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The Genius of Indraprastha

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Is the rich Aryan past a myth or history?
If it is history, what happened to the rich technological heritage of the Mahabharata times?

Long ago, five native tribes of Aryans, Vaishyas, Garudas, Waanars and Asuras lived together in harmony at Gondwana. Things changed when a foreign force of Khidmatgars attacked. 250 years after the invasion, Khidmatgars are now a formidable force in Gondwana. Led by Commander Bakht Khan, they have successfully tamed all the native tribes except the Aryans. Yet the Commander's desire for conquest is not satiated.

During an unusual conquest of Agneyapuram, Commander accidentally lays his hands on ancient secret of the Mahabharata times - a secret so strong that it can actually help Khidmatgars claim entire Gondwana for themselves. At the same time, a genius Aryan Prince of Indraprashta has vowed to annihilate Khidmatgars from Gondwana using the same secret. What's the secret? Will the Commander be able to tame the Aryans using the secret or shall the genius Aryan prince write the history his way? Gondwana is staring at a war which has the potential to change its fate forever.

Plunge into the epic story of the Vedic past with THE GENIUS OF INDRAPRASHTA.

About The Author

HARSHWARDHAN PADOLE, born in 1986, is a graduate from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur. He later studied Business Management from prestigious MDI, Gurgaon. After testing his skills in Indian IT Industry for a brief time, he is currently working in the Indian Defence Aerospace Industry for last one decade.
He is a passionate reader of fiction works and biographies and considers J. K. Rowling, Sidney Sheldon, Jeffrey Archer and Amish Tripathi as his writing mentors. The Genius of Indraprashta is his debut book inspired from his understanding of India’s cultural history and Indian epics.

353 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 14, 2021

12 people are currently reading
71 people want to read

About the author

Harshwardhan Padole

1 book6 followers
Harshwardhan Padole considers himself a scientific student of Indian mythology. For him, a myth is a historical event for which we are yet to find a logical and scientific explanation. 'The Genius of Indraprastha' is his debut book and also the Book one of the Gondwana Chronicles series. He is an avid reader and his passion for reading kindled the writer within him. He is also a book reviewer and his book review blogs find acceptance in various communities of book lovers. He is also a technocrat and management professional. He lives in Hyderabad, India.

Free sample chapters of his book 'The Genius of Indraprastha' are available here:
https://harshwardhanpadole.com/wp-con...

He can be accessed here:
www.Harshwardhanpadole.com

Why do I write:
There can't be anything more interesting and fantasizing than the stories of Indian mythology. The influence of Indian mythology and philosophy during my childhood had encouraged me to find out the scientific basis for the ancient Indian folklore. My writing evidently uses the background of Indian vedic texts to justify the plots in my books. I try to find genuine reasoning behind the happenings of the past and try to portray the same through my writing. Nothing can be more blissful than able to pen down your views.

Writing routine:
Anything in this world can be accomplished by sheer discipline. Writing a book is one such thing. I daily dedicate half an hour to one hour for writing. My target is to complete atleast 10 pages of writing per day. Two to three hours of research and plot planning on a weekend helps me continue my routine of writing throughout the week.

Process:
Writing is just like dreaming for me. Suddenly an idea strikes one day and then you can't rest till you had woven a plot around it. It takes days and sometimes weeks together to sketch a rough plot around the central idea. Sometimes,I need to stretch my imagination,sometimes the old mythological stories help me create characters and sequences in the plot. Mostly, I use the name of people around me as the names of the characters in my book. Attaching a name of a known person with the character also helps in defining the personality of the character. Infact it is real fun to imagine how your friend would behave in a certain situation and make a plot accordingly. Sometimes you yourself become a character in your book and live all the fantasies that you can't live in real life. Many a times I feel like the almighty is writing through my hands when the plot turns out to be completely different than what I had originally planned. I accepted such changes as His will.

Inspiration:
I personally believe that each and every event described in great Indian epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana can be explained scientifically and logically if we ask proper questions and try to find appropriate answers. The immense quest to find meaningful logic in the events mentioned in mythological texts form the topmost source of inspiration for me.

