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Sultan of Delhi: Ascension
When a path is forged in blood, it is hard to find peace.
The son of a penniless refugee from Lahore, Arjun Bhatia has worked his way up from being an arms smuggler in the badlands of Uttar Pradesh to the most influential power-broker in Delhi.
But when the shadows of the past, of a friend he has lost forever and of a woman he can never be with, finally catch up to him, Arjun finds himself fighting the biggest battle of his life. For at stake is not just his iron hold over the government, but something even bigger---- his family...and his soul.
Spanning five decades and two generations, Sultan of Delhi: Ascension is an explosive saga of ambition, greed, love and passion
The son of a penniless refugee from Lahore, Arjun Bhatia has worked his way up from being an arms smuggler in the badlands of Uttar Pradesh to the most influential power-broker in Delhi.
But when the shadows of the past, of a friend he has lost forever and of a woman he can never be with, finally catch up to him, Arjun finds himself fighting the biggest battle of his life. For at stake is not just his iron hold over the government, but something even bigger---- his family...and his soul.
Spanning five decades and two generations, Sultan of Delhi: Ascension is an explosive saga of ambition, greed, love and passion
301 pages, Paperback
Published October 26, 2016
17 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
About the author
Arnab Ray
14 books121 followersArnab Ray, better known as Greatbong, is one of India's most widely read bloggers who blogs at Random Thoughts Of A Demented Mind. He is known for his sarcastic takes on the Indian film industry, Indian politics and society in general. His blog was awarded the "Indiblog of the Year" at Indibloggies in 2006[1] and 2008. He has written for several media outlets like the Washington Post, Outlook magazine and Live Mint. He graduated from Jadavpur University as a Bachelor in Computer Science and Engineering and went on to finish his PhD in Computer Science from State University of New York at Stony Brook. He is presently employed as a research scientist at the University of Maryland and resides in the suburbs of Washington DC. His first book "May I Hebb Your Attention Pliss", published by Harper Collins, was on India Today's Bestsellers list.
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December 20, 2016
“I will hurt you for this. I don't know how yet, but give me time. A day will come when you think yourself safe and happy, and suddenly your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth, and you'll know the debt is paid.”
----George R.R. Martin
Arnab Ray, an Indian author, pens a gripping action packed urban noir, The Sultan of Delhi that revolves around a self made man from the scratches with a business of gun supplying to high-end clients along with his partner, but following his partner's death and the affair with his wife in the past now threatens to rip apart his family of two sons, one daughter and his wife along with his stand in the society. But the skeletons from his past haunts him and no matter what, he needs to protect his family from those.
Synopsis:
When a path is forged in blood, it is hard to find peace.
The son of a penniless refugee from Lahore, Arjun Bhatia has worked his way up from being an arms smuggler in the badlands of Uttar Pradesh to the most influential power-broker in Delhi.
But when the shadows of the past, of a friend he has lost forever and of a woman he can never be with, finally catch up to him, Arjun finds himself fighting the biggest battle of his life. For at stake is not just his iron hold over the government, but something even bigger---- his family...and his soul.
Spanning five decades and two generations, Sultan of Delhi: Ascension is an explosive saga of ambition, greed, love and passion.
Arjun Bhatia, the young boy who ran from Lahore to UP with his father losing everything in the hands of the Muslims rioting against the Hindus, made himself up into a smart and clever businessman by smuggling guns to high end clients from politicians to rich businessmen to government officials. Today he and his family has a reputation in the society as his sons run the import -export business and some garment business and his daughter pursues fancy degree in American college. But the past skeletons like his friend-cum-business-partner's death and the affair with that friend's wife is threatening him as well as his family too. But Arjun has forever been protective, maybe a little too overprotective towards his family. And if it requires, he would get his hands dirty at any cost to protect the security of his family members. When the past is closing in on him and his family, can he somehow find closure without increasing the body count?
Its better not to spill any more beans for this story as that would mar the charm of those mind-boggling twists and turns, that the author has meticulously incorporated into the story line. The story is addictive as well as arresting from the get-go itself and it will get latched to the minds of the readers in such a way, that it will be difficult for them to turn away their heads from this book even for a single second. This is the first time that I read any books by this author, but after reading this book, I'm looking forward to read the other books by the same author.
With a coherent writing style of the author, it will make it easy for the readers to contemplate with the story line. The story is laced with packed and tensed action scenes that will leave the readers anticipating for the next turn. Moreover, I was sweating hard to find out whether Arjun could protect his family, although in the middle of the story, it felt a bit dull as there weren't much happening events occurring thereby slowing down the pace of the book. The narrative is highly engaging and interesting enough and the author has used some hard-core native (Hindi) language to spice up the tale and to increase the tension among the readers. The pacing is often fast enough that will keep the readers glued to the pages of this book till the very end.
