Immortals of Meluha

Immortals of Meluha by Amish Tripathi, published by Wetland Press is the first novel from the Shiva trilogy series, the other two being ‘The Secret of the Nagas’ and the ‘Oath of Vayuputras’. For those who enjoy fiction and mythology, would find themselves the perfect read. The book grips the reader’s interest till the end, Amish’s imagination has helped create an ancient India where the whole trilogy is set. The book unveils Lord Shiva in a new perspective. He is a common man, a leader, a dancer and his karma makes him God. Shiva is a clan leader who has taken the responsibility of protecting his clan members from the neighboring ethnic groups, who keep attacking Shiva’s home territory. They move to Meluha for a secure life. Nandi, a close follower of Shiva, approaches him and offers a safe passage their land. Shiva’s arrival at Meluha was where the journey of him becoming Neelkanth began. Neelkanth means the man with the ‘blue throat’. His throat turns azure as he sips the Somras, a famous drink. The Meluhans also called themselves suryavanshis – those who follow the solar calendar. The clan idolizes Shiva as a saviour who would fight and win over the Evil of Chandravanshi – the clan that followed the lunar calendar. The gripping story of heroism and war highlights how one man can alter the course of events. The drama in the story takes a new twist at the introduction of Sati.. The subplot of the story is the budding romance of Shiva and Sati, while the main plot is consistently taking the readers through the fascinating course of events. The battle between the two kingdoms constitutes the plot throughout. At the end of the first trilogy, Amish gives way to the next story on the ferocious Nagas who add a new dimension to the suspense built up. A very enjoyable mix of history, fiction, mythology and traditional stories (passed by parents and grandparents to kids) from the Hindu faith. This book is definitely a page turner, and keeps the reader absolutely captivated and enthralled. This book is interests all age groups and definitely falls under the category of “A MUST READ”. This debut book ripples enough curiosity in the readers to make them gasping for more in the second edition of this epic trilogy.