Message to aspiring authors:
One may think it's tough to write a story but believe me, it is simpler than one thinks. After writing my first book,I have come to believe that things happen only when you try. So the first step of writing is to actually sit and write. Write whatever comes to your mind and don't stop just because ideas are not flowing. Believe me, after a certain time, everything that you have written shall start making sense. Your creation itself will start guiding you towards its completion. Ultimately, it boils down to one statement - Luck favours the brave and disciplined. Be brave enough to attempt your hand at writing and then be disciplined enough to keep writing regularly. One day, you would be an author of a book you never imagined you would ever write.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
Profile Image for Nayna Bansal.
251 reviews7 followers
September 11, 2021
Book: The Genius of Indraprastha (Gondwana Chronicles Book 1)

Author: Harshwardhan Padole

Genre: Mythological Fiction

Format: Paperback

Pages: 305(approx.)

Rating: 5/5



I am someone who detested mythological fiction genre and books more than 200 pages were out of question. And this book was both ! This was the reason , the book was lying unread in my cupboard for more than six months until two weeks before , when I thought to give it a try and to my amazement I loved this book so much that I am in love this genre and confident enough to try big books! Well, thanks to this amazing book. Now, its time for review.



The story is about the land of Gondwana where five native tribes : Aryans, Vaishyas , Graudas , Wannars and Asuras lived in perfectly harmony until their land was attacked and invaded by Khidmatgars. The commander of Khitmangars. Bakht Khan lay his hands on the ancient secret of Mahabharata which could help him claim entire Gondwana. What was this secret and will the native tribes be wiped out completely or will they be able to save their land . If yes, how? Read this awesome book to know more.





The language is easy and lucid. The writing style is really flowy and narrations are so vivid that I could visualize all the scenes happening. The execution of the book is done in such a manner that it is really appreciated. Though I loved all the narrations and executions , but the ones I loved most were of the battle fields. Really Appreciated ! The map given at the beginning helps the reader in visualizing better.



“Thirst of the land can’t be quenched by rain today. It can only be quenched by blood. Let’s see whose blood it shall be. Ready the archers,”

“Great men acknowledge others greatness even when they are in disagreement.”

“Army generals rarely have ferociousness of a lion and heart of a mother.”



There are many characters in the book and each one is equally important. This not a book with single protagonist rather in this book each character is unique in his/her own way. I really loved the names of characters, they were so apt. Special appreciations for this too and all the characters were well sketched. Though , there were many , but I fell in love with ‘Martand’. The dialogues were so well penned that they added to the beauty of story.



The whole story was very eventful. One after another, events kept the reader engaged. Also, there were elements of surprise. As a reader, I was fully engrossed in the book .



The Author seems to have done a lot of research on ancient India. I was amazed at the vivid descriptions of technology that ancient India had. Also, there was use of Sanskrit sentences at few places. Very tactfully, author has written some words of wisdom .

‘Ideas not only to win the war by fighting the enemy but also for winning the war psychologically by avoiding it altogether.’



The Cover page is really attractive and title is so apt too! Special Appreciations for cover page and title .

The quality of paperback is good . The font size and style and spacing make the book an easy read.



I strongly feel that this book can be made into movie and it would wonders if it is executed just like ‘Bahubali’ in theaters.

No review is complete without constructive criticism. Thus time for the same. I found everything in the book that a book of this genre should have except some sweet moments of romance. Also, I feel inclusion of few more maps here and there, would have helped the reader to understand better as so many places are mentioned here. Also, I would like to see some female protagonists in the battle field too in the coming sequels of the book. Having said that, I also want to acknowledge that book is perfect in its own way!

If you are someone who loves mythological fiction, the book is definitely for you. Even if you don’t like this genre, still I would recommend you this book. Reason being, just like me, even you might develop liking for this genre just by reading this book.

I am really proud of such Indian Authors . I really can’t wait much for sequels of this book. As far as I can estimate, there will be two more sequels of the book. As a reader , I am curious to know a lot of things in coming parts.

