Rise Of Kali: Ajaya Series 2 | Anand Neelakantan | Mahabharat Retelling | Indian Mythological Book | Mahabharta | Book 2 of Ajaya Book Set | Author of Asura

Review Rise of Kali is the second and the last book in the Ajaya Duology by Anand Neelakantan which says the story of Mahabharata from the perspective of Suyodhana aka Dhuryodhana. This book follows the events of the part one, Roll of the dice. The first book ended with the most disgraceful event of the epic – the disrobing of Draupadi. Until then Suyodhana’s character was flawless but this event brought about a tend in his character even for the readers who admired and adored Dhuryodhana. Understanding this situation the author starts the second book Rise of Kali with a very interesting scenario and that ultimately came as a great and befitting redemption for Dhuryodhana’s damaged image. The author builds up a curiosity right from the very beginning and it persist till the very end. Right when you feel like almost every important anecdote of the epics have been told and what more the author has to write about ? He diligently surprises us with his unique story telling power and many untold events. The way in which he had woven this well known epic from a very different aspect and in a very interesting way was the strength of this book and the author. The most interesting thing about Anand Neelakantan’s writing is, he never infiltrates any magical elements into the book. He never said any of the characters had super powers and he simply depicted Krishna as a human and there was no mythical powers involved behind the birth of the famous Pandavas. The way he humanified the entire epic was so interesting and relatable even for today’s world and generation. The characterization of Duryodhana was extraordinary and his character never cease to amaze us with his generous heart and his integrity. The love he has for his friends was really inspiring, he is definitely the epitome of friendship. This book also showed some of shortcomings of Karna and that was really thought provoking. And this book deliberately sings the glory of the real unsung heroes of this epic, Eklavya and Aswathama. Through this book the author has exhibited Aswathama and Eklavya’s love for Dhuryodhana was no way lower thaan Karna’s. This is something most of the interpretations of Mahabharata fails to talk about in great detail. The friendship shared between Dhuryodhana, Karna, Aswathama and Eklavya was an epic in itself. And it obviously deserves a separate book to talk about. In this book, two innocent characters were introduced to the readers, they both were beautiful souls but who had a tragic life and ending. They were Dhuryodhana’s daughter and son, Lakshmana Kumara and Kumara. Their introduction part was the most adorable sequence of the book and the relationship shared between Dhuryodhana’s daughter and Ekalavya was really cute and heart warming. The dirty politics played by Shakuni and Krishna was unacceptable and really cruel. The whole conflict wouldn’t have happened if not for these two guys. And there was this character called Dhayumya whose character was extremely horrible than any other bad characters you would’ve seen. The author had cover a lot of things and that includes how the Pandavas and their allies treated Pandava’s illegitimate sons, Khatodkacha and Iravan. And that showcased their mindset and core personality. These events were really ugly and heartbreaking. Mild and subtle incidents that the author had written had a lot of impact on the character development of each and every character. Obviously, this book will make the readers realize how good a story it is. You cannot simply stop astonishing at the storytelling ability of The Great Sage Vyasa. This is remarkably one of the best stories the world has ever witnessed. For the most part of the book the author vividly covered all the war sequences. And it broadly showed how both the side fought their war. The Pandavas, who considered to be the heroes of the epic had almost broken every single law and actually won the war through crook and hook whereas the so called villains had never step away from the path of Dharma. This book did not vilify the Pandavas but it simply just manifested their inability to think on their own and act as per their heart’s wishes. Most of the time, it felt really sad to look at these five brothers who were caught up in the whirlpool of orthodox fanatics’ illusion which emphasis on divinity of non existential things like caste, godly lineage and so on. Whereas, on the other hand, it was so fulfilling to look back at the glorious life lead by Dhuryodhana because he acted as per her heart’s wishes. He had a great sense of social justice and responsibility and that was exhibited through his every deeds and actions. He wanted to bring about a social order where nobody is constrained or caged by the orthodox thought process of the society. He is such a hero material. It was really astonishing to see a man with such a commitment towards society, that too especially during that period. After reading this book, Dhuryodhana was the only character who stood tall and mighty throughout the book. He acted like a human and accepted his shortcomings and flaws, and that’s what made him better than every other characters in the book. And definitely, it is totally a worthy read. My Views OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! The best book, I have ever read. I loved this duology so much. Today I’m falling short of words to describe my love for this book. I have always liked Dhuryodhana but this duology and the author gave me the correct and reasonable reasons to love him. This man was really perfect and he just did one deadly mistake and the world started to see him as the villain and turned blind eye towards all his goodness and positives. If you are a mythology lover, you should absolutely read this book. Or if you’re someone who had watched the Mahabharata series on your tele and loved it, then please do give this book a shot because it is such an amazing book and I literally want every single person to read this book and believe me, you will not regret it. Anand Neelakantan’s books are the only books I sit with pen and keep on highlighting nonstop and I totally love doing it. Please SS Rajamouli, turn this wonderful book into a movie and only you can do justice to this amazing plot written by Anand Neelakantan. Okay, so my top most favorites of this epic would be Suyodhana aka Dhuryodhana, Karna, Aswathama, Eklavya, Bhanumati and Balarama. My rating for this book would be 5 out of 5 stars Happy reading folks!!

