the modern Hindustan of his dreams has to face the salaciousness, duplicity and plotting of his own son Salim. This book explores the love of a father deftly counterposed against the duties and rigidity of an emperor.

A must read for adventure lovers and history buffs. 

Brothers at war by author Alex Rutherford

Book: Brothers at War       ( Book 2 of series www.empireofthemoghul.co.uk )

Author: Alex Rutherford

Publisher: Hachette India ( www.hachetteindia.com ) (www.headline.co.uk)

ISBN 978-0-7553-4754-4

In his series “Empire of the Moghul”, the author: Alex Rutherford, as always relies on historical facts and deftly weaves them into a fictional biographical story that encompasses the mightiest and longest dynastical rulers of India, the Moghuls. Book 1 exulted the story of Babur the King and conqueror.

Book 2 : Brothers at War, is the story of Babur’s son and India’s second Mughal emperor, Humayun. His father leaves him with a vast empire stretching from the swamps of Bengal to Persia and the plains of Mongolia to the dusty plains of central India.

But with inheritance of the empire Humayun also inherits the scorn and hate of his three half brothers who start to plot to usurp his throne and take his life.

This book is an amazing intricate web of court politics and war planning. It also shows  the fragility of power and anxieties of emperors.

A must read for adventure lovers and history buffs. 

Raiders from the North by author Alex Rutherford

Book: Raiders from the North  ( Book 1 of series www.empireofthemoghul.co.uk )

Author: Alex Rutherford (pen name for a husband wife duo)

Publisher: Hachette India ( www.hachetteindia.com ) (www.headline.co.uk)

ISBN 978-0-7553-5654-6

In his series “Empire of the Moghul”, the author: Alex Rutherford, as always relies on historical facts and deftly weaves them into a fictional biographical story that encompasses the mightiest and longest dynastical rulers of India, the Moghuls.

The book: Raiders from the North encompasses the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India, Babur.

It starts in the plains of Mongolia in the mountains of Ferghana, a small mountain town where Babur, a young lad is crowned the king.

This book is interesting in the fact that though all of India knows Babur as the mighty Moghul King and conqueror, this book covers in detail the multiple attempts and failures of Babur to capture and reign over the kingdoms of Afghanistan, the plains of Hindu khush and India itself.

It shows all the trials and tribulations of a mighty conqueror, and in fact highlights the stuff that kings are made of.

The story is very deftly a weave of history and fiction from the plains of Mongolia to Persia to Afghanistan and India.

A must read for adventure lovers and history buffs.