Highly Recommended !!
Profile Image for Darshayita Thakur.
229 reviews25 followers
March 31, 2021
This is the first book in the Gondwana Chronicles.
The set up is Gondwana, an ancient supercontinent consisting of five tribes, separated according to their geographical location and further subgrouped into two categories- the ones in the North and the ones in the South, pretty much the reality in present day India.
They were the Aryans, Vaishyas, Waanars, Garudas, and Asuras.
And then there are the Khidmatgars, who come along in search of water but end up setting up an autonomous empire there.
The story starts with the discovery of a long held secret within a silver chest, but as in all beginnings, it has fallen into the wrong hands.

It makes a good attempt at explaining mythological marvels through science.
However, there's nothing new that hasn't been attempted before. But for a beginner in this genre, this is a good start.
I wouldn't get into the aspect of manusmriti that gets explained here, because - "Controversy". Also, the distinction between races and the claim that Aryans are somehow intellectually superior did not sit well with me.
The story does pick up the pace in the second part, and the language was somewhat too simple for me, again a plus point for beginners in this genre.
Historical fiction along with mythology, with the backdrop as used in this book, indeed makes for an enthralling read!
Profile Image for Anjali.
453 reviews24 followers
February 18, 2021
The first thing that struck the wrong chord with me from the very first page of the book was the substandard language. And that didn't improve throughout the book. The grammar and syntax were all over the place; random use of articles (or not), inadequate knowledge of what prepositions to use, tenses changing from one sentence to the next in the same paragraph, poor choice of certain phrases, repetition of phrases, and appalling sentence construction; made for a very difficult read for me.

I chatted with the author after I read the book, and it is my understanding that he asked the editor not to make too many changes to what he had written. And this book demands to be edited.

I was also dismayed with the blatant anti-Islamic political agenda that is undisguised in the narrative. The physical description of the indigenous people of Gondwana is also offensive. The portrayal of many of the characters is very black and white. There were some instances where toxic masculinity was passed off as strong or brave.

What I did enjoy was the story. It is good fiction, and the author maintained a steady rhythm in his storytelling from the beginning of the book until almost the end, where the writing picked up pace and became quite dramatic.

What I also liked was that some attempt was made in portraying the main 'antagonist' Bakht Khan as more than one dimensional. There are instances where his concern for 'his' people and his empathy for them is recounted. There were also some instances of the main 'protagonist' Martand displaying a cruel streak. It is left to the reader to justify his behaviour or not.

The story ended on a cliffhanger. While I would definitely want to read the rest of the series, I'd be happier reading the books if they go through a more rigorous editing process.

Would I recommend this book? I would with a disclaimer. Read it as fiction and not as a historically accurate narrative. Read it if you can look past the inadequate editing to enjoy the storytelling.

Thank you, Harshwardhan for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.
Profile Image for Parijat.
280 reviews15 followers
April 2, 2021
When valor meets intelligence and knowledge, genius emerges out. The repercussions of that sagacity are not always happy. There remain some stories that are too hard to share. One such story is Harshwardhan Parole’s THE GENIUS OF INDRAPRASTHA.

The book is a masterpiece. Having read a good number of historical fiction, I can vouch for the story and the writing style of the author. The story is about the land of Gondwana where five native tribes (Aryans, Vaishyas, Garudas, Waanars, Asuras) used to live together in harmony. Things changed when Khidmatgars, a foreign tribe encroached their native land and started to live there. With the formidable Commander Bakht Khan in the lead, Khidmatgars become unvanquishable. Not a single tribe was free from their terror when Prince Martand took the charge to get Bakht Khan down with the help of some ancient scrolls. Little did he know, the commander also possesses a scroll in his cabinet.

The victory of the story lies in the very fact that it will connect you to the characters on a high emotional note. When I was reading the last 50 pages, I could not help myself from crying. The author has imprinted sharp blades in the sentences that are going to leave permanent cuts in your heart. Even small characters (in the term of screen presence) like captain Kuldeep will make you weep deeply.