Great book by great author I really like the way, Mr. Anand provide the point of view of Soyadhan

Rise of Kali: Duryodhana's Mahabharata (Ajaya Book 2) It is a book which depicts the epic- Mahabharata from the point of view of the Kauravas. The author has presented it as an antithesis perspective epic-sequel in honour of the vanquished in the lore of History. It follows his book,'The roll of Dice: Duryodhanas Mahabharata" - Ajaya Book 1. Both the two volumes are the flip side of the Mahabharata with its Heroes and villains reversed. The plot is excellent and the author has done justice to the vanquished side.The depth of his detailing of characters and its perspective is adorable. With a simple, clear and powerful presentation, Anand has been able to keep the book thrilling and aching for more. The book helps in understanding the Mahabharata better and throws off the veil of Heroes and Villains and present the characters in a more human way. The divinity of characters is ripped off and they are presented as mere mortals. Even Lord Krishna is presented as a manipulator and someone who likes to play God. The book though revolves around the epic- Mahabharata,it derives hugely from the lesser known folklores and stories that are not part of the original epic. The central philosophy of the book dwelves with the principles of Dharma, Adharma and Varna-the caste system.It sometimes even fits the ancient plot in the framework of current timeline, philosophy, ideas and politics. The characters are given casteist shades to paint them Adharmic most probably to give voice and strength to the villains of the epic. It seems this black-wash of central characters of Mahabharata was necessary to give voices to the vanquished. The fact that many of the stalwarts like Bhishma, Drona,Karna etc sided with the Kauravas and that unfair means were used for a fair objective is thought provoking. However many of the original events within the epic has been ignored,modified and chiselled in such a way which doesn't justify some of the characters.Fictional events, fictional philosophy and facts which cannot be historically attributed has stolen the sheen off the very well written book. The book raises valid questions through its characters, which throbs with life.The authors imagination is commendable as writing something which happened thousands of years and that too the voices of the vanquished from the Mahabharata is a marathon and uphill task. Anand has been successful in resurrecting the dead villains and gave them voices to tell their side of the tale. After reading the book, a big question emanates from the mind.What is Dharma and What is Adharma. Who won the Mahabharata war.Was the war so necessary to decide the fate of Dharma and its advocates.Did the war help really to forge the spread the mantle of dharma. At times, the book may also hurt the sentiments of the devout, when Lord Krishna is depicted as a manipulator who plays God to achieve his own objective and when the Pandavas are not allowed divine lineage and characterizing them in a offensive way. Of course it can be passed off as a necessity to pull down the aura of divinity but it also dilutes the Mahabharata. Perspectives should be looking at an event,person or fact from different angles rather than substituting it to create a suitable perspective. A must read for those who are interested in religion,mythology, philosophy and all readers of the Mahabharata. A five star rating.......enjoy reading !!! *** Rajesh Chandra ***