The author has depicted post-independent India during the 60s extremely vividly, that will make the readers feel like hopping on a time machine to experience the then India. The backdrop too is brightly painted by the author, that syncs well with the theme of the story line. The scenes are penned with utmost details that will help the readers to visually imagine those scenes right before their eyes.
The characters from this book are projected with realism, honesty and flaws to make them look believable in the eyes of the readers. The main protagonist, Arjun, is really well crafted out and his demeanor reflects as someone with a sad and tragic past, yet that makes him strong enough to rise from the ashes and make himself almost invincible in the eyes of the law and his enemies. At times, Arjun might make the readers angry because of his actions but the readers will find it easy to comprehend with his fight for survival. The rest of the supporting characters are also quite interesting and holds the power to leave a lasting impression with their small but powerful demeanor.
In a nutshell, this is a must read story for all Indian contemporary fiction readers who love to enjoy a story with handful of twists and layers and where the characters evolve throughout the entire length of the novel.
Verdict: A compelling and action packed drama about love, family, friendships and desire.
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Hachette India for providing me with a copy of this book for the blog tour.
----George R.R. Martin
Arnab Ray, an Indian author, pens a gripping action packed urban noir, The Sultan of Delhi that revolves around a self made man from the scratches with a business of gun supplying to high-end clients along with his partner, but following his partner's death and the affair with his wife in the past now threatens to rip apart his family of two sons, one daughter and his wife along with his stand in the society. But the skeletons from his past haunts him and no matter what, he needs to protect his family from those.
Synopsis:
When a path is forged in blood, it is hard to find peace.
The son of a penniless refugee from Lahore, Arjun Bhatia has worked his way up from being an arms smuggler in the badlands of Uttar Pradesh to the most influential power-broker in Delhi.
But when the shadows of the past, of a friend he has lost forever and of a woman he can never be with, finally catch up to him, Arjun finds himself fighting the biggest battle of his life. For at stake is not just his iron hold over the government, but something even bigger---- his family...and his soul.
Spanning five decades and two generations, Sultan of Delhi: Ascension is an explosive saga of ambition, greed, love and passion.
Arjun Bhatia, the young boy who ran from Lahore to UP with his father losing everything in the hands of the Muslims rioting against the Hindus, made himself up into a smart and clever businessman by smuggling guns to high end clients from politicians to rich businessmen to government officials. Today he and his family has a reputation in the society as his sons run the import -export business and some garment business and his daughter pursues fancy degree in American college. But the past skeletons like his friend-cum-business-partner's death and the affair with that friend's wife is threatening him as well as his family too. But Arjun has forever been protective, maybe a little too overprotective towards his family. And if it requires, he would get his hands dirty at any cost to protect the security of his family members. When the past is closing in on him and his family, can he somehow find closure without increasing the body count?
Its better not to spill any more beans for this story as that would mar the charm of those mind-boggling twists and turns, that the author has meticulously incorporated into the story line. The story is addictive as well as arresting from the get-go itself and it will get latched to the minds of the readers in such a way, that it will be difficult for them to turn away their heads from this book even for a single second. This is the first time that I read any books by this author, but after reading this book, I'm looking forward to read the other books by the same author.
With a coherent writing style of the author, it will make it easy for the readers to contemplate with the story line. The story is laced with packed and tensed action scenes that will leave the readers anticipating for the next turn. Moreover, I was sweating hard to find out whether Arjun could protect his family, although in the middle of the story, it felt a bit dull as there weren't much happening events occurring thereby slowing down the pace of the book. The narrative is highly engaging and interesting enough and the author has used some hard-core native (Hindi) language to spice up the tale and to increase the tension among the readers. The pacing is often fast enough that will keep the readers glued to the pages of this book till the very end.
The author has depicted post-independent India during the 60s extremely vividly, that will make the readers feel like hopping on a time machine to experience the then India. The backdrop too is brightly painted by the author, that syncs well with the theme of the story line. The scenes are penned with utmost details that will help the readers to visually imagine those scenes right before their eyes.
The characters from this book are projected with realism, honesty and flaws to make them look believable in the eyes of the readers. The main protagonist, Arjun, is really well crafted out and his demeanor reflects as someone with a sad and tragic past, yet that makes him strong enough to rise from the ashes and make himself almost invincible in the eyes of the law and his enemies. At times, Arjun might make the readers angry because of his actions but the readers will find it easy to comprehend with his fight for survival. The rest of the supporting characters are also quite interesting and holds the power to leave a lasting impression with their small but powerful demeanor.
In a nutshell, this is a must read story for all Indian contemporary fiction readers who love to enjoy a story with handful of twists and layers and where the characters evolve throughout the entire length of the novel.
