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The Hidden Hindu #1
Hidden Hindu, The
Hidden Hindu, The (Book 1)
300 pages, Hardcover
First published October 20, 2020
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4036 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 593 reviews
March 6, 2025
DNF'd at page 50.
I have a rule in my reading. If I don't like a book, I give it atleast 100 pages to see if it gets interesting. In this case, I couldn't even bear to indulge my own commitment. The sins are just too much to count.
Too many characters. Every one of them hackneyed and one-note. No sense of basic sentence-structuring. Criminal overuse of parenthesis. No attempts of scene and setting demarcation. Fatuous use of alliteration in chapter titles. Absurd and sudden shifts of language between English, Sanskrit, Punjabi and Telugu. Stupidest, dumbest, imbecile storyline.
Look, I am ready to suspend disbelief, okay? Tell me the weirdest fantastical story you can think of, I am here for it. But atleast make it legible. Follow the basic commandments of writing. And don't write to sound intellectual, write to tell a good story.
I grabbed this book at Ahmedabad Lock The Box fair. I saw a middle-aged guy standing in the vicinity of the shelf where The Hidden Hindu copies were stacked neatly. I browsed for 2 hours and the guy never left his place. He approached whoever came close to the shelf and started talking excitedly and animatedly with them. I assumed (correctly) that maybe he is the author. One man was clearly not interested in picking up the book, as was evident from his defeated expression, but the author just wouldn't stop exhorting the virtues of the book to him. Akshat Sir, if you are reading this, please write a good one next time. We give a book our hard-earned money, time and attention. The least we deserve is a sensible story.
Edit:
Turns out the author did read the review. Slided in my DM to tell me how great his book is, considering that MS Dhoni is adapting the book into a webseries. Next time, don't judge me if I happen to be unaware of the fact that adaptation automatically metamorphoses a bad book into a good one, okay?
I have a rule in my reading. If I don't like a book, I give it atleast 100 pages to see if it gets interesting. In this case, I couldn't even bear to indulge my own commitment. The sins are just too much to count.
Too many characters. Every one of them hackneyed and one-note. No sense of basic sentence-structuring. Criminal overuse of parenthesis. No attempts of scene and setting demarcation. Fatuous use of alliteration in chapter titles. Absurd and sudden shifts of language between English, Sanskrit, Punjabi and Telugu. Stupidest, dumbest, imbecile storyline.
Look, I am ready to suspend disbelief, okay? Tell me the weirdest fantastical story you can think of, I am here for it. But atleast make it legible. Follow the basic commandments of writing. And don't write to sound intellectual, write to tell a good story.
I grabbed this book at Ahmedabad Lock The Box fair. I saw a middle-aged guy standing in the vicinity of the shelf where The Hidden Hindu copies were stacked neatly. I browsed for 2 hours and the guy never left his place. He approached whoever came close to the shelf and started talking excitedly and animatedly with them. I assumed (correctly) that maybe he is the author. One man was clearly not interested in picking up the book, as was evident from his defeated expression, but the author just wouldn't stop exhorting the virtues of the book to him. Akshat Sir, if you are reading this, please write a good one next time. We give a book our hard-earned money, time and attention. The least we deserve is a sensible story.
Edit:
Turns out the author did read the review. Slided in my DM to tell me how great his book is, considering that MS Dhoni is adapting the book into a webseries. Next time, don't judge me if I happen to be unaware of the fact that adaptation automatically metamorphoses a bad book into a good one, okay?
April 9, 2023
A book that tries to mix mythology and science, but is done in a very mediocre way. There's a lot of info dumping regarding the topics the author wants to tackle, which reads like a wikipedia summary. The book has the seeds of some interesting ideas, but the storytelling seems to be uninspired and rather dull in tone. There's almost no worldbuilding, the characters are flat, and the action feels like borrowed from a Bollywood movie with a cheap budget. There was nothing in the book that tingled my imagination as a reader, conjure up visuals in my mind's eye to revel in the story's splendour.
The prologue was promising, but it went downhill from there, and some things are rather repetitive, as to the protagonist and the others discussing the same things over and over again, such as how he was Vidur, how he was Sushen, and the others remaining incredulous to his narrative. I also found some of the parts amateurish, regarding the physical description of some of the characters, particularly of a woman character who is a psychologist practicing hypnotism with her eyes. The backstory of the protagonist was too vague to arouse any empathy, and moreover, the dialogues are poor and weak.
The interesting premise was ruined by the author's preachy way of telling the story. The whole trilogy could've been one book, and it would've worked better in terms of the plot, setting, conflict and resolution. And, that too could be forgiven, if the characters had enough depth and complexity to carry on the intriguing aspects of human mortality, immortality, the interrelationship of science and faith etc. Baring that, the title of the book is misleading too, feels like the title of a propaganda pamphlet, and I feel that the author used it as a marketing gimmick to forward the Hindutva agenda and compell people to buy the book. There was no deep philosophical discourse concerning Hindu religion or anything remote to it at all.
Rest said, I'm willing to give the other two books a try as I have already purchased them. I want to see if the author shows any ingenuity with regards to creativity in handling the mythical side of the story, or make his characters more interesting. Readers who are willing to give Indian mytho-fiction a try should look elsewhere. There are tons of other interesting books which mixes science and mythology in an intelligible way. Krishna Udaysankara's The Aryavarta Chronicles, Shatrujeet Nath's The Guardians of the Halahala, Christopher Doyle's The Mahabharata Secret, or read the awesome comic seriesRAMAYANA RELOADED 01 or, Grant Morrison's 18 Days which have amazing artwork, awesome story where magic and technology collide to create a sweeping epic fit for the modern literary tastes.
The prologue was promising, but it went downhill from there, and some things are rather repetitive, as to the protagonist and the others discussing the same things over and over again, such as how he was Vidur, how he was Sushen, and the others remaining incredulous to his narrative. I also found some of the parts amateurish, regarding the physical description of some of the characters, particularly of a woman character who is a psychologist practicing hypnotism with her eyes. The backstory of the protagonist was too vague to arouse any empathy, and moreover, the dialogues are poor and weak.