Having had been a huge fan of Anand's writings, reading this book turns out to be phenomenal experience. Though the book indicates itself as "Duryodhana's Mahabharata", to me all the minute important facts that were a part of the great Mahabharata Epic were presented in a frank & upright way. I have been reading comics and books around Mahabharata ever since a child but none of the books till date gave me more insights on the characters of Ekalavya, Balarama, Karna and Ashwathama. Anand succeeds immensely in bringing these characters to light and gives them a voice to express themselves. The conversations between Balarama & Krishna, Krishna & Arjuna regarding "Dharma" are explained in a very subtle way that makes even a first time reader end up with Intriguing thoughts. Few of these questions perhaps came in to our minds when we read Mahabharata earlier but we never ever bothered to ponder upon and look forward for an answer. Anand through "Rise of Kali" succeeds immensely in racking up the questions on "Dharma" and for sure gives all of us enough food for thought. The afterword for the book is amazing. I could finish reading the book in flat 3 days thanks to the excellent & simple prose put in. Overall, a delightful read and a "must" recommended book for all. I look forward for such exciting works from Anand in the coming days !

Picking up straight from where book 1 ended, this one takes time to set up the events leading to the war thereby provided enough and more flesh and blood to the characters before culminating in a stunning conclusion and a bleak finale. The author clearly provides fresh perspectives and motivations about each character and the actions of most of the characters are in tune with the hints provided in Book 1. The author handles the battle scenes with aplomb and the visualizations of the gory battlefield is tremendously authentic. Normally, I tend to skip away from philosophy, but the way the author weaves it in simple yet deep terms is compelling. The words flow from the authors pen with such dexterity and beauty of prose that you are compelled to devour the book at a stretch. The characterisation of the Pandavas are slightly more positive than in the first book. Yudhistira and Arjuna actually develop into sympathetic characters as the book progresses. Suyodhana does somewhat takes a backseat at times the way the author paints his defiant last stand is a thing of beauty. Karna's tragic tale continues in this one and it is difficult not to feel anguish as his life meets an untimely end. But the one character that stands out in this one is Aswathama, a character unfamiliar to me from my earlier readings of the sanitized version of Mahabharata. This is a fascinating character. Always scorned upon by his demanding father and always playing second fiddle to Karna, the character comes into his own as the book progresses and makes the audience completely sympathetic to his plight and in awe of his character. No book in recent memory has such hateful and spiteful villainous characters. Dhaumya is one such character whom you actually feel like bashing his brains in. Seriously, this is one character whom you actually want the author to kill of in a disgusting manner. Krishna is the ultimate master if subterfuge that you actually feel happy when this wretched character meets his sorry fate. Summing up, a cracker of a book and for me, the Mahabharata Version which is the ultimate truth

Wow! This has become one my favourite stories of Mahabharata that I read recently, simply amazing 🤩

