Trishul: Book 3 of KAVAACH Trilogy by Pranay Bhalerao (Book Review: 4.5*/5) !!!

  

1^st Book of 2025

There are few books which makes you miss them as soon as you are done reading them. You are not able to move on from it to be able to pick your next read. There are few authors who are able to create this magic every time they release a book. I remember the phase when there were ample of trilogies releasing after The Shiva Trilogy’s success but none could create the same energy whereas some of them couldn’t even release all the parts as the initial books didn’t sell. One Indian author who has brought the same magic again with his trilogy is Pranay Bhalerao undoubtedly. I have just ended up reading the 3^rd and the last book of The Kavaach Trilogy named “Trishul: The weapon of Lord Shiva”.

 

I completed this 328-pages book in just two days which is enough to explain how engaging it is. Pranay has been able to give a perfect closure to the story which was running for 3 years through 3 different thick books. He is a great craftsman who knows how to engage the millennial and Gen-Z readers in a mythological tale by embedding it with modernity. His writing style is very friendly wherein he ensures that he proves his mettle only with his story-telling rather than complicating the language of the book to sound intellectual. All the characters are created by him in both the timelines- 555 BCE and the present world yet when you read it you feel that these are famous characters which are being rewritten.

 

Bhalerao’s research work is phenomenal as his own reading experience of the ancient Indian stories is evident in the way he has created his own. He ensures that even when he is using the names of the ancient historical characters such as Karna or reference of Gods such as Lord Shiva, he is doing it with respect. The way he builds connection between the real characters and his characters’ storyline is again something a very good narrator can only do it. Like the previous two books, even this story is written where both the timelines are written in parallel but the transition is seamless. You never get confused while reading and enjoy moving into both the stories back to back.

 

All the cliffhangers and secrets that Pranay had held in the first two books are nicely disclosed in this book one-by-one. The 3^rd book is very action-oriented and emotional – both at the same time. The past of Kaal which was a great interest is finally disclosed. Author explains the origin of the darkness behind his character and reading the whole part was such an exhilarating experience. The romantic angle between him and Nandini is one of the best love stories you would read in a book which is not even marketed as a romantic book. Haha! The scene when both of them gets apart in one of the sections is very tragic and you’ll have to fight tears to control yourself. The whole writing moved me and the impact of it is still with me.

 

How Kaal gets disassociated with his own teachers and how they become enemy for him is a nice twist to the story. Pranay also ensures that he hits some of the societal issues through his stories. For e.g. he discusses about menstruation and people’s reasoning of it for not letting females enter the religious ceremonies or temples during these 5 days. He does it so smoothly that it transforms your own thinking and doesn’t even sound preachy, forced or pretentious. He has regularly given insights into the lives of Aghori sages which helps us relate with them and understand their point of view as well.  Similarly, all of us have heard about Konark Temple but the way he has made its relevance and importance justified makes you visit it and feel its spiritual importance.

 

The Mahakumbh is one of the important backdrop of this book and reading it was such a beautiful feeling as the same is currently in talks every day on News channels and Social media. Kaal’s initial story is based in Mahakumbh and you will feel goosebumps while reading about his dip in the water. Author has helped us understand about this religious event in a very subtle manner. Pranay’s writing makes us imagine all the eventful scenes- whether its action-packed, violent, emotional or something completely based in fantasy set-up. This is his main USP which makes this trilogy an important milestone in the self-publishing context.

 

I have rated both the previous books above 4 and I am going with 4.5 stars for Trishul – the 3^rd book as well. This speaks enough how consistently beautiful this trilogy has been written. Pranay has never gone out of touch or tried experimenting with it differently than his original plan. I recommend the same to everyone who is interested in mythological books with a modern set-up. I am eagerly waiting to watch this story in its visual format as revealed by the author in the book. On top of that, I want to learn what next is Pranay writing. 😊

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WRITING BUDDHA

Ullu Bhai Ki Jagmagati Barat by Swati Sinha (Book Review: 4.25*/5) !!!