The interesting premise was ruined by the author's preachy way of telling the story. The whole trilogy could've been one book, and it would've worked better in terms of the plot, setting, conflict and resolution. And, that too could be forgiven, if the characters had enough depth and complexity to carry on the intriguing aspects of human mortality, immortality, the interrelationship of science and faith etc. Baring that, the title of the book is misleading too, feels like the title of a propaganda pamphlet, and I feel that the author used it as a marketing gimmick to forward the Hindutva agenda and compell people to buy the book. There was no deep philosophical discourse concerning Hindu religion or anything remote to it at all.
Rest said, I'm willing to give the other two books a try as I have already purchased them. I want to see if the author shows any ingenuity with regards to creativity in handling the mythical side of the story, or make his characters more interesting. Readers who are willing to give Indian mytho-fiction a try should look elsewhere. There are tons of other interesting books which mixes science and mythology in an intelligible way. Krishna Udaysankara's The Aryavarta Chronicles, Shatrujeet Nath's The Guardians of the Halahala, Christopher Doyle's The Mahabharata Secret, or read the awesome comic seriesRAMAYANA RELOADED 01 or, Grant Morrison's 18 Days which have amazing artwork, awesome story where magic and technology collide to create a sweeping epic fit for the modern literary tastes.
June 8, 2022
One of the best things about the book is that it starts with a bang. The first scene opens in 2041 with a worried old lady and Prithvi, a young man of 20, conversing about something. An unbelievable and tragic incident of the past that defies all logic and reasoning, and that forever changed the course of their lives.
Soon after, we are taken to a remote research facility in the heart of the Andaman Islands, where a highly covert mission is underway. The plot thickens quickly and the reader is hooked throughout.
One of the major plus points of The Hidden Hindu comes from its ability to flawlessly intertwine mythological events from thousands of years ago to historical events and events in the recent past. Stories of puranic characters like Sushen, Lakshman, Vidur, etc are connected to modern historical figures like Subhash Chandra Bose.
The writing makes use of a good amount of research. The way Itihaasa, history, mathematics, science, and ancient knowledge are correlated and then plugged into the story is bound to leave the reader intrigued.
As for me, I cannot wait to delve into part 2 of the trilogy.
Read the detailed review on India's No 1 book blog - https://www.bookgeeks.in/the-hidden-h...
Soon after, we are taken to a remote research facility in the heart of the Andaman Islands, where a highly covert mission is underway. The plot thickens quickly and the reader is hooked throughout.
One of the major plus points of The Hidden Hindu comes from its ability to flawlessly intertwine mythological events from thousands of years ago to historical events and events in the recent past. Stories of puranic characters like Sushen, Lakshman, Vidur, etc are connected to modern historical figures like Subhash Chandra Bose.
The writing makes use of a good amount of research. The way Itihaasa, history, mathematics, science, and ancient knowledge are correlated and then plugged into the story is bound to leave the reader intrigued.
As for me, I cannot wait to delve into part 2 of the trilogy.
Read the detailed review on India's No 1 book blog - https://www.bookgeeks.in/the-hidden-h...
November 9, 2022
The basic story was interesting and piqued my curiosity but the writing is far too tedious to read and i found myself hurrying through the pages just to get to the end.
The concept is quite fascinating - an immortal who has lived over the millenia as so many important persons from history. His capture and narration of his story had all the makings of a wonderfully promising storyline.
What irked me about the writing was that, the author sort of overloaded the reader with detailed descriptions of the characters right from the beginning, and those descriptions were so stereotypical that it made me cringe! A man with a U shaped tilak who is a fanatic, a south indian doctor who is their leader and is very no-nonsese and strict, a psychologist whose eyes are so beautiful prople get lost in them. I couldn't stop rolling my eyes! 😫
Also, the book definitely needed better editing. Two different character's dialogues happened in the same paragraph - written in such a way that it had to be read twice to realize that it wasnt one character talking, but two having a conversation.
The action scenes at the end of the book were okayish. Nothing as gripping as other action scenes in other books and it definitely felt hurried.
Om Shastri's interrogation, which should have been the highlight of the story, seeing that his narration of his past lives was the sole backbone of the plot, was sadly not well written at all. It had several interruptions by other characters, and rather than asking him normal pointed questions, the characters kept interrupting his narration and asked the silliest of questions, preferring to converse more amongst themselves than with the man they wanted to interrogate. Thr worst was Dr. Srinivasan who only kept thundering at the other characters all through the book.
The science fiction angle was decent enough. Introduction of the characters Ashwattama and Parashuram at the climax also set the stage for the next book. And frankly, the story had a promising start, a good solid concept, but failed in execution.
Here's hoping that book 2 is better written and does proper justice to this very interesting plotline.
The concept is quite fascinating - an immortal who has lived over the millenia as so many important persons from history. His capture and narration of his story had all the makings of a wonderfully promising storyline.
What irked me about the writing was that, the author sort of overloaded the reader with detailed descriptions of the characters right from the beginning, and those descriptions were so stereotypical that it made me cringe! A man with a U shaped tilak who is a fanatic, a south indian doctor who is their leader and is very no-nonsese and strict, a psychologist whose eyes are so beautiful prople get lost in them. I couldn't stop rolling my eyes! 😫
Also, the book definitely needed better editing. Two different character's dialogues happened in the same paragraph - written in such a way that it had to be read twice to realize that it wasnt one character talking, but two having a conversation.
The action scenes at the end of the book were okayish. Nothing as gripping as other action scenes in other books and it definitely felt hurried.
Om Shastri's interrogation, which should have been the highlight of the story, seeing that his narration of his past lives was the sole backbone of the plot, was sadly not well written at all. It had several interruptions by other characters, and rather than asking him normal pointed questions, the characters kept interrupting his narration and asked the silliest of questions, preferring to converse more amongst themselves than with the man they wanted to interrogate. Thr worst was Dr. Srinivasan who only kept thundering at the other characters all through the book.