Verdict: A compelling and action packed drama about love, family, friendships and desire.
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Hachette India for providing me with a copy of this book for the blog tour.
November 24, 2018
3.5/5
An entertaining read. The ending felt abrupt otherwise i would have given it 4 stars.
Recommended.
You can read more at:
Sultan of Delhi
An entertaining read. The ending felt abrupt otherwise i would have given it 4 stars.
Recommended.
You can read more at:
Sultan of Delhi
March 15, 2019
3.5/5 This was a fast-paced thriller and was reminded of Sidney Sheldon. Wish the author decides to publish the sequel to this and realises that his fans/readers matter more than those who may have unfairly vilified him.
April 24, 2017
This is the third book sent by Hachette India for review. The last one- The Front Page Murder was one of the best non fiction criminology I ever read. This book is a fiction. Though, I am not much into this genre but trust Hachette India for their selection, which have been spot on all three times.
This is story of a man- Arjun Bhatia, born to an affluent family based in Lahore. He survived horrifying , unfortunate and ugly side of partition but lost almost everything in the inferno. He managed to reach India but was a penniless refugee. After doing odd jobs, he became an arms smuggler and finally rose up to become the most influential power broker in Delhi. What follows is a saga of greed, ambition, power,love, passion, double crossing, crime and deception. Interesting journey? Yes and eventful too with lot of bumpy rides along the way.
Arjun was married to Preeti and have two sons- Sudheer and Mohan ,and a daughter- Riti. His partner in crime during his smuggling days was Nilendu Banerjee, his friend and close associate who was killed and was survived by his wife Nayantara and son Arijit. Why I need to mention them here? It’s because they drive the story that revolve around the chief protagonist.
What made Arjun click? He was two step ahead of others in contemplating events and can subvert his rivals with panache and precision. He has the ability to clear logjam with his equanimity.He built the camaraderie with the right person in the power corridor. He was under the aegis of police and politicians who matters. He became so powerful that his rivals were petrified with just the mention of his name
Does his status promote detente between him and rivals? You never know because the identity and timing of rival entry are not known in advance. Does the success ensures peace and happiness in domestic life ? If No, What was acting as an inimical towards his blissful life ? What role did Nayantara played? Was she a grieving widow or there was something more to what eye can see. Arjun Bhatia past came to haunt him again. There was no peace of mind. To add to his woes,his elder son was gibberish and, younger son was introvert and unpredictable character. Both known more for impetuous acts. Arjun used to underestimate their ability? Does both the son manage to change his opinion? He was fond of his daughter but his unflinching love for daughter came to a halt with the entry of a stranger, who has had a pernicious effect on him physiologically. Did she stood by her father during his difficult times. How much does seemingly simple and casual Preeti aware of her husband past? Read it to know the answers because these forms the crux of the story.
Arnab Ray proved his mettle as an author by enthralling the readers. Maximum of the characters in the book exhibit gray shades with the loss of sanctity,living a life of expediency, devoid of any morality and ethics. He has build up the suspense well. Barbaric part of violence was cut down from narration, Sexual act explicitly and vividly narrated and Hindi slangs were innumerable. His writing style is commendable and managed to stitch the sub-plots beautifully. However, in some of the sub-plots, he has not completed it but left it for reader’s imagination and guess. Overall, a decent effort from the author
This is story of a man- Arjun Bhatia, born to an affluent family based in Lahore. He survived horrifying , unfortunate and ugly side of partition but lost almost everything in the inferno. He managed to reach India but was a penniless refugee. After doing odd jobs, he became an arms smuggler and finally rose up to become the most influential power broker in Delhi. What follows is a saga of greed, ambition, power,love, passion, double crossing, crime and deception. Interesting journey? Yes and eventful too with lot of bumpy rides along the way.
Arjun was married to Preeti and have two sons- Sudheer and Mohan ,and a daughter- Riti. His partner in crime during his smuggling days was Nilendu Banerjee, his friend and close associate who was killed and was survived by his wife Nayantara and son Arijit. Why I need to mention them here? It’s because they drive the story that revolve around the chief protagonist.
What made Arjun click? He was two step ahead of others in contemplating events and can subvert his rivals with panache and precision. He has the ability to clear logjam with his equanimity.He built the camaraderie with the right person in the power corridor. He was under the aegis of police and politicians who matters. He became so powerful that his rivals were petrified with just the mention of his name
Does his status promote detente between him and rivals? You never know because the identity and timing of rival entry are not known in advance. Does the success ensures peace and happiness in domestic life ? If No, What was acting as an inimical towards his blissful life ? What role did Nayantara played? Was she a grieving widow or there was something more to what eye can see. Arjun Bhatia past came to haunt him again. There was no peace of mind. To add to his woes,his elder son was gibberish and, younger son was introvert and unpredictable character. Both known more for impetuous acts. Arjun used to underestimate their ability? Does both the son manage to change his opinion? He was fond of his daughter but his unflinching love for daughter came to a halt with the entry of a stranger, who has had a pernicious effect on him physiologically. Did she stood by her father during his difficult times. How much does seemingly simple and casual Preeti aware of her husband past? Read it to know the answers because these forms the crux of the story.
