Ashwin
Sanghi’s uncanny ability to make modern day mountains out of mythological
molehills is always entertaining and very instructive. The latest addition to
his acclaimed Bharat series is The Ayodhya Alliance – which is ambitious
and audacious in scale and scope. Sanghi’s trademark blend of spirituality,
science and politics from the past and present go into the making of this fast
and furiously paced thriller. The hyper-editing ensures the book has the feel
of a Bollywood potboiler carefully crafted to capture the eyeballs of the ADHD
– afflicted, near extinct, modern reader to dizzying effect.
There is a
fantastic premise about a mysterious ancient technology that supposedly
harnessed the equal and opposing yet complementary energies of Shiva and Vishnu
together worshipped as Harihara in the physical realm, that could unleash
unlimited power and alter the course of history, science and technology across
the ages by creating weapons and tools of unimaginable power as well as time –
defying monuments of extraordinary beauty. Ravana, the greatest devotee of
Shiva gained access to this secret and revealed it to Lakshmana as he lay dying
on the battlefield of Lanka. Henceforth, the legend and its power were
safeguarded for thousands of years by guardians named Dvaitalingam Rakshaks
bound by a sacred oath. In the present day, India’s borders come under threat
and its defences have taken a beating from a certain powerful neighbour with
superior technology and comparable population. Maverick steel maven – Aditya
Pillai, and his counterpart from South Korea, Somi Kim, find themselves
collaborating on a crucial, high-stakes defence project that could give India
the upper hand. As they race against the clock and battle ruthless adversaries,
they find themselves travelling back in time on a quest for an ancient
scientific force that brought together allies from Ayodhya, Kailasa, Pandya
Desam, Rome, Damascus, Korea, and Thailand who joined hands to avert war, share
knowledge, and build a better world. In Somi’s words, “…sometimes, the
solutions we seek in the present were first dreamed of in the past.”
Oscillating
across centuries and continents while hopscotching from subjects as diverse as
quantum physics, metallurgy, history, philosophy, and international affairs is
no mean feat and Sanghi does a commendable job of juggling many balls with
reasonable levels of dexterity. But he does drop the ball on occasion. Known
for his meticulous research and fascinating factoids, he nevertheless falters
in his attempt to bridge the North and South - Indian divide. Inaccuracies with
regard to the authenticity of Tamil language, literature and cultural milieu
crop up and key historical events from the South which witnessed violent
clashes between the Shaivite and Vaishnavite sects in the late Vedic age and
during the rule of certain Shaivite Chola Kings are skipped which is a pity
given the concept of the novel. The occasional anachronism creeps in as well
and the reader is informed that a character “unbuttoned his shirt” in the throes
of passion, 2000 years ago.
While he
deserves a rap on the knuckles for not paying closer attention to detail, a pat
on the back is also due for the commendable effort made to remind his readers
that while regional identity and pride is understandable it must not come at
the cost of Indianness and unity. Some
characters make a worthy effort to overcome the barriers of race, religion and
caste in the interest of the greater good.
There is action,
danger and hidden menace at every turn but for Ashwin Sanghi afficionados it is
the density of ideas which pay off in rich dividends. The beating heart of the
book, bleeds with anguish for the loss of invaluable knowledge, art, wholesome
customs and a way of life at the hands of ruthless invaders. It raises
awareness about generational trauma and the ignorance, intolerance it
engendered which leads to cultural erosion and the spawning of more hatred and violence
- “…even the most sacred of sites, the most powerful of deities, could not
withstand intolerance”. This has led to the victimised committing to victimising
others, justifying their conduct by pointing to past injustices not realizing
that it cannot be used as an excuse to condone present day atrocities. Sanghi
makes a powerful case for kindness and compassion through his protagonists for
whom it is the bonds of love and friendship that is the bulwark of strength and
support during challenging moments in their lives, even more so than
technological knowhow and ancient power.
It calls
for the precision of a tightrope walker to endorse the merits of taking pride
in being Indian and the attempt to assert our cultural, spiritual and
scientific legacy across global platforms without being gau-rakshaks about it.
Ashwin Sanghi just about pulls it off and The Ayodhya Alliance is a
worthy addition to his Bharat collection and will no doubt have readers
clamouring for more.
This book review was originally published in TNIE Magazine
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