The science fiction angle was decent enough. Introduction of the characters Ashwattama and Parashuram at the climax also set the stage for the next book. And frankly, the story had a promising start, a good solid concept, but failed in execution.
Here's hoping that book 2 is better written and does proper justice to this very interesting plotline.
June 24, 2025
This story mixes mythology with a touch of mystery. An interesting premise, which unfortunately does not deliver.
2041: Prithvi talks to Mrs Batra on his search for a person after a few events in 2020.
2020: In a place in Andaman & Nicobar there is a prisoner – Om Shastri. He is being held and interrogated by Veerabhadra (ex-army), Dr Srinivasan, Dr Batra & others. The prisoner is an Aghori ascetic who claims to have recollections of major happenings in all yugas. Dr Shahista, a psychiatrist speaks to Om Shastri to understand him better. Abhilash, a mythologist, helps with context. There is also Lisa - a professional hacker in the group.
The story interweaves references to major epics such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata & other than transformational events from the history of India. There are a lot of descriptions for those who might not be familiar with the culture / history. The writing is very poor, as is the character development. What could have been an intriguing story gets reduced to a listless unnatural narration. I might read the remaining two books to complete the story, but this is not an encouraging start.
My rating: 1.5 / 5.
2041: Prithvi talks to Mrs Batra on his search for a person after a few events in 2020.
2020: In a place in Andaman & Nicobar there is a prisoner – Om Shastri. He is being held and interrogated by Veerabhadra (ex-army), Dr Srinivasan, Dr Batra & others. The prisoner is an Aghori ascetic who claims to have recollections of major happenings in all yugas. Dr Shahista, a psychiatrist speaks to Om Shastri to understand him better. Abhilash, a mythologist, helps with context. There is also Lisa - a professional hacker in the group.
The story interweaves references to major epics such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata & other than transformational events from the history of India. There are a lot of descriptions for those who might not be familiar with the culture / history. The writing is very poor, as is the character development. What could have been an intriguing story gets reduced to a listless unnatural narration. I might read the remaining two books to complete the story, but this is not an encouraging start.
My rating: 1.5 / 5.
September 22, 2023
really cool story but ngl terrible writing
May 12, 2023
An accessible mythology inspired book with a lot of potential but execution could have been better.
November 1, 2020
This is the first book of the Trilogy "The Hidden Hindu" by author akshat Gupta.
Mythology perfectly blended with thriller and action!
.
The use of Hindu Mythology ( four Yugas Ramayan, Mahabharat ), and Sanskrit names and phrases are delicately woven into the story with a clear explanation of the context.
.
The plotline of the story is such that it is difficult to describe it without giving out spoilers( something I don't want to do). So keeping it quite simple. The story starts building up after the initial few chapters post which the story starts gaining momentum and overall develops into a fast-paced mythological fiction. The language is simple which makes the narration easy to follow. The two parallel plots are well amalgamated. Now, some of the characters were well developed but some characters needed further description and niche in the story.
Another thing is that I found the climax of the story a bit abrupt and hurried so I am looking forward to how the upcoming part will turn out.
Overall a great effort from the author.
Mythology perfectly blended with thriller and action!
.
The use of Hindu Mythology ( four Yugas Ramayan, Mahabharat ), and Sanskrit names and phrases are delicately woven into the story with a clear explanation of the context.
.
The plotline of the story is such that it is difficult to describe it without giving out spoilers( something I don't want to do). So keeping it quite simple. The story starts building up after the initial few chapters post which the story starts gaining momentum and overall develops into a fast-paced mythological fiction. The language is simple which makes the narration easy to follow. The two parallel plots are well amalgamated. Now, some of the characters were well developed but some characters needed further description and niche in the story.
Another thing is that I found the climax of the story a bit abrupt and hurried so I am looking forward to how the upcoming part will turn out.
Overall a great effort from the author.
July 4, 2022
Holy molly. What an amazing ride! I literally didn't think that this would turn out great I kept telling myself to have low expectations but the more I read the more my expectations grew and fortunately book didn't disappoint me at all..
I am FREAKING OBSESSED!!!!!!
It was fanfuckingtabulous.
The plotline, the characters, the concept chef's kisss
The book opens to Prithvi questioning Widow Mrs. Batra about an Aghori "Om Shastri".
But here's the catch Om Shastri isn't an everyday Aghori he claimed to have lived all Yugas.
But why is Prithvi looking for him? Is Om suffering from mental disorder or he actually is immortal and have lived all yugas?
Read to find out! FREAKING READDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!
My only issue with the book is the writing style which imo kinda makes sense given the author previously has worked as a screenwriter and that can be noticed beyond doubt in his writing. Also the book imo needs more editing here and there
But hey do we perfect book? No
So what you waiting for? Gooooo readdddd
Also the book fullfilled my life long dream of reading a book which reveals a huge plot twist in the last line and ALSHAT GUPTA DID IT!!!
I am FREAKING OBSESSED!!!!!!
It was fanfuckingtabulous.
The plotline, the characters, the concept chef's kisss
The book opens to Prithvi questioning Widow Mrs. Batra about an Aghori "Om Shastri".
But here's the catch Om Shastri isn't an everyday Aghori he claimed to have lived all Yugas.
But why is Prithvi looking for him? Is Om suffering from mental disorder or he actually is immortal and have lived all yugas?
Read to find out! FREAKING READDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!
My only issue with the book is the writing style which imo kinda makes sense given the author previously has worked as a screenwriter and that can be noticed beyond doubt in his writing. Also the book imo needs more editing here and there
But hey do we perfect book? No
So what you waiting for? Gooooo readdddd
Also the book fullfilled my life long dream of reading a book which reveals a huge plot twist in the last line and ALSHAT GUPTA DID IT!!!
April 17, 2022
"𝑰 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅. 𝑺𝒐 𝑰 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒔, 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒔. 𝑰𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒔, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒇 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅. 𝑾𝒉𝒐'𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏'𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒘?" - 𝑱𝒐𝒉𝒏 𝑳𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒏.