Commander Bakht Khan, the name itself rises terror in the opponent’s heart. Parole has not only been successful in making him one of the strongest characters in this book but also exhibited him in the light of a true soldier. You can not hate Bakht Khan because for him, Khidmatgars come first and for the welfare of his tribe, he can go to any extent. The true nature of his heart comes out when he does not take time to praise his opponents in war and gives them their worthy eulogy.

Lastly, Martand, the prince of Hastinapur, the genius of Indraprastha will steal your heart with his excellent presence of mind and keen observations. This character has made me rooted for the Aryans. He has emerged out as the ultimate warrior for me.

For me, THE GENIUS OF INDRAPRASTHA was an experience to devour. I am eagerly waiting for the next part to know the remaining answers. As Sheldon said in the big bang theory,” I don’t need sleep. I need answers”.

 
Profile Image for Ruchi Patel.
1,137 reviews93 followers
March 17, 2021
It’s a book of mythological fiction genre. This is first one of series Gondawana Chronicles. I have read many books on Indian mythology but for the first time I am reading these stories. As we know long ago there divisions and one of them were Aryans. But did Arya really existed or it’s a myth? The book mainly focuses on that. The five main divisions Aryans, Vaishyas, Garudas, Waanaras and Asuras. They were five main tribes living peacefully and harmoniously in Gondawana. And there is mention of Khidmatgar forces. They attacked on them and changed everything. They almost tamed them all except one. The book starts with that note. Allaudin and other soldiers were taming and whipping them. Khidmatgar tribe was not native to Gondwana. Their roots lay in the invasion of Gondwana by an Arabian trade King Sultan Suleiman Sayyid. His empire, located near the Arabian Gulf, was a dry land and the inhabitants survived on the items brought by traders from different parts of the world. Sayyids were among the wealthiest tribe in the world owing to their immense skill in sea voyage and trade. Now accidentally Agneyputram laid his hands on a secret that is ancient at the time of Mahabharata that can help Khidmatgar to conquer. But genius king of Indraprestha vowed to fight and annihilate them. Read the book to know further. I liked the concept. It’s indeed interesting. I liked the narration style of the author. It’s crisp and captivating. Author has thoroughly imagined the plot. All the names of people and places suggest that. I liked the language and vocabulary used by the author. It was like watching a movie for me entire time. I could imagine everything. Overall good and interesting read.
37 reviews
January 29, 2021
This book is written by Harshwardhan Padhole , it's Author's debut book. 2500 years after the war of Mahabharata another war was fought, the war of Indraprastha. Khidmatgars are foreigners to the people of Gondwana , they captured much territory of Gondwana. Gondwana land people are divided into tribes, so the weaker have been relented to the inhumanity of Khidmatgars and their commander.
Special camps were raised for Ghulam- e- Khidmatgars, the official name by which commander's army was known. Daulatabad was the richest and largest city of Gondwana. Within forty years of its existence Daulatabad became the financial capital of Khidmatgars. Khidmatgar tribe was not native to Gondwana.
Author did complete justice to the plot and characters of this story, this novel is a reconcilement to mind and soul. I love how author describe Commander's visage. The book puts strife of 2 adoration communities- 1. Khidmatgar 2. Native of Gondwana located somewhere in central India.
Some of the magnetic epitome from the book are-
• A real brave man would try to win the situation without recourse to war. He should ensure a solution that would save money and life. This is possible only by scientific superiority.
• Meditation will calm you my son but I don't want you to be calm. I want you to be fierce and passionate for times to come.
• I don't know how great a leader commander is but I definitely thank him for one thing. His presence on this land has brought all the native tribes of Gondwana together.
Characters from both the camps are powerful. I finished this book in 3 days , though a 300+ pages book but reading it was pleasure to me.
I felt the minus point in this book is that it is boring somewhere. Overall satisfying reading experience from this book. I will recommend this book for all age groups. Get your copy and getaway to the mythological world.
Profile Image for Pratyusha Das.
15 reviews1 follower
March 3, 2021
Love it or hate it but you can’t ignore it. Ancient history/mythology is the all-season flavour of Indian fiction, and this narrative is a savoury.

