The Krishna Key

You feel you've really enjoyed a book or a book has served its purpose when you can imagine and feel every word of it. A good book will actively engage and grip you as if you're one of the characters.

The Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi did it for me!

Ashwin Sanghi is best known for his historical and mythological thrillers and I must congratulate him on producing yet another brilliant piece of work. I thoroughly enjoyed his narration which was full of twists and a random mix of the past and the present. Every chapter brings a new surprise making it almost impossible to put it down and leaves you wanting more. Sanghi has done his best to explore the life of Krishna and has valuable bits of historical, mythological and theological information to share.

There is so much that I want to say and write about the book but it's worth experiencing on your own. So, I'll not give away a lot over here.

The story revolves around the four ancient 3-headed seals and a base plate (with inscriptions in Sanskrit) which together form the Krishna Key. These have the ability to unlock the truth and secret of the historical and mysterious Krishna. The murders in the book are a re-enactment of Krishna's death as the person's left foot is stabbed with a scalpel instead of an arrow. Four famous scientists, linguists and reseachers are brutally killed by a young man who is made to believe that he is the Kalki avatar, 10^th avatar of Vishnu. The 10^th avatar of Vishnu is believed to be the destroyer of evil and purifier of earth. The kalki avatar alongwith his creator Mataji unlocks the ancient secret of the precious Syamantaka by executing their hideous schemes. The Syamantaka is something very precious to a Krishna devotee and can transform base metal into gold or vice versa.

Historian Ravi Mohan Saini who suffers the most because of their evil plans puts an end to all this. In the end, he reinforces the long-forgotten message of Mahabharata that the philosopher is more important than the stone, meaning that the stone being searched for by the killer may have magical properties but the real alchemy or transformation happens inside us. The power to transform and change our lives resides within us and no stone or magic can do it for us.

Also, different characters bring in perspectives and details from their vantage points and add layers to the already existing mystery. Gradually, you feel you are getting there but the end of every chapter leaves you more puzzled and curious. Sanghi has used symbols and illustrations to explain the puzzles/scenes better and to make it an interesting read. At the end of the book you feel that he was successful in maintaining the element of suspense throughout.

Each chapter begins with the narration of Krishna's life and the Mahabharata by Krishna himself. The interesting blend of the epic and the story not only keeps the excitement alive but also enlightens us with the ancient knowledge.

Some tidbits that fascinated me:

-The Taj Mahal was a palace before it became a tomb and has seven storeys not just three.

-Somnath temple was created and destroyed eight times.

-The ancient rishis' understanding of energy and science was much greater than ours.

-108 is a sacred number for Hindus. The distance between the earth and the sun is exactly 108 times the sun's diameter. The distance between the earth and the moon is 108 times the moon's diameter.

-Nine is a magical number, you multiply it by anything you always get nine when you add the result.

-The golden city of Dwarka was built by Vishwakarma, the famous architect, on being asked by Krishna.

-And the Sanskrit shlokas add to the fun and your confused state (for readers like me who are not well versed with them!).

Even though I'm not into mythological or historical fiction, I was completely hooked to the book which should say a lot about it. And I am thrilled to know so much more about my country's history and the greatest epic, Mahabharata.

My judgement:

The book is a lot of fun and full of information. It is well-researched and has a good plot that keeps you hooked. I would definitely recommend reading it! And I would like to conclude my review with a quote which I completely agree with.

"A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading."

William Styron

Happy Reading! :) 
This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at Blogadda.com. Participate now to get free books!

A Calendar Too Crowded

A Calendar Too Crowded by Sagarika Chakarborty is an interesting book. It highlights how women deserve to be happy every day and not just on the specific/important days dedicated to them and reserved for the protection of their rights. Every day in a woman's life is precious! Something which is missing in reality.

The author has taken a very unique style to analyse whether women get what they deserve or they are still a part of a fake society, which is only getting better according to the statistics. There are over 300 days which are not devoted to any women's campaign against child abuse, gender inequality, domestic violence, sexual harassment and it is on these days that womanhood is trampled upon, the patience of a woman is tested and all kinds of atrocities are inflicted on them.

A woman sacrifices throughout her life as a daughter, wife, mother and completely changes herself, her attitude and her life for her family and loved ones but just one fault in her turns everything futile.

In this book, every story deals with a challenge which not only the woman in the story but millions of women across the globe face and struggle with.

Every chapter has an interesting name to it, which keeps you wondering what is it that the author actually means and you want to read further to find that out.

Sagarika raises some relevant questions in her book-- are women really treated fairly? If yes then why is a woman who wants to follow her dreams or live a life the way she wants to considered spoilt or bad? Why is a woman expected to sacrifice at every stage? Do we still see the remnants of the old beliefs hidden somewhere in our society which are silently damaging it? Why is it wrong if a mother wants her daughter to have a different life and not a life which has choices without any options?

She highlights in a few chapters how people assume that women get equal and fair treatment when there are millions of girls who are deprived of basic rights and respect. Even though there are so many laws and rights reserved for women still there so many cases of female infanticides, domestic violence, rapes, female trafficking and child abuse.

Sagarika backs up her arguments against the discrimination faced by women with strong facts at the end of some chapters. Some of the stories are really thought provoking. If you and I don't face these issues that does not mean that they don't exist. They do and in huge numbers. After reading this book, I am amazed at the level of difficulties and suffering women have been and are still are subjected to.

Women are tortured for petty reasons--reasons beyond their control, for not getting enough dowry, they lose their importance if they don't have a baby boy, they are declared a misfit if they question the wrong being done to them or try to change things for themselves because those things are unacceptable.

Just by saying that times for women have changed doesn't really do it, there are millions of women who are still striving for their very basic rights as human beings, the liberty to make their own choices, live the way they want to and live for themselves and not others.

After reading the book, I have a few questions which I doubt can find satisfying answers.

Being a human being why cannot I (being a girl) do things that I want to? Why can I not be accepted for what I am instead of all the faults that are easily found in me? Why am I bad if I question things which I don't agree to? Why can I not have a guy as my best friend? Why can I not make my own decisions? Why people around me have no faith in the values and morals they have instilled in me? Just because I am a Girl?

These questions are worth a thought! For things to change and improve, the mindset of people has to and should change.

This book is a must read for everyone, definitely for all girls, not because you can relate to it but because after reading it you know that you deserve to live a life the way you want to and not submit to unacceptable things, there is nothing wrong in living for yourself. It's our right as a human being.

"A woman has to live her life, or live to repent not having lived it."
- DH Lawrence

Happy Reading! :) 

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at Blogadda.com. Participate now to get free books!

How I wish!

Wish time could freeze when you looked at me,

I was released from all the unhappiness and misery.

Wish things were never to be explained, 

The silence we shared made things fall in place.

Wish things could be back to where they were,

even with our fights the happiness remained.

Wish I could control time,

the only thing that separates us now.

I would have never come so far,

if I only had the power to control Time.