If we dive into the Hindu Mythology, we could see the diversity into it. It's so vast including mythical and resonating facts. The concepts of birth, rebirth, immortality, purgatory and the ascended masters are some of the augury which adds a sense of zing among the writers and the readers.
'The Hidden Hindu' is a mind-boggling mythological thriller which deals with the past and present life of an Aghori named Om Shashtri. This person claims to be some past characters from the time of Ramayana and Mahabharata. He says he was Shusen, a Vedic doctor who saved Laxmana's life; he was Vidhur, the Mahamantri of Hastinapur; Subhas Chandra Bose, the great freedom fighter and many more. Throughout this novel, a group of six scientists interrogate Om Shashtri and the story goes on.
'The Hidden Hindu' is a trilogy novel, and hence the story ends in suspense. From my perspective, the plot is definitely interesting, and it definitely gave me goosebumps as pages turned by. But, I felt that the author could have summed up this part one of the trilogies in a more detailed manner, as it was mostly on interrogation. Overall, I enjoyed reading this novel and would definitely love to read the upcoming parts.
If we dive into the Hindu Mythology, we could see the diversity into it. It's so vast including mythical and resonating facts. The concepts of birth, rebirth, immortality, purgatory and the ascended masters are some of the augury which adds a sense of zing among the writers and the readers.
'The Hidden Hindu' is a mind-boggling mythological thriller which deals with the past and present life of an Aghori named Om Shashtri. This person claims to be some past characters from the time of Ramayana and Mahabharata. He says he was Shusen, a Vedic doctor who saved Laxmana's life; he was Vidhur, the Mahamantri of Hastinapur; Subhas Chandra Bose, the great freedom fighter and many more. Throughout this novel, a group of six scientists interrogate Om Shashtri and the story goes on.
'The Hidden Hindu' is a trilogy novel, and hence the story ends in suspense. From my perspective, the plot is definitely interesting, and it definitely gave me goosebumps as pages turned by. But, I felt that the author could have summed up this part one of the trilogies in a more detailed manner, as it was mostly on interrogation. Overall, I enjoyed reading this novel and would definitely love to read the upcoming parts.
November 1, 2025
2.5 ⭐
The plot has potential but it's very difficult to look past the writing. It does sound juvenile at times and there's too much over-explaining which wasn't required.
The plot has potential but it's very difficult to look past the writing. It does sound juvenile at times and there's too much over-explaining which wasn't required.
May 5, 2023
Things I Liked:-
#1: I literally love the plot so much! When I found this book I thought it would be a adventure based book but as I kept reading, this book just blowed my mind as it was none like I expected it to be in a good way!! This book turned out hundred times better than my expectation
#2: Most writers explain the past in some few chapters and keep the background story short but I am so thankful to the author that he wrote the first book based on the background story of our main lead, otherwise I wouldn't understand what our main lead had gone through. The writing style is marvelous and the chapter arrangement is good too
#3: All of the characters are very realistic tbh, especially the main lead! In the first book itself I could feel how much he has gone through that he's literally willing to cooperate with his kidnappers. When you will read this book, at some point you will cry even it's a little because the story of our main lead is just so painful. Even the antagonist of this trilogy is so evil and cruel, 10/10 for his villainous personality!
#4: At first I thought that all of this kidnapping and whatever going on in this book was by a character but later on it's revealed, the orders are from someone else! You will feel like you can guess everything at the beginning but after the middle half of the book, the story takes a 360° turn!! I bet you will be shocked like how I was as most of the people probably think it's a simple plot with research and adventure but believe me....... It's so much more than that!
Things I Didn't Like:-
#1: Well apparently there aren't anything I don't like about this book! For me, a huge hindu mythology lover who is still learning more this book is a paradise! Overall it is indeed good page turner book which you would love.
#1: I literally love the plot so much! When I found this book I thought it would be a adventure based book but as I kept reading, this book just blowed my mind as it was none like I expected it to be in a good way!! This book turned out hundred times better than my expectation
#2: Most writers explain the past in some few chapters and keep the background story short but I am so thankful to the author that he wrote the first book based on the background story of our main lead, otherwise I wouldn't understand what our main lead had gone through. The writing style is marvelous and the chapter arrangement is good too
#3: All of the characters are very realistic tbh, especially the main lead! In the first book itself I could feel how much he has gone through that he's literally willing to cooperate with his kidnappers. When you will read this book, at some point you will cry even it's a little because the story of our main lead is just so painful. Even the antagonist of this trilogy is so evil and cruel, 10/10 for his villainous personality!
#4: At first I thought that all of this kidnapping and whatever going on in this book was by a character but later on it's revealed, the orders are from someone else! You will feel like you can guess everything at the beginning but after the middle half of the book, the story takes a 360° turn!! I bet you will be shocked like how I was as most of the people probably think it's a simple plot with research and adventure but believe me....... It's so much more than that!
Things I Didn't Like:-
#1: Well apparently there aren't anything I don't like about this book! For me, a huge hindu mythology lover who is still learning more this book is a paradise! Overall it is indeed good page turner book which you would love.
March 4, 2022
As I crossed 40 pages reading into this book, I realised that I have already read this one earlier when the Author had published the paperback copy through Kindle. I had loved reading this one earlier too and so I kept on re-reading it and completed it in a day.
As I re-read this book, it became more clear to me and I could understand the plot with more clarity than before. The Hidden Hindu is a mixture of Mythology and science fiction. This book may seem like a fictional story but it gives us a view into many mythological facts and even historical facts such as about Subash Chandra Bose. It’s gripping and fast paced, it will keep you hooked onto your seat until you finish it.
Om Shashtri, who is captured and transported to a high-tech facility seems to have lived for thousands of years. His secret has always been immortality and his purpose has been to save it from mankind. But an old enemy rises after thousands of years only to get the book that holds the power to immortality. In this quest and chaos, Om Shashtri ends up finding the people he had been searching for thousand years.