Arnab Ray proved his mettle as an author by enthralling the readers. Maximum of the characters in the book exhibit gray shades with the loss of sanctity,living a life of expediency, devoid of any morality and ethics. He has build up the suspense well. Barbaric part of violence was cut down from narration, Sexual act explicitly and vividly narrated and Hindi slangs were innumerable. His writing style is commendable and managed to stitch the sub-plots beautifully. However, in some of the sub-plots, he has not completed it but left it for reader’s imagination and guess. Overall, a decent effort from the author
October 22, 2017
The author has given a very good background and a very interesting story and progression to the character of Arjun Bhatia. I was really planning to give it a 5 star, but the last few pages ended in a very standard split and handover the empire way. I was disappointed with that. Apart from that it is a good read.
Read
May 26, 2017Sultan of Delhi is a good story. A bit filmy but well written with characters well drawn out.
December 2, 2016
I love Arnab Ray’s writing. The Mine’s killer plot twist was amazing and the heart-breaking tale of Anustup Chatterjee in Yatrik made me a little misty-eyed. In Sultan of Delhi: Ascension, he describes everything so perfectly, the characters and their motives, sex, violence, conspiracies, Delhi. You will hate Arjun Bhatia, the protagonist but at the same time marvel at the way he uses his brains to win over his opponents and defeat his enemies, which shows that sometimes you can win a battle without violence. The badass dialogues are so very desi, and I chuckled at a few of these! SoD: Ascension is an excellent crime saga and should be made into a movie. Can’t wait for the sequel.
September 19, 2017
Started out well. But dragged towards the second half. Typical Bollywood masala type story. One can skip it!
February 7, 2018
The real rating is 3.5/5 actuallt. Godoreads doesn't give a way to give partial rating -_-
It was an interesting read.
Things I liked (without getting into spoilers):
The background and character development of Arjun Bhatia is good. too good actually. Same with Nayantara. The flashback style of story telling was also something I loved. Would have liked to see a little bit more before Bengali got killed, so that readers get a little more idea on why it's not just another impassionate kill for Arjun. You don't realize that until later in the book, which might just be intended, though by the author. RP was a predictable twist in the plot, but very well executed. And the narrative paints a vivid picture of the whole family to the reader.
What I had qualms with:
When you read a good story, with as good character development as Sultan Of Delhi, you start building images of the characters in your head. Start playing the story as motion picture in your head. Sadly for Sultan of Delhi I did create these characters but never could give them identity as all I could think was of "Sarkar", "Guru", "God Father" etc. The plot really is not new. Even though it was very interesting read for me, it was a very predictable one. Almost all the twists in the plot was predictable. Including Nayantara, RP and specially towards the end with Mohan and Sudhir.
Riti and Arijit's character had injustice done to them. It felt like the author had big ideas for them and then one day the publisher arrived in his doorstep with a deadline and he just cut short their story. Those two characters specially with their background developed so meticulously deserved more than their abrupt ending (it doesn't even make much sense for Arijit).
Same for the whole story. After everything Arjun's decision comes as a disappointing surprise (agreed that is the only twist which was not predictable for me). The whole book portrays him as two step ahead, never compromising and that last decision is exact opposite to what he stands for in the whole book.
Understanding the ploy and even then just "roll over and die" by dividing his empire?
I really was expecting an "Empire strikes back" moment.
But overall I enjoyed reading the book. Would recommend this for light read. And would urge the author to make it available in Kindle Unlimited scheme. I think it's a better fit for that catagorya nd also should get much more readers.
It was an interesting read.
Things I liked (without getting into spoilers):
The background and character development of Arjun Bhatia is good. too good actually. Same with Nayantara. The flashback style of story telling was also something I loved. Would have liked to see a little bit more before Bengali got killed, so that readers get a little more idea on why it's not just another impassionate kill for Arjun. You don't realize that until later in the book, which might just be intended, though by the author. RP was a predictable twist in the plot, but very well executed. And the narrative paints a vivid picture of the whole family to the reader.
What I had qualms with:
When you read a good story, with as good character development as Sultan Of Delhi, you start building images of the characters in your head. Start playing the story as motion picture in your head. Sadly for Sultan of Delhi I did create these characters but never could give them identity as all I could think was of "Sarkar", "Guru", "God Father" etc. The plot really is not new. Even though it was very interesting read for me, it was a very predictable one. Almost all the twists in the plot was predictable. Including Nayantara, RP and specially towards the end with Mohan and Sudhir.
Riti and Arijit's character had injustice done to them. It felt like the author had big ideas for them and then one day the publisher arrived in his doorstep with a deadline and he just cut short their story. Those two characters specially with their background developed so meticulously deserved more than their abrupt ending (it doesn't even make much sense for Arijit).
Same for the whole story. After everything Arjun's decision comes as a disappointing surprise (agreed that is the only twist which was not predictable for me). The whole book portrays him as two step ahead, never compromising and that last decision is exact opposite to what he stands for in the whole book.
Understanding the ploy and even then just "roll over and die" by dividing his empire?
I really was expecting an "Empire strikes back" moment.
But overall I enjoyed reading the book. Would recommend this for light read. And would urge the author to make it available in Kindle Unlimited scheme. I think it's a better fit for that catagorya nd also should get much more readers.
May 22, 2018
I like things that are new and different. This one does.
The author, Arnab Ray, is a blogger that I used to visit often. Ray is the man behind greatbong.net. His musings on movies (Hindi and mainstream) and Indian politics are pretty entertaining. He has written several books prior to this one, but I only have access to this one because it's recent and a friend shipped the book all the way from Delhi to where I live (where the online bookshop just doesn't ship).
Ray's story focused on the life of Arjun Bhatia. This dilli ka gunda (Delhi's goon) is a gunrunner, sharpshooter, and has only one way in life: survival at any cost. I like the boldness, twists, and rawness of the story. However, past the second part, I feel that Ray is trying to say too many things at the same time. I like the beginning of the book, not so much how it unravels towards the end at a pretty fast pace. This book is an outline that holds a lot of promise for two-three volumes of books with the same unexpected twists, laid out in a slower pace, and wrote in a style that shows more than tells. But in its concise version, it's a movie-script ready kinda read.
Had the characters were fleshed out more, some plot-twists received more pages for readers to grasp the story better, and the Hindi passages were translated into English as footnotes or endnotes, the messages that the book is trying to present would reach more minds.
Pretty Bollywood-y with all the charms, culture, and politics.
(and I'm looking for its sequel, BTW).
The author, Arnab Ray, is a blogger that I used to visit often. Ray is the man behind greatbong.net. His musings on movies (Hindi and mainstream) and Indian politics are pretty entertaining. He has written several books prior to this one, but I only have access to this one because it's recent and a friend shipped the book all the way from Delhi to where I live (where the online bookshop just doesn't ship).
Ray's story focused on the life of Arjun Bhatia. This dilli ka gunda (Delhi's goon) is a gunrunner, sharpshooter, and has only one way in life: survival at any cost. I like the boldness, twists, and rawness of the story. However, past the second part, I feel that Ray is trying to say too many things at the same time. I like the beginning of the book, not so much how it unravels towards the end at a pretty fast pace. This book is an outline that holds a lot of promise for two-three volumes of books with the same unexpected twists, laid out in a slower pace, and wrote in a style that shows more than tells. But in its concise version, it's a movie-script ready kinda read.
Had the characters were fleshed out more, some plot-twists received more pages for readers to grasp the story better, and the Hindi passages were translated into English as footnotes or endnotes, the messages that the book is trying to present would reach more minds.
Pretty Bollywood-y with all the charms, culture, and politics.
(and I'm looking for its sequel, BTW).
December 11, 2023
“But then again, the truth is never what really happens. The truth is what we choose to believe.”
When it comes to Arnab Ray’s blogs and podcasts, I have always been a fan; not so much though when it comes to his books. However, his not-so-latest novel, “Sultan of Delhi” (which is recently turned into a Hotstar TV Show) ended up being sufficiently entertaining and enjoyable - in a way that “Bahubali” and “Singham” type of movies are, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing IMO!
This is a pure “masala” book - there is a plethora of action, sex, cussing, intrigue, double-crossing and whatever else makes a story “click” as per the analytics of today’s streaming-world. What is a definite welcome change though; especially as compared to Arnab Ray’s previous books; is that “Sultan of Delhi” doesn’t try to be anything more than a masala story - there is no underlying philosophy, no metaphor about life or anything like that (yes, I am looking at you “The Mine” and “The Mahabharata Murders”) - just a straightforward action-packed tale.
A definite 4/5 to the Sultan of Delhi for remaining true to what it wants to be. One gripe though - the ending is ridiculously abrupt. I understand that this is “Part 1” of a 2-part saga and the author purposefully didn’t want a cliffhanger but the way this book ends is super annoying.