Drawing insights from Mahabharata, the writer has amalgamated it with the era of Aryans, set 2500 years ago. The war of Indraprastha between the Aryans and the formidable force of Khidmatgars is the highlight of the book. It has delved deep into the social-political factors around the war, from inception to culmination.

* The map of all the territories concerned, provided on the very first page of the book is the best accessory. It helps the reader to paint the picture perfectly.
* The war scenes are very intricate. The scrupulous details make it come alive.
* The writing is very very lucid. It caters to all age groups
The only quibble I have is that it needed better editing. Amid the intriguing plot, somewhere the language and the writing did not quite cut the mustard.

Needless to say, I was pleased as punch when I was gifted this to read and review. I would like to thank Harshwardhan Padole for bestowing me with this honour. I wish you all the very best for your sequel. Onwards and Upwards!
Profile Image for Ishan Agrawal.
928 reviews46 followers
March 22, 2021
I have said this umpteen times and would like to state this again that when it comes to mythological genre, no one can beat the Indian authors. Since the past year or so, I have read at least 50 books on this subject, and the way writers in our nation weave a story with breathtaking depiction of events, a quintessential style of taking the story forward, a splendid treatment of characters are all deeply enriching, intrinsically intriguing and immensely praiseworthy. And this book continues this trend.

The story is set in the backdrop of Gondwana. Just like many flicks these days, the antagonist isn't portrayed purely in bad light. Infact his traits which deserves appreciation are shown in ample colours. Similarly, the lead character or in more layman terms the hero here is not someone bearing an angelic nature but one who has various grey shades and ironically gets less mention in the book than the villain. The side characters are many and at the start, a reader needs to be patient enough because the sheer number of leads and their complex names may dissuade the amateurs or the beginners to drift apart.

The book has many similarities with various movies and the stories we come across in the Bollywood and Indian Literature respectively and that makes the experience all the more interesting. The technical warfare scenes bear a close resemblance to the blockbuster movie Bahubali and the way antagonist betrays his own people reminds one of the recent Tanhaji. Some scenes portrays acute cruelty and the visual imagery can make one a bit uncomfortable with few action sequences. The narration and characterisation is simple yet top notch and one can't help marvel at the expressive cover. Can't wait to read further parts in this epic saga.
Profile Image for Sudha.
21 reviews9 followers
February 7, 2021
The Genius of Indraprastha

I had started this book without any preconceived notions. The book started off well, then came the part where Rishi Shambhuvahana describes the history of Gondwana. Taking into consideration that the names of major tribes, places and kingdoms are from our Puranic and Itihasic history, the author’s interpretation of some aspects of our Vedic past didn’t sit well with me. But then it is his interpretation.
After that section of the story is over, the story picked up and it was engrossing. From the time the War of Indraprastha starts it is very engaging. The characterization of the major characters in the story are good. The entire build up to the war, the mindplay of the opponents and the war was interesting and fast paced to read.
Congratulations Mr Harshawardhan on your Book 1 of the Gondwana Chronicles.
Profile Image for Aditi Debnath.
434 reviews8 followers
February 6, 2021
After the great war of Mahabharta, centuries later again a war is going to take place at Indraprastha. The five native tribes - The Aryans, the Vaishyas, the Garudas, the Waanars & the Asuras lived tranquilly in Gondhwana until the Khidmatgars attacked them.

The land of Gondhwana is now ruled by the head of the Khidmatgars - Commander Bakht Khan. He had very successfully brought the native tribes to his knees except the Aryans. Bakht Khan has already fixed his gaze on the Aryans and wish to vanquish them soon.