I have loved how the Author has done his research in mythology and have stated it in the book. This isn’t only a fictional book but it also imparts knowledge on the real Indian mythology scriptures and stories.
As I re-read this book, it became more clear to me and I could understand the plot with more clarity than before. The Hidden Hindu is a mixture of Mythology and science fiction. This book may seem like a fictional story but it gives us a view into many mythological facts and even historical facts such as about Subash Chandra Bose. It’s gripping and fast paced, it will keep you hooked onto your seat until you finish it.
Om Shashtri, who is captured and transported to a high-tech facility seems to have lived for thousands of years. His secret has always been immortality and his purpose has been to save it from mankind. But an old enemy rises after thousands of years only to get the book that holds the power to immortality. In this quest and chaos, Om Shashtri ends up finding the people he had been searching for thousand years.
I have loved how the Author has done his research in mythology and have stated it in the book. This isn’t only a fictional book but it also imparts knowledge on the real Indian mythology scriptures and stories.
April 25, 2023
Cheesy. Imbecilic. Ludicrous.
This was a chaotic mess that was barely coherent.
The premise of the story was very intriguing, which was why I picked it up.
I did have trepidations because I've read these kinds of thriller/archeological mystery type books before and was very disappointed by the writing style. Sadly, the same happened with this book 😑
The characters were so one dimensional with descriptions that were farcical. The situations in the book were comical, more so than thrilling.
It's truly a testament to my strength of character that I stuck with it to the ending.
And because I'm a sucker for punishment, I'm going to give Book 2 a go because, as I said earlier, it had an intriguing premise, and I want to know where the story will head.
I don't have much hope about the writing style but I'll be happy to be proven wrong.
This was a chaotic mess that was barely coherent.
The premise of the story was very intriguing, which was why I picked it up.
I did have trepidations because I've read these kinds of thriller/archeological mystery type books before and was very disappointed by the writing style. Sadly, the same happened with this book 😑
The characters were so one dimensional with descriptions that were farcical. The situations in the book were comical, more so than thrilling.
It's truly a testament to my strength of character that I stuck with it to the ending.
And because I'm a sucker for punishment, I'm going to give Book 2 a go because, as I said earlier, it had an intriguing premise, and I want to know where the story will head.
I don't have much hope about the writing style but I'll be happy to be proven wrong.
October 2, 2025
I'll start with a few semi-negative opinions on this book:
1. The writing can be slightly juvenile and campy
2. The first novel seems more like an introduction as opposed to a full fledged book (not necessarily a bad thing)
3. The change in POVs is haphazard and seems childish.
Now that the criticism is out of the way, I genuinely think that both that the plot of this book/series has huge potential. It successfully merges mythology/theology with present day scenarios.
On to part 2.
1. The writing can be slightly juvenile and campy
2. The first novel seems more like an introduction as opposed to a full fledged book (not necessarily a bad thing)
3. The change in POVs is haphazard and seems childish.
Now that the criticism is out of the way, I genuinely think that both that the plot of this book/series has huge potential. It successfully merges mythology/theology with present day scenarios.
On to part 2.
October 30, 2025
I don’t think that i can make myself read the next book in the series, if you really believe in all those characters than give them some respect Atleast and where is the editor in this publishing house? I was not picking up this book for years even after seeing in so many best selling and most talked about books and shelf in bookstores and i was damn right, but i had the free credit on the audible so i thought why not i should try something which i know i would regret and here i am, anyway i finished it in my three morning walks so doesn’t hurt and i really don’t care about this series honestly.
June 30, 2023
“The Hidden Hindu” is an enthralling trilogy that takes readers on a mesmerizing journey through the realms of mythology, immortality, and profound secrets. With its intricate plot and well-crafted characters, this series captivates from start to finish.
The first book sets the stage by introducing Prithvi, a young protagonist in search of the mysterious aghori, Om Shastri. The quest to find Om, who claims to have witnessed the four yugas and participated in epic Hindu tales like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, immediately sparks intrigue. The blend of ancient mythology and modern technology, with Om being captured and held on an isolated Indian island, adds a unique and thrilling twist to the story.
As the plot unfolds, the true nature of Om’s extraordinary past begins to unravel, leaving everyone astounded. The team surrounding Om discovers his quest to find other immortals from each yuga, shaking the foundations of ancient beliefs and potentially altering the future. This revelation opens up a world of possibilities and introduces a web of interconnected characters whose stories intertwine in surprising ways.
The pacing of the trilogy is well-executed, with each book building upon the previous one, raising the stakes and maintaining a sense of urgency. The intricate relationships between the characters, filled with alliances, hidden agendas, and conflicting loyalties, add depth and complexity to the storyline. Readers become emotionally invested in their journeys, eagerly turning the pages to discover their ultimate fates.
The author skillfully employs unexpected twists and revelations, keeping readers guessing and engaged throughout. The intricate mysteries surrounding the immortals and the hidden words generate a sense of wonder and anticipation.
Overall, this trilogy is a delightful read, filled with captivating twists and turns. I highly recommend it to those who have a fondness for Hindu mythology interwoven with fiction.
The first book sets the stage by introducing Prithvi, a young protagonist in search of the mysterious aghori, Om Shastri. The quest to find Om, who claims to have witnessed the four yugas and participated in epic Hindu tales like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, immediately sparks intrigue. The blend of ancient mythology and modern technology, with Om being captured and held on an isolated Indian island, adds a unique and thrilling twist to the story.
As the plot unfolds, the true nature of Om’s extraordinary past begins to unravel, leaving everyone astounded. The team surrounding Om discovers his quest to find other immortals from each yuga, shaking the foundations of ancient beliefs and potentially altering the future. This revelation opens up a world of possibilities and introduces a web of interconnected characters whose stories intertwine in surprising ways.
The pacing of the trilogy is well-executed, with each book building upon the previous one, raising the stakes and maintaining a sense of urgency. The intricate relationships between the characters, filled with alliances, hidden agendas, and conflicting loyalties, add depth and complexity to the storyline. Readers become emotionally invested in their journeys, eagerly turning the pages to discover their ultimate fates.