Dharma Adharma. Two words with a miniscule amount of difference in them. One preaches the good and other preaches bad. Two sides of the same coin. And when you flip the coin, Karma chakra starts.. Since we were kids we have always heard Mahabharata and Ramayana stories from our elders. There are management books written on lessons from Mahabharata. It teaches us that Duryodhana was a villain, drunk in his pride and anger to extinguish Pandavas and rule Bharata. But then there is another side of the story, Duryodhana’s perspective. How a simple Kaurav prince was transformed into villain by few Brahmans who were rigid to follow century old caste system, ignoring aspects of humanity talent. A person who was born a Nishad (low caste), can never be a warrior. He will always live to serve someone. And in case he/she wished to be a Kshatriya (warrior) or a Brahaman (Learned men), that person will commit Adharma. We all know how the story starts. Kauravas and Pandavas both fighting to win the throne of Hastinapur to rule the country as per their wishes. Two mothers, Kunti, and Gandhari rubbing shoulders and giving each other cold vibes. One woman, Drapaudi, shared by five husbands, insulted by Kauravas when they pulled off her clothes in front of a full court. The story of revenge and placing Dharma as a shield to hide the deep dark desires. What we do not know is that Duryodhana was once Suyodhana, a boy who questioned centuries old Dharma and Caste rules because humanity and practicality ruled his heart, not the greed to win the throne. This humanity only made him appoint Karna, a Suta as King of Anga and a Nishad, Eklavya as the Guardian of the forests. Yudhishtra, who is still praised amongst us as a wise hero, was an imbecile who knew that he wasn’t good at the dice game, but still played it. And the audacity, he waged his own wife along with his brothers! Shakuni, who had a reason for his revenge, to avenge the destruction caused to his homeland by Bhishma. And the best of all, Krishna, the mastermind who instigated Mahabharata just to prove the world what happens when you do not follow caste and dharma systems. And many such characters who had their own stories, which were never discussed . The best character of the book was Krishna. And the best villain title should also go to him. Simply for his shrewd mind and practical approach which killed thousands of people in the war. The most surprising part was when he didn’t kill his own son, Samba for raping Duryodhana’s daughter. Despite being aware that his son had a history of wrong doings. Instead someone else had to pay for Samba’s mistakes. Anand Neelakantan’s writing has been mesmerizing in this book. I was so engrossed that I never actually felt like keeping the book down. And the best part was, no long sequences of war explaining various terminologies which take away the interest of a reader. It was like a breath of fresh air! The sequences of the book are easy to understand, even if you haven’t read the first part, Ajaya. Each character speaks for itself. You can relate to their worries, their dilemmas, their happiness as well as sadness. The ironies presented will take you by surprise. For example, Dharma, a beggar Jara’s dog was kicked all the time by Brahmans because he was named Dharma. But the same dog takes a journey with Pandavas to The Himalayas. One by one Draupadi and Pandavas fall, but Dharma tags along with Yudhishtra till the end, never leaving him. All in all this is one book that you should definitely not miss. I am off to see my grandmother now, going to have a long debate about Dharma Adharma.

Just another pick from the ocean of narration

Having watched Mahabharata as a kid on TV every Sunday morning, it was very clear that who was the good and who was the evil, of course with all the godliness and magic in between. With this book, the views become more human and balanced. The Kauravas get a voice and Pandavas show guilt and doubt very often. Krishna has his own dharma that he has set for himself. Its really a very interesting read!

I have never written any review after reading a book. Nevertheless, I am compelled to write one after reading both the volumes. To be honest, everyone knows about Mahabharata and there is hardly anything new to be told. I was initially hesitant to read the book. However, as I started reading it... it became like an addiction. Author has beautifully crafted words to show the conflicts in characters. What is ethically correct? Pandavas are regarded as torchbearer of Dharma. Ironically, they broke all principles of Dharma to win the war. Author raised the most fundamental question: what is Dharma? Dharma practiced by Pandavas did not stand for meritocracy and established the hegemony of Brahmins/upper castes over other castes bringing the biggest evil 'Casteism' into Hinduism. The truth is neither side followed Dharma. The history/myth is as always is written by the victors. Author beautifully put it in the book. Excellent piece of work, strongly recommended !

Mahabharatha is a tale of contrasts. Even to the most devout the inconsistencies of Pandavas and Krishna are quite apparent. To take such a complex epic and turn the story on its head in a manner that Suyodhana seems like the wronged Prince is a joy. It adds a whole new dimension to the ages old lore of the great war meant to end all wars!!! Absolutely loved it! More than the ASURAS by the same author. This book should be read by everyone who is interested in Indian Mythology.

Good read. Not as exciting as the first part, but Ofcourse can't miss this one.

Offers a different perspective. No matter how or the number times a story is told there are always two sides to it. This book proves it