Talking about my take about this book, it was an action-packed historical read with minutiae of mythology. The writing style was plain sailing and the narration was slothful. I definitely recommend this book to history lovers. I would rate it 4.5/5
Profile Image for Nishant Parmar.
19 reviews1 follower
January 28, 2021
The genius of indraprasta is written by harshwardhan padhole. It's a mythological fiction. For me this book is a page Turner. I finished it jst in two days. Throughout the book my favourite character is commander. I love how author describe his personality. U can't decide whether he is a hero or he is a villain. The language used in this book is lucid and easily understandable. After finishing the book u can't wait for next part. Because book will left you with a lot of questions and suspence. Just want to say if u like amish tripathi sir's books then you will definitely gonna enjoy this one too.
Profile Image for Priya  Gole.
84 reviews7 followers
January 28, 2021
A beautifully crafted tale with an awesome amalgamation of history and mythology. The author has carefully weaved the plot around the era of Aaryans in Gondwana and the insurgence of the Khidmatgars. The brilliance of the Aaryan prince not withstanding his bravery and valour are something to look out for.
I look forward for the next in the series...
1 review
January 20, 2021
THE GENIUS OF INDRAPRASTHA builds up so nicely, every chapter after every chapter the story gets interesting, the way the story is explained one can visualize the story happening in front of our eyes.
Very well thought and written, kudos to the Author.
ARYAN DIGNITY ARYAN PRIDE
LONG LIVE THE KHIDMADGARS
Profile Image for Chethana Ramesh.
Author 3 books14 followers
February 28, 2021
Sunday, 28 February 2021

Book Review of 'The Genius of Indraprastha' by Harshwardhan Padole

My 18th pick of 2021 is a mythological thriller. This is the first one of this genre I've read this year and I was quite looking forward to it.

This book is rare juxtaposition of history and science, with ample doses of culture thrown in for good measure. I totally loved the references to the ancient wisdom of the Aryans and the scientific genius that is depicted in the warfare sequences of the novel.

Characters

The characterization is the biggest strength of the book. It is powerful, relevant and compelling to explore each of them. What I liked most in the story is that all the characters are realistic. There are grey shades in all of them, including the heroic soldiers. Even the great rishis with all their powers are depicted as human, with tendencies towards losing their tranquility in the face of danger. Some key characters appear only in the second half but leave a powerful impact on the story.

Commander Bhakt Khan is the actual protagonist, who takes up more space than the hero of the story, owing to his importance in the proceedings that change the course of history of Gondwana. It is heartening to see how the largely negative character, with his brutality and anger issues, is given ample due in terms of showcasing his valour, bravery, cunning and especially the respect d fear he commands as ‘Abu’ amidst his soldiers. It is interesting how observant readers may notice that despite his immense prowess as a warrior, he wins over his enemies by stabbing them in the back, literally, instead of facing up to them like the brave soldier he is supposed to be.

Martand, the genius hero, appears in full glory only in the second half of the story. It is interesting how his grey shades in the beginning are almost completely reversed towards the second half. Soudamini is charming, and adds the beautiful bonding between siblings. Kuldeep and Ameen are intersting in theri valour and fighting prowess. 

The Rishis are my favourite characters in the book. I loved the character of Rishi Satvagyan, who turns out to be a genius and valiant warrior in the climax.

The only challenge is that there are a large number of characters, and hence it is possible to forget some minor ones along the way.

Also, I liked how history is a character in itself, playing a vital role in taking the story forward. There are characters who will have a bigger role to play in the forthcoming chronicles of Gondwana. I am eager to read more about the beautiful warrior Princess Hansika in action in the next book.

Storyline

The story begins with ample suspense with the usurping of a silver chest by Arab Khidmatgars and the unleashing of terror amongst the Aryans.  The repercussions of this singular event follow, and sustains till the end of the book.

The whole story is rich with history and culture. This elevates the book by several notches. I have always loved studying history and hence I found it interesting to read the aspects of the past that are in the book, even in places where there are detailed historical aspects included in it. However, some parts of the history, especially about the divisions of society could have been trimmed, to render a more compact read.

It is interesting how it is possible for the Commander to emerge victorious only because of emulating the stolen ancient Aryan wisdom.  The same can be said of the counter measures of excellent warfare techniques and inventions by the Aryans who study the scriptures.

Also, the complicated, yet simple technology behind telepathy is convincing. The Aum discs and double domes are enthralling in the power depicted in the sequence. Further, the hot air balