Set in 1900 BC, The Immortals of Meluha brings the Hindu pantheon of gods to life in its pages. Taking off at a breathtaking pace, author Amish Tripathi uses the backdrop of the Indus Valley Civilization to tell the story of a rough-hewn Tibetan immigrant Shiva drawn to his destiny by duty as well as by love. Revered in mythology as the encompasser of creation, sustainment and destruction, Amish re-introduces Shiva to his readers as the mortal, weed-smoking, dreadlocked and war weary Tibetan tribal war lord from the Himalayan foothills.

The Suryavanshis – inhabitants of Melhua, an almost perfect empire created centuries ago by King Ram are tired of the constant, brutal clashes with opposing tribes. When the Suryavanshis ask Shiva to come to the aid of the people of Melhua, he graciously accepts what seems like an offer that promises a peaceful life free from disorder. Hounded by their arch enemies The Chandravanshis, the people of this once proud empire now face severe perils with terrorist attacks from the sinister Nagas and the drying up of their holy river, Saraswati which plays a crucial role in the manufacture of Somras (the elixir which has kept the Meluhans young and healthy for hundreds of years). As conflicts escalate, the battle between good and evil soon becomes inevitable which lead the Suryavanshis to believe that Shiva is the one destined to lead them to victory.

From here on, the books reads like a mainstream movie filled with fights and romance. Discussing issues that have parallels in our times such as immigration, terrorism and untouchability, Amish makes readers think – what if there had been a race which faced and dealt with these problems; but the solutions have just been lost in time? His portrayal of humans who have been elevated to the pedestal of godliness yet make mistakes presents an excellent stroke of writing. His characterization of Shiva illustrates the ultimate hero through a blend of confusions. Called to rise up to his destiny, even with his most awe inspiring appearances in battle, he remains a mortal, love lorn and burdened by his inner demons.

However one area where the author is not able to rise to his full effectiveness is when describing battle scenes. With the whole book being a sort of buildup to a battle that happens towards the end of the tale, it gets over much faster than one would have expected. The final 30 pages are the best in the book with the protagonist pondering over the consequences of his actions and the stage being set for a sequel. Also while the setting is 1900BC, the language remains 21st century AD, which makes it a bit difficult to reconcile the two at times.

As the first installment of a trilogy, it is a fantastic read. The author weaves in the reasons behind a lot of the Hindu culture / traditions as part of the story. Since the exact location of Meluha has always been a topic of of debate among scholars, this may not be an irrefutable or a scholarly resource, but it is informative never-the-less. This one is a definite must read!

Read more about the political message hidden in The Immortals of Meluha. Find out what it says about untouchability, terrorists, violence and evil.

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