2131st BLOG POST

36^th Book of 2024

Well, and finally I complete my reading target of 36 books by reading almost 22 books in last 2.5 months. After an unbelievable reading marathon, I chose to read Sonalika Publication’s Ullu Bhai Ki Jagmagati Barat which is a short Hindi story book for kids. This year I have read many books from their publications house which are meant for kids and I am jealous of the fact that I didn’t get such story books in my childhood to read.

 

This book is written by Swati Sinha with a great support from the illustrator, Sachi Shukla. Her illustrations and graphics bring life to the story. This book is perfectly designed for kids who have just started reading properly from the year of 5 and above. Swati Sinha’s story is about the King Lion announcing the marriage of an Owl which rejoices everyone. But it comes with a challenge wherein the owl’s marriage shall be performed during night when it becomes difficult to travel. A Small mongoose then comes up with an idea which helps them beat this challenge.

 

Any story meant for kids is incomplete if it doesn’t come up with a moral. Swati takes extreme care about this and involves a lot of lessons in this short story. It teaches about the teamwork as to how everyone can sit together and come to a decision. It also signifies the importance of considering everyone’s intelligence equal and allowing everyone to speak.

 

It reflects upon how even the smallest of insects can also help the whole group of animals in the jungle for which even the King Lion didn’t have any solution. Author emphasizes on friendship and how it helps everyone in the process.

 

The book further ends with few DIY exercises for children which will push their creativity. Overall, this is a good initiative Sonalika CSR group to spread knowledge among young kids and develop them into better and compassionate human beings. I give this book 4.25 stars out of 5.

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WRITING BUDDHA

The Heart of Understanding by Thich Nhat Hanh (Book Review: 4.5*/5) !!!

  

35^th Book of 2024

Well, there’s a tendency I have observed in my reading marathon where I always start and end my year with either spiritual or self-help books. And this is definitely not planned but a pattern that I have observed. After reading Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, I picked up “The Heart of Understanding” written by Thich Nhat Hanh today and completed it within two hours with slow and mindful reading. This book by Aleph publication also comes up with a tagline that says “Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy and Liberation”.

 

The book starts with a foreword by Shantum Seth who tells how he got intrigued by Buddha’s teachings and went through trainings like Vipassana etc. after which the teachings of Thich started inspiring him. The foreword gives the book a good start as you are first taken into confidence before starting with the real content. Then there’s a second foreword as well written by Peter Levitt. Here he introduces us with Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra which is one of the Buddhist teachings through which you can discover a way for peace to be realized. This Sutra is basically what this book is all about.

 

As I have myself been to Vipassana meditation recourse for 11 days, I was able to relate with the concepts being discussed in the book. The chapter starts with making us understand how all of us are tied together as Interbeing. None of us can survive without each other. Author helps us understand it with a great example of paper as to how a paper can’t exist without wood, cloud, water, sunshine, soil, time, space, the earth, the river, the heat etc. It gives immense clarity behind the logic that we have the whole Universe within us as well as being a part of the whole Universe as well.

 

Further, author explores the concept of emptiness and breaks down the concept of duality for us. It makes us comprehend how every positive thing exist because of non-positive elements and vice-versa. It realizes us of the fact that when we get the food, it is because someone else is not able to. That makes us understand the term called “Inter-are” where all of us are present because of someone’s absence.

 

The concepts are definitely new and gives the Buddhist vibes throughout. It helps us understand the law of nature and appreciate everything- good or bad – because the beauty of life is such. It also explores the fact that just life and death are not our starting and ending point but we continue even before and after that. It helps us understand that just as wave is water and water is wave, similarly we are just a wave which shall keep on occurring and dissolving.

 

Overall, the book is full of spiritual wisdom which is enjoyed by someone like me who has always believed in it. It ends with the topic on meditation and chanting as well. I never read anything by Thich Nhat Hanh before but after this, I am sure I am going to explore more of his writings and learnings. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5.

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WRITING BUDDHA