ANARKALI BY HARSHALI SINGH – BOOK REVIEW - #WRITEAPAGEADAY #BLOGCHATTER

-

                                                                                                       Amazon.in 

The name ‘Anarkali’ evokes memories of the beauteous Madhubala in ‘Mughal-E-Azam’ twirling around in a hall of mirrors, her reflection being multiplied to the lilting tune of an unforgettable song. Harshali Singh’s latest offering ‘Anarkali’, from the Readomania publishing house, offers us an insight into the background of this magnetic woman who, as the tagline claims, was ‘The Courtesan, the Pawn and the Queen’.

The narrative begins with the story of Nadira and her indomitable mother who takes her daughters on a perilous journey through the Khyber Pass to Kabul, “a mother who went through hell to keep her daughters safe.” On one special occasion, Nadira is paraded before the emperor himself, the mighty Akbar, in the hope that he finds her promising enough to be taken under his wing. Once she passes muster, she is determined to prove worthy, absorbing all the attributes that she needs to sparkle in the harem of Shahenshah Akbar, a man with three demanding queens and several favourite concubines.

Entranced with Nadira’s maiden performance before him, Akbar names her ‘Anar ki Kali’ which he calls “a fitting epithet to her blushing beauty”. She is ensconced in the peacock rooms, one of the most beautiful spaces in the palace.

Many characters people this absorbing narrative, bringing it to life. Anarkali soon realises that she needs to use all her wiles and intelligence to survive in this web of intrigue riddled with critics and naysayers – Queen Ruqaiya and Salima Begum, in particular.

Harshali Singh once again proves why she is a writer par excellence. She impels her Anarkali to play the mahal (palace) as she would play Shatranj (chess), moving step by step to turn from mere pawn to the queen of the emperor’s heart. Every chapter begins with the description of a chess move that mirrors the action in the words that follow.

The appearance of Prince Salim, the crown prince, and his shadow, Durjan Singh, Commander Mansingh’s son, change the even tempo of Anarkali’s life, as she grapples with emotions that threaten to overwhelm her. From the controller and the knight of her own life, she treads into forbidden areas, meeting powerful men head on.

The intrigues, the challenges, the passion and the perils in the ephemeral life of a courtesan are beautifully described as Anarkali falls from grace.

Was Anarkali a pawn in the hands of a tyrant or did she have a say in her own destiny?

As the blurb of the book suggests, “Was she purposely erased from the annals of history for questioning free will?”

This gem of a book with its eye-catching cover will stay with the reader for its lifelike portrayal of its exquisite protagonist and the travails she went through in the Mughal court. Harshali Singh proves her prowess over the English language and apt Urdu embellishments, both of which she uses to enhance her writing.

 I am participating in the February #Blogchatter #WriteAPageADay challenge.

481 words 

 

 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE STRANGE CASE OF THE MISSING TEETH

-
Image
                                                                            Clipart.com I cannot forget the shocked expression on the young dentist’s face. “Where are all your teeth?” “Uhh… in my mouth, where they should be?” I mumbled, perched on the leather chair as he peered into my mouth. His eyes widened with bewilderment as he leant forward, almost falling into the gaping cavern in front of him. “Three missing here… three on the other side! Two more here and a broken tooth!” I was quite shocked out of my wits. Where had all my teeth disappeared to? I did recall a few sittings earlier where some of my wisdom had been yanked out, but eight and a half teeth? I was a walking miracle! More importantly, an ‘eating’ miracle! When my better half agonised over one painful grinder that made lif...
Read more

Clouds and Waves by Rabindrananth Tagore - Poetry: The Best Words in the Best Order - #BlogchatterA2ZChallenge2021

-
Image
     CLOUDS AND WAVES Rabindranath Tagore Amazon.com Serenity in the Garden Mother, the folk who live up in the clouds call out to me - "We play from the time we wake till the day ends. We play with the golden dawn, we play with the silver moon." I ask, "But how am I to get up to you?" They answer, "Come to the edge of the earth, lift up your hands to the sky, and you will be taken up into the clouds." "My mother is waiting for me at home," I say, "How can I leave her and come?" Then they smile and float away.    But I know a nicer game than that, mother. I shall be the cloud and you the moon.  I shall cover you with both my hands, and our house-top will be the blue sky.  The folk who live in the waves call out to me - "We sing from morning till night; on and on we travel and know not where we pass.            Sunaina Coelho I ask, "But how am I to join you? They tell me, "Come to the edge of the shore and stand wit...
Read more

The Miracle of Love - Fiction - Post Number 8: #MyFriendAlexa

-
Image
Credits: Col. Gopinath Menon The waves crashed on the rocks, a sound that Sudesh loved, as he sat feeling the freshness of the spray on his face. Voices echoed around him, and he could feel the vibration as people jogged along the beach, and his sightless eyes turned towards the movement. He had been coming to this spot for many months now, ever since he had shifted to Mumbai, after his mother had passed away.  The sound of the sea evoked a vision that he could only feel, not see. He could smell the delicious puris that Ram Prasad was frying, very near to where he sat. Every day the cheerful proprietor would look for a moment when there were few customers, and hand over a plate of piping hot puris and delicious potato curry to the gentle blind man who sat there, so young and so uncomplaining!                                                 ...
Read more