Tunnel Of Varnavat– book review

The tunnel of varanavat…

The legend on the cover says Mahabharat Reimagined.

The center stage is the incident at Varanavat… the attempted killing of the Pandavas’s by Duryodhana.

Standard renderings talk about the Duryodhana’s attempt and the attempt being foiled by Vidura etc.

The actual process of having to commission and execute the tunnel is not dealt with.

the author tries to walk us through what might have happened. The surmise being Pandavas have to protected they needed Kshatriyas or soldiers to do so but Vidura sends a miner to create a tunnel so that they can escape.

The events are narrated through the voice of Badri the chief miner of the Kuru empire. The author tries to create an intriguing character with a dark past, who gives being a kshatriya and buries himself in the tunnels. Of course, these tunnels are meant to protect the royals

Badri has a power animal who he had rescued a wolf crossed with a panther. Veer. Badri’s thoughts are brought to the readers through him. His challenges are many…

Cannibals of the forest. The bandits lead by Janaki with whom Badri is mildly infatuated. Badri strikes a deal with them as Janaki says that all that her people want is their forest back as the city expands, they are pushed out. There is Durjan who is a mercenary looking to avenge his slaughtered family. Varad the Lac merchant who is trapped by Purochana the town administrative head. Varad strikes a deal with the cannibals that he would send a person a day to them so that they do not harm the others. Badri figures that Varad is also a spy.

Vishnu one of Purochana’s lieutenants who seem to have a person score to settle with Badri. Urvashi his old flame Kedar the Guru at Varanavata.

However, there are few flames of interest though, like

Badri being taken aback at Kunti’s ruthlessness. Kunti plans to the slaughter of Damayanti and her 5 sons as 6 bodies have to be found. At that moment Badri makes an interesting observation – that was the moment when Dharma won and Dharma lost.

Badri’s recognition of Bhim’s immaturity and thirst for revenge.

the actual high light of the book is Purochana… the administrator of the city. his dedication to the King, and the King in waiting, the ruthlessness in his dedication. Purochana is crafted by the author as an able administrator who put Varanavata before everything else. His parental pride and affection for the orphans in the ashram. Purochana also comes as person who stands by the rule. Purochana is consumed by the fire in the house of lac which was meant for the Pandavas he dies trying to save a child.

At point he points out to Badri that prosperity weakens the moral of the population, and world will stop honoring the nature and resources to begin to worship Vishnu and wealth bestowing wife.

Interestingly Krishna remains a vague figure who is yet to emerge to center stage. Yudhistir is the idealist and Sahadev a mystic.

As the book concludes it turns out that Varad is a double agent and he betrays them. Badri’s soul mate is at the end of her life and Badri has visions of his past life where the roles were the same. Guru Kedar reveals to him that unless Badri’s soul moves on Urvashi cannot and Badri’s soul has been addicted to the emotion of patriotism.

The book penned by Gautam Chikermane is neither tense, nor racy or insightful as Amish declares. Published by Rupa Publication. ISBN 9788129137272

This post is written for Blogchatter Half Marathon. Buying option from Amazon