Pens and Places

  This book feels like I found a lost companion(or a personal diary) of a traveling man, in which every experience is expressed with a homely touch. I haven’t read Manav’s work before, but after reading this piece, he had won one more reader.  Initially I struggled a bit, because I am not proficient in reading Hindi fast, but I expected to listen to his story faster in my mind. Carrying this dilemma, sometimes I took pause as well to grasp the surroundings, that compelled me to think about my traveling days’ memories. The title “ बहुत दूर कितना दूर होता है ” has so much depth in it that I created innumerable answers for this statement in my mind. I asked people around how they perceive this statement in general. Some relate it with the bond we carry, some relate with the time we are left with to live, some just couldn’t form words to explain. For me, I think I come up with my version with a pinch of longingness of my heart i.e. If you consider someone detached with you, no ma...

In "Varaha's Vengeance," Arun Krishnan masterfully continues the captivating saga initiated in "Nandi's Charge," the first volume of the Battle of Vathapi series. Seamlessly building upon the narrative groundwork laid in its predecessor, Krishnan navigates readers through the turbulent landscape of the Chalukyas and Pallavas era, where the clash of empires dictates the course of history. Krishnan's narrative prowess shines as he intricately weaves together the threads of ancient warfare, enveloping readers in the cacophony of battle and the quieter moments of introspection. His descriptive prose serves as a portal to a bygone era, where notions of honor and duty collide amidst the chaos of the battlefield. A hallmark of "Varaha's Vengeance" lies in its well-rounded characters. Krishnan breathes life into both male and female protagonists, allowing them to undergo profound growth throughout the narrative. Whether it's the valorous exploi...