The author skillfully employs unexpected twists and revelations, keeping readers guessing and engaged throughout. The intricate mysteries surrounding the immortals and the hidden words generate a sense of wonder and anticipation.
Overall, this trilogy is a delightful read, filled with captivating twists and turns. I highly recommend it to those who have a fondness for Hindu mythology interwoven with fiction.
February 22, 2023
3.75 stars
That was probably the most speedy 200 pages of my life. An amazing blend of mythology and science fiction, this story takes place in 2041 with events spread all across history (both recorded and mythical). It's a highly interesting take on Vedic myths, with a dash of philosophy and thrill. The plot is as exciting as it gets. Amidst western myths finding new lives in the modern world, it's refreshing to see the treasure trove of Indian myths making its place with this book.
The quick pace of the book makes it very enjoyable. It's packed with crisp information and holds the threads of the storyline well. The use of more recent history also adds to the effect. There is not much of divine magic here, but there is hope for so in the future installments of the series.
One thing that struck me was the language. This is the only part where I felt the book didn't emerge as well as it does with the plot. And there have been places where the narrative felt incomplete or open, which could be tended better.
The characters are well built despite the length. The sudden twists in the climax worked well, although some of it could be anticipated. The character of Abhilash exceptionally stood out because despite his knowledge, he is a prototype of some very problematic crowds emerging across the country. The others were unique in their own way, but the short-lived ones were surprising when their existence seized in the story.
It remains to be seen how the author builds from here, using the lead character, who we know very little about right now. Overall this book is a thrilling work and paves the way for bigger and better projects of its nature in the Indian market.
That was probably the most speedy 200 pages of my life. An amazing blend of mythology and science fiction, this story takes place in 2041 with events spread all across history (both recorded and mythical). It's a highly interesting take on Vedic myths, with a dash of philosophy and thrill. The plot is as exciting as it gets. Amidst western myths finding new lives in the modern world, it's refreshing to see the treasure trove of Indian myths making its place with this book.
The quick pace of the book makes it very enjoyable. It's packed with crisp information and holds the threads of the storyline well. The use of more recent history also adds to the effect. There is not much of divine magic here, but there is hope for so in the future installments of the series.
One thing that struck me was the language. This is the only part where I felt the book didn't emerge as well as it does with the plot. And there have been places where the narrative felt incomplete or open, which could be tended better.
The characters are well built despite the length. The sudden twists in the climax worked well, although some of it could be anticipated. The character of Abhilash exceptionally stood out because despite his knowledge, he is a prototype of some very problematic crowds emerging across the country. The others were unique in their own way, but the short-lived ones were surprising when their existence seized in the story.
It remains to be seen how the author builds from here, using the lead character, who we know very little about right now. Overall this book is a thrilling work and paves the way for bigger and better projects of its nature in the Indian market.
December 16, 2020
Prithvi, a 21-year-old remembers incidents which took place even when he came to existence. It is mysterious already. He is in pursuit of a mysterious middle-aged Aghori who was tracked for more than 200 years. Om was captured and transported to a high-tech facility on an isolated island. This book revolves around few interesting myths, ancient stories and practices that often sketches enigmatic aura around our religion and spiritual beliefs weaving all that into a suspense filled thrilling plot.
When drugged and hypnotized for the interrogation by a team of 6 specialists, the Aghori had claimed to have witnessed all four Yugas of Hinduism, great epic battles, immortality, bizzare facts and secrets of the universe which ultimately left the entire team baffled.Om had been in search of the other immortals declared in every Yuga.
Now the questions arise who is this mystic man? What were the events that lead to his capturing? Why is Prithvi in search of him and tries to recap the past series of events? This is a book that mythology readers will like. It also has elemebts of magical realm and mystic components.
When drugged and hypnotized for the interrogation by a team of 6 specialists, the Aghori had claimed to have witnessed all four Yugas of Hinduism, great epic battles, immortality, bizzare facts and secrets of the universe which ultimately left the entire team baffled.Om had been in search of the other immortals declared in every Yuga.
Now the questions arise who is this mystic man? What were the events that lead to his capturing? Why is Prithvi in search of him and tries to recap the past series of events? This is a book that mythology readers will like. It also has elemebts of magical realm and mystic components.
January 20, 2024
The concept of connecting Hindu mythology to present time and the mystery behind this is so good that I got convinced that it would be an awesome read.
But after I started reading I realised how wrong I was.
There are a lot of things wrong with this book:
The characters are very flat with just one single characteristic each.
The story tries to unnecessarily connect a lot of historical figures instead of sticking with a few and make the story engaging.
The writing style is more like a document and it's very difficult to picture the scenes in mind while reading it. Maybe the author had a clear picture but he was very unsuccessful in conveying the scenes with his writing.
Giving 2 stars, only because of the idea, coz it's good only till you start reading.
But after I started reading I realised how wrong I was.
There are a lot of things wrong with this book:
The characters are very flat with just one single characteristic each.
The story tries to unnecessarily connect a lot of historical figures instead of sticking with a few and make the story engaging.
The writing style is more like a document and it's very difficult to picture the scenes in mind while reading it. Maybe the author had a clear picture but he was very unsuccessful in conveying the scenes with his writing.
Giving 2 stars, only because of the idea, coz it's good only till you start reading.
March 31, 2023
One of the best of mythological fiction read till date ! It has everything you can ask for thrill , suspense , action , visual splendour, well researched and an impeccable story telling. The best part about this is it doesn't take time to build the setting of the world and the story , as a result it keeps you hooked on adrenal rush to know what happens next .It will compell you to leave everything else and read this and its following sequels.
June 24, 2023
What the shite is this
So this is a book based on Hindu mythology and there is a Brahmin character who is an absolute bigot, won't even sit with a Muslim woman. And that muslim woman knows more about hinduism than him, and teaches him the lesson about not hating people. And all this in just 30% of the book.