"Arjun felt slightly drunk now, swimming in that nice warm buzz you get if you stop drinking at just the right time, when you lose your inhibitions, but you are still all right. "
When it comes to Arnab Ray’s blogs and podcasts, I have always been a fan; not so much though when it comes to his books. However, his not-so-latest novel, “Sultan of Delhi” (which is recently turned into a Hotstar TV Show) ended up being sufficiently entertaining and enjoyable - in a way that “Bahubali” and “Singham” type of movies are, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing IMO!
This is a pure “masala” book - there is a plethora of action, sex, cussing, intrigue, double-crossing and whatever else makes a story “click” as per the analytics of today’s streaming-world. What is a definite welcome change though; especially as compared to Arnab Ray’s previous books; is that “Sultan of Delhi” doesn’t try to be anything more than a masala story - there is no underlying philosophy, no metaphor about life or anything like that (yes, I am looking at you “The Mine” and “The Mahabharata Murders”) - just a straightforward action-packed tale.
A definite 4/5 to the Sultan of Delhi for remaining true to what it wants to be. One gripe though - the ending is ridiculously abrupt. I understand that this is “Part 1” of a 2-part saga and the author purposefully didn’t want a cliffhanger but the way this book ends is super annoying.
"Arjun felt slightly drunk now, swimming in that nice warm buzz you get if you stop drinking at just the right time, when you lose your inhibitions, but you are still all right. "
September 20, 2018
Book 73 week 38
Sultan of Delhi: Ascension by Arnab Ray
I've been a fan of Arnab Ray. I was mesmerized by his Mine and Yatrik was very imaginative too.
Thus, it was as obvious I was looking forward to reading his latest book. It started off well and I was excited. But soon.. I started becoming disappointed.
This book is a desi Godfather style thriller, about a man who comes from Lahore during the partition and starts his life with nothing and rises through life. He dabbles with crime and bureaucracy, indulging in everything from smuggling to lobbying. But life isn't rosy, and there are enemies brewing, unrest in family and his past comes to bite his ass.
Sounds interesting no? Unfortunately the shallow characters, the cringeworthy language and writing style, the over dramatic and exaggerated happenings and total lack of thrills make this one of the worst books I've read this year.
I am quite disappointed in Ray. I expected much better. Please avoid this book like the plague. I was hoping it would redeem itself towards the end but the book was nothing but a colossal waste of my time.
Rating 1/5
Sultan of Delhi: Ascension by Arnab Ray
I've been a fan of Arnab Ray. I was mesmerized by his Mine and Yatrik was very imaginative too.
Thus, it was as obvious I was looking forward to reading his latest book. It started off well and I was excited. But soon.. I started becoming disappointed.
This book is a desi Godfather style thriller, about a man who comes from Lahore during the partition and starts his life with nothing and rises through life. He dabbles with crime and bureaucracy, indulging in everything from smuggling to lobbying. But life isn't rosy, and there are enemies brewing, unrest in family and his past comes to bite his ass.
Sounds interesting no? Unfortunately the shallow characters, the cringeworthy language and writing style, the over dramatic and exaggerated happenings and total lack of thrills make this one of the worst books I've read this year.
I am quite disappointed in Ray. I expected much better. Please avoid this book like the plague. I was hoping it would redeem itself towards the end but the book was nothing but a colossal waste of my time.
Rating 1/5
May 11, 2017
I know Arnab over quite a few years now, mainly through his writing and also via our interactions on social media so you are forgiven if you think my 5-star rating for his latest novel is out of any bias.
But it isn't.
This novel is really, really good!
In fact, I have even told him that I think it's his best work yet.
I have read all his books and with each one, I see his writing getting sharper, crisper, wittier; his characters more identifiable, his perspective on how globalised India has become that much more spot-on.
Arjun Bhatia is a goon, but when you read this, you understand that a goon is just another human being, with their own gamut of emotions, thoughts, complexities and rationale. Bhatia loves his family, loves his wife and mistress in different ways, loves his life so much so that he can kill and plunder. It's not an ethically good life, but it's one that some people do lead in this cruel, deep and dark world.
Go ahead, read this and then wait in anticipation for the sequel, like me!
But it isn't.
This novel is really, really good!
In fact, I have even told him that I think it's his best work yet.
I have read all his books and with each one, I see his writing getting sharper, crisper, wittier; his characters more identifiable, his perspective on how globalised India has become that much more spot-on.
Arjun Bhatia is a goon, but when you read this, you understand that a goon is just another human being, with their own gamut of emotions, thoughts, complexities and rationale. Bhatia loves his family, loves his wife and mistress in different ways, loves his life so much so that he can kill and plunder. It's not an ethically good life, but it's one that some people do lead in this cruel, deep and dark world.
Go ahead, read this and then wait in anticipation for the sequel, like me!
June 18, 2018
I am a big fan of Arnab Ray. I really like his way of expressing using really simple words and his ability to connect everything easily. Probably that is why I am disappointed with Sultan of Delhi.
There's a really interesting plot with a lot of twists and turns. Frankly, that's quite impressive and may have a great potential to be converted into a long series. But then the whole book looks like a bland collection of just twists and turns, nothing else. The plot is vast, but terribly shallow. The characters look big, but there's just no depth in these characters. All back-stories are built on the fly as and when required and little time is spent on building the main characters of the plot. The ease with which important characters are dumped reminds you of nothing but the ease with which they were introduced. By the end of it all you've read only the most important parts of the life of the protagonists. What begins like a Game of Thrones sadly ends like a daily soap version of Gangs of Wasseypur.
I continue to be a big fan of Arnab Ray and so I will wait for the next book in this series. Not to know what happens next in the story, but with a hope that Arnab brings justice to his own reputation.
There's a really interesting plot with a lot of twists and turns. Frankly, that's quite impressive and may have a great potential to be converted into a long series. But then the whole book looks like a bland collection of just twists and turns, nothing else. The plot is vast, but terribly shallow. The characters look big, but there's just no depth in these characters. All back-stories are built on the fly as and when required and little time is spent on building the main characters of the plot. The ease with which important characters are dumped reminds you of nothing but the ease with which they were introduced. By the end of it all you've read only the most important parts of the life of the protagonists. What begins like a Game of Thrones sadly ends like a daily soap version of Gangs of Wasseypur.
I continue to be a big fan of Arnab Ray and so I will wait for the next book in this series. Not to know what happens next in the story, but with a hope that Arnab brings justice to his own reputation.
August 21, 2021
I picked up this book as I liked the author's (Arnab Ray) other book named Mahabharata Murders. Sultan of Delhi wasn't as thrilling or racy as the former, as it is set in a very different environment.
The book spans the life of Arjun Bhatia, the primary character of this story. It documents his move to India at the time of partition and his rise, fall, and rise again in the power circles of India. The author does a reasonably good job capturing the milieu of post-independence India, the emergency period, and the liberalization eras. He paints a picture of rampant corruption, drugs, guns, foul language as politicians, underworld dons, and laymen are weaved into this tale.
At times, the narration sounds a bit filmy, which makes one wonder if the book was written to be made into a movie. The casual references to the CIA, the Russians, and other players don't add to the narrative. There is an emotional undercurrent to the tale and a revenge saga with certain plot twists. Still, they don't really surprise the reader. A decent read overall.
The book spans the life of Arjun Bhatia, the primary character of this story. It documents his move to India at the time of partition and his rise, fall, and rise again in the power circles of India. The author does a reasonably good job capturing the milieu of post-independence India, the emergency period, and the liberalization eras. He paints a picture of rampant corruption, drugs, guns, foul language as politicians, underworld dons, and laymen are weaved into this tale.
At times, the narration sounds a bit filmy, which makes one wonder if the book was written to be made into a movie. The casual references to the CIA, the Russians, and other players don't add to the narrative. There is an emotional undercurrent to the tale and a revenge saga with certain plot twists. Still, they don't really surprise the reader. A decent read overall.
July 17, 2017
I'm stuck between giving it a 3 / 3.5 star.
The most important thing - This is part one of the 2 book series!! (Will help you not to bother about the abrupt ending)!
It's my 4th book in the crime-drama genre after 3 from Jeffery Archer's Clifton Chronicles.
An almost perfect book for this genre - power, money, love stories, family drama, hell lot of profanity, a little bit too much of steamy sex like those in Sidney Sheldon's book, a tint of bollywood and some really good life and human nature quotes.
The book makes you empathize with the male protagonist from the beginning right up to the last page. There are the oh-no-this-shouldn't-have-happened scenes and also the keep-turning-the-pages scenes.
Overall, a well written page turner book !!
The most important thing - This is part one of the 2 book series!! (Will help you not to bother about the abrupt ending)!
It's my 4th book in the crime-drama genre after 3 from Jeffery Archer's Clifton Chronicles.
An almost perfect book for this genre - power, money, love stories, family drama, hell lot of profanity, a little bit too much of steamy sex like those in Sidney Sheldon's book, a tint of bollywood and some really good life and human nature quotes.
The book makes you empathize with the male protagonist from the beginning right up to the last page. There are the oh-no-this-shouldn't-have-happened scenes and also the keep-turning-the-pages scenes.
Overall, a well written page turner book !!
