“Divinity through martial arts in ancient India – Krishna at the Mansarovar”
Krishna at the Mansarovar, by Mayank Shridhar, is a fictional tale based on mythological characters, at the heart of which lies a theme of martial arts. It expounds an alternate theory, realistically assessing how the extraordinary lives of our legendary characters may have unfolded, if they happened five thousand years ago. Here, we have a discussion with the author Mayank Shridhar (a successful IT professional) on a few of the aspects of his book-writing journey and learn more about this exciting book.
Tell us something about yourself?
Born in Ranchi, I have lived in various cities in India and abroad before settling down in Bangalore. A fan of rock and country music, I have also grown as a serious chess player, winning several tournaments for my organization.One of my cherished memories is playing two chess games against GM Viswanathan Anand. A software professional and a technologist at heart, I was awarded a gold medal by my university and have also won numerous industry accolades.
What has your journey been as a writer?
Of my many hobbies, writing was my favourite, ever since I was a child. I have written poems and short stories in school and served as the editor of my college magazine. I blogged primarily about cherished experiences such as attending rock concerts and sporting events. I also have officially published various technology whitepapers and viewpoints, prior to my venture in Fiction.
What are the key themes of your book?
The main theme of my book is realism. I tried to ground the plot through incidents which could occur in the lifetime of individuals who lived their lives centuries ago. Deviations from the classical mythological tales and magical incidents are purposeful because they allow me to tell the story through a plausible series of events.
Awed by Krishna’s superb stories of strength and valour, I allowed my imagination to conclude that he must have possessed excellent knowledge of martial arts to be able to accomplish those stupendous feats. Hence, I wrote about Krishna and Balaram not as incarnations of God but as outstanding martial artists whose skills were so remarkable, that they were considered divine.
How do you establish this aspect of realism?
I conducted extensive research on various subjects such as the scientifically estimated timeline of the Mahabharata and mapped those events against the history of civilization. For example, the weapons described in my book are made of brass because the timeline projected in my book is around 3300-3200 BC, the onset of the Bronze age. Following those studies, I created a map of important kingdoms and cities of the era.
What has been your learning in your journey as an author?
The most important learning for me has been that as an author, one should always work with a team of people who can be trusted and value the writer’s intellectual property. Establishing a relationship with experts at each juncture – such as Petals Publishers & Distributors and my literacy agency The Book Bakers -has been a wonderful, rewarding experience.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Writing the manuscript is but the first and perhaps the most important cog in the wheel of publication, but there are several other aspects as well. It is important to keep your eyes on the prize. Persevere, with dedication and patience, because the final reward – the feeling of being a published author – is well worth the journey.