So this is a book based on Hindu mythology and there is a Brahmin character who is an absolute bigot, won't even sit with a Muslim woman. And that muslim woman knows more about hinduism than him, and teaches him the lesson about not hating people. And all this in just 30% of the book.
December 10, 2022
An average read . But a good start for a trilogy.
July 31, 2025
the experience was not pleasant at all to say the least. like AT ALL.
as much as i love a vivid description of stuffs, i do not need to know what every single charecter looks like. the info-dumping, oh god, the info dump was so fucking crazy, it's as if mister writer hadnt planned his book in the first place and just wanted to get tf done with it by mentioning everything at once. it was like as if im reading a fucking encyclopedia about disease-causing pancreatic worms. besides for someone describing a simple fucking table for two pages, it seems mister writer has forgot to describe the actual scenario the actual plot of what is going on. the plot is so vague and the foreshadowing is very amateur, kinda over-done and totally not done well. the book is a monumental disaster. the whole hodgepodge of mythology, science and real life was jarringly awful to make sense of. also there's this charecter who stutters... i wonder if mister writer has ever had a rl conversation with someone who actually stutters. bcs as an ex-stutterer myself, i can confirm that not a single stuttering soul speaks like that, like how it was depicted in the book.
besides, there's no direction in the book. even tho it's written in third person, it switches pov right in the middle of a freaking paragraph. the whiplash from that is not good at all, neither is it even remotely interesting. the writing is... average at best. Also mister writer needs to hire an editor if he doesnt already have one or he should consider firing the current one and investing a bit more to hire a good one.
lastly i think, no i don't think, i know im NOT going to continue this trilogy or pick another Akshat Gupta book ever. i know "never say never" but this never is said with my soul. i mean it. that's how torturing this was. thankfully the book was short and less than 200 pages, otherwise itd taken me a decade to go through even halfway. im so done.
as much as i love a vivid description of stuffs, i do not need to know what every single charecter looks like. the info-dumping, oh god, the info dump was so fucking crazy, it's as if mister writer hadnt planned his book in the first place and just wanted to get tf done with it by mentioning everything at once. it was like as if im reading a fucking encyclopedia about disease-causing pancreatic worms. besides for someone describing a simple fucking table for two pages, it seems mister writer has forgot to describe the actual scenario the actual plot of what is going on. the plot is so vague and the foreshadowing is very amateur, kinda over-done and totally not done well. the book is a monumental disaster. the whole hodgepodge of mythology, science and real life was jarringly awful to make sense of. also there's this charecter who stutters... i wonder if mister writer has ever had a rl conversation with someone who actually stutters. bcs as an ex-stutterer myself, i can confirm that not a single stuttering soul speaks like that, like how it was depicted in the book.
besides, there's no direction in the book. even tho it's written in third person, it switches pov right in the middle of a freaking paragraph. the whiplash from that is not good at all, neither is it even remotely interesting. the writing is... average at best. Also mister writer needs to hire an editor if he doesnt already have one or he should consider firing the current one and investing a bit more to hire a good one.
lastly i think, no i don't think, i know im NOT going to continue this trilogy or pick another Akshat Gupta book ever. i know "never say never" but this never is said with my soul. i mean it. that's how torturing this was. thankfully the book was short and less than 200 pages, otherwise itd taken me a decade to go through even halfway. im so done.
March 18, 2025
A blend of science and mythology, this book had the potential to be something great but the terrible writing style and constant info dumping ruined it completely. It read like an average Bollywood movie and actually reminded me of the 'Krrish' series.
The characters lacked depth and were described in a monotonous way. In the first 20 pages itself, the writer had introduced around 7-8 people in a way that it felt like I was reading their biodata. Then came the three-page monologue on Aghoris; if this book had been written recently, I would have confidently said that the author had picked it up from ChatGPT.
The historical details and Om Shastri's secrets could have been narrated in a more interesting manner. The book managed to make even immortality and mythological events seem very bland.
The conversations between characters were one-dimensional and boring. At times I couldn't understand who was speaking as the dialogues continued in the same paragraph without mentioning the person. One of them was called LSD which sounded ridiculous rather than cool.
There was more of telling than showing. The author had written "...she had an expression on her face..." but those expressions weren't described. It was on the reader to decipher them based on what was happening.
It also seemed liked characters were travelling from one place to another in a span of five minutes, and this is without a magical portal. Dr Srinivasan tells Veerbhadra to go somewhere and... poof! he has reached the location and retrieved whatever was needed and he is already back to the facility in the next few pages.
The last 50 pages saw a lot of action, although that was a hodge-podge of people shooting at each other thrown in with some major revelations. The only reason I'm going to continue with the series is because of those last few pages and because my best friend gifted me the books and wants to know what happens next.
The characters lacked depth and were described in a monotonous way. In the first 20 pages itself, the writer had introduced around 7-8 people in a way that it felt like I was reading their biodata. Then came the three-page monologue on Aghoris; if this book had been written recently, I would have confidently said that the author had picked it up from ChatGPT.
The historical details and Om Shastri's secrets could have been narrated in a more interesting manner. The book managed to make even immortality and mythological events seem very bland.
The conversations between characters were one-dimensional and boring. At times I couldn't understand who was speaking as the dialogues continued in the same paragraph without mentioning the person. One of them was called LSD which sounded ridiculous rather than cool.
There was more of telling than showing. The author had written "...she had an expression on her face..." but those expressions weren't described. It was on the reader to decipher them based on what was happening.
It also seemed liked characters were travelling from one place to another in a span of five minutes, and this is without a magical portal. Dr Srinivasan tells Veerbhadra to go somewhere and... poof! he has reached the location and retrieved whatever was needed and he is already back to the facility in the next few pages.
The last 50 pages saw a lot of action, although that was a hodge-podge of people shooting at each other thrown in with some major revelations. The only reason I'm going to continue with the series is because of those last few pages and because my best friend gifted me the books and wants to know what happens next.