April 19, 2024
"Sultan of Delhi: Ascension" is a captivating novel by Arnab Ray that follows Arjun Bhatia's journey from poverty to power in post-independence India. The narrative alternates between past and present, showcasing Bhatia's ambition, survival, and desire for power. The story features a diverse range of characters, including his confidante Bangali and Nayantara, and his tumultuous relationships with his children and rival RP Singh. Ray expertly weaves historical events like partition, Bangladesh formation, and the Emergency into Bhatia's narrative, adding complexity and perspective to the protagonist's actions. The novel was adapted into a web series in October 2023.
November 27, 2016
This has been one of the engrossing books I have read. Very lucid prose, yet it can be very imaginative, something I am afraid we can seldom say about Indian Authors today. Characters have been portrayed with a lot of depth and to my delight, the author has taken time and thought to develop characters. I would give credit to the style of writing that almost paints a clear picture of the characters in your mind; its almost like a film you are watching and given its revetting plot, there is never a dull moment in the book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 15, 2017
The book starts off with a fan of Mohammad Rafi getting slaughtered.I should have demanded a refund then and there 😊
I didn't like 'The Mine' too much but enjoyed the fast paced story that Arnab put together here. The story spans several decades and his cultural references for each period are spot on. The story of a gun runner turned Godfather of sorts sticks to the genre's cliches but also rises above it on occasion. The pace does not slacken and the book stays true to course with its twists and turns, setting up what should be a fun sequel.
I didn't like 'The Mine' too much but enjoyed the fast paced story that Arnab put together here. The story spans several decades and his cultural references for each period are spot on. The story of a gun runner turned Godfather of sorts sticks to the genre's cliches but also rises above it on occasion. The pace does not slacken and the book stays true to course with its twists and turns, setting up what should be a fun sequel.
September 3, 2017
I will give to Arnab. This is definitely a page-turner. What spoils the fun though is continous dialogues and as the author is so fond of saying 'so filmy' all the time. It goes so very predictable. What the author definitely lacks is to make us empathise with the characters. You keep looking at the turn of events and all you can think of is turning the page but not really taking in the emotional significance of what is being said. This is second book of him I have read. The first was horrible and this one is mildly okay.
January 6, 2017
A story about ambition, love and greed. The characters and the plot are engaging enough to keep us invested. Despite being brutal, the story has moments of tenderness, that reveal a hidden side of the characters. Even the small characters stand out, like the cop who takes hit-jobs - Chuha. It has the goodness of old school pulp, as well as the ability to stir some genuine emotions. Do give this a read.
March 20, 2017
A fast paced drama with all the ingredients of a Bollywood thriller. Sometimes brutal, sometimes funny, it's the kind of book that you'll be compelled to finish in one sitting (and you can! It's only 300 odd pages). The characters are honest, flawed and steeped in reality which makes you care for them. I can actually think of real people that have lived or are living in Lutyens Delhi that may have inspired some of the characters. I especially enjoyed the badass desi lines which were peppered across the book in just the right amount. I have really liked the three previous books by Arnab Ray and this one didn't disappoint either. Eagerly waiting for the sequel!
February 1, 2018
While the story line itself was okay, the overdose of profanities in Hindi along with limitless baddies made this a sore read. There were some interesting points about how politics and power works in India but the frequent vulgarities were a huge turnoff. Perhaps, I was not the intended audience for this book.
July 26, 2020
I liked this saga & it's characters. But would have loved to see more of Arijit in the 3rd part. But the relations between central characters have nicely been portrayed. Also, there were too much Hindi sentences in the 3rd part, which was distracting. Otherwise it has all the material to be converted to a bolly blockbuster. I would love to see a sequel with Arijit at the helm.
December 17, 2016
Terrific pace and visuals. Belongs to a rare breed of English novels that's aimed at mainstream Indian audience and at the same time, very well written. Just when you think you know what's happening, greatbong steps it up and sets it up beautifully for the second part.
May 17, 2017
A book which started with quiet like Raisena series but didn't reach to that level.
Bit of slippery in the middle and end was bit botched
I like earlier part when Arjun was young and working hard even unethically or for saving family.
Bit of slippery in the middle and end was bit botched
I like earlier part when Arjun was young and working hard even unethically or for saving family.
February 14, 2020
Very good writing. Insertion of hindi dialogs in between was too good. Very great narration of emotions and clearly against cliché. The effort to show some page3 brats is amazing. I am actually a fan of the character Arjun bhatia.. Hats off to Arnab Ray.
February 4, 2018
Follows the graph of any other mafia novel or film. In Bollywood parlance, it is Sarkar weds Gangs Of Wasseypur. The double twists at the end will make you wait for the second part though.
May 28, 2020
Totally vulgar book. No originality. Such stories have been told in many movies
December 15, 2021
What an underrated masterpiece!!!
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