August 29, 2023
0.5🌟 / 5⭐
I don't even know where to start with this one. It is a fast paced book but sadly, not in the best way.
I picked the book after having watched a few interviews of the author and i was really excited by the premise of the plot. He clearly has the knowledge about Indian mythology and knows how to engage viewers but sadly it does not translate on paper.
There are too many plot holes, the construction of the sentence is weird. He has tried to make them complicated but instead of sounding intelligent (which was the aim, i am guessing) they just sound weird. There is a portion towards the end where the pov is changing from one character to another and there is no seperation? One paragraph in from one's pov and then the next paragraph is someone else altogether and it leaves you confused.
Maybe the author could have teamed up with someone who actually knows how yo write and it could have been a team effort. His knowledge and someone else's words.
Its safe to say I won't be picking up the other two parts of the book. It was a nightmare.
I don't even know where to start with this one. It is a fast paced book but sadly, not in the best way.
I picked the book after having watched a few interviews of the author and i was really excited by the premise of the plot. He clearly has the knowledge about Indian mythology and knows how to engage viewers but sadly it does not translate on paper.
There are too many plot holes, the construction of the sentence is weird. He has tried to make them complicated but instead of sounding intelligent (which was the aim, i am guessing) they just sound weird. There is a portion towards the end where the pov is changing from one character to another and there is no seperation? One paragraph in from one's pov and then the next paragraph is someone else altogether and it leaves you confused.
Maybe the author could have teamed up with someone who actually knows how yo write and it could have been a team effort. His knowledge and someone else's words.
Its safe to say I won't be picking up the other two parts of the book. It was a nightmare.
February 9, 2023
This was my first fastest read of January and laid down the pathway for my reading sprints last month.
This book is a complete package of Indian mythology, fiction, fantasy and thriller.
I am stunned by the idea of bringing all the supreme characters from Indian mythology spanned over the four yugas together into this eclectic tale of mythological fantasy.
Being the first part in the trilogy, it was a short and quick read. The pace was fast enough to hold the reader's attention to the point that I skipped lunch.
The way every great mythological character is introduced in the story is spell binding and the author left a salty cliffhanger at the end to keep the reader's imaginations wild!
Highly recommended for mythological fiction fans out there🙌
This book is a complete package of Indian mythology, fiction, fantasy and thriller.
I am stunned by the idea of bringing all the supreme characters from Indian mythology spanned over the four yugas together into this eclectic tale of mythological fantasy.
Being the first part in the trilogy, it was a short and quick read. The pace was fast enough to hold the reader's attention to the point that I skipped lunch.
The way every great mythological character is introduced in the story is spell binding and the author left a salty cliffhanger at the end to keep the reader's imaginations wild!
Highly recommended for mythological fiction fans out there🙌
December 10, 2024
Really interesting story concept which is ruined by dreadful character arcs, language structure and overall haphazard way of the story-telling. Would read the other two books just to see where the concept goes, but thoroughly disappointed in general.
July 15, 2024
This. Book.
Where do I start?
I love reading—I tear through books like there's no tomorrow. Even the ones I struggle with, whether due to a dull plot or an off-putting writing style, I try to finish out of respect for the authors. After all, putting your work out there is no small feat, and I admire anyone who does exactly that.
But then I read this book, and it made me reconsider everything.
Some books just shouldn’t see the light of day, and this one is Exhibit A.
This book is what you’d get if you fed ChatGPT random Indian myths and asked it to concoct a plot where all the characters come together in a contemporary setting.
With about 300 pages, you’d think there’d be room for some story, but no—around 100 pages were devoted solely to describing how each of the six main characters look. Just their looks. Nothing else.
World-building? Zero.
And the myths. THE MYTHS. They felt straight out of Wikipedia. It’s as if the author didn’t bother reading the epics he was writing about. He did, however, put in effort to Google Translate sentences to make the setting seem more... Indian. Every character speaks in their mother tongue before quickly switching to English because, you know, "professional environment." The entire book was a cringefest.
Maybe I hated this book because I grew up reading Indian epics and myths. The Mahabharata will always be a favorite. Seeing the story butchered by someone who seems to have never touched the original texts with a ten-foot pole, in the name of creative freedom, was something I just couldn't stand.
Where do I start?
I love reading—I tear through books like there's no tomorrow. Even the ones I struggle with, whether due to a dull plot or an off-putting writing style, I try to finish out of respect for the authors. After all, putting your work out there is no small feat, and I admire anyone who does exactly that.
But then I read this book, and it made me reconsider everything.
Some books just shouldn’t see the light of day, and this one is Exhibit A.
This book is what you’d get if you fed ChatGPT random Indian myths and asked it to concoct a plot where all the characters come together in a contemporary setting.
With about 300 pages, you’d think there’d be room for some story, but no—around 100 pages were devoted solely to describing how each of the six main characters look. Just their looks. Nothing else.
World-building? Zero.
And the myths. THE MYTHS. They felt straight out of Wikipedia. It’s as if the author didn’t bother reading the epics he was writing about. He did, however, put in effort to Google Translate sentences to make the setting seem more... Indian. Every character speaks in their mother tongue before quickly switching to English because, you know, "professional environment." The entire book was a cringefest.
Maybe I hated this book because I grew up reading Indian epics and myths. The Mahabharata will always be a favorite. Seeing the story butchered by someone who seems to have never touched the original texts with a ten-foot pole, in the name of creative freedom, was something I just couldn't stand.
January 24, 2023
This book has won me over. I bought it on a whim and sometimes those buys are the best!!
A nice blend of science and mythology. The story starts with a bang and ends with a bang, a nice build up and narration of different stories to set the tone. Who is OM shastri and why is he being interrogated in a secret facility? Is he really what he says he is or just a very good actor? Who are the people pursuing him and what’s the agenda of the doctor’s team working on him? And who is Prithvi and why is he asking question about OM shastri?
A tale of immortal (aghori) who has lived thru all the four yugas and a group of people in search for the science behind his immortality.
Can’t wait to read the second part of this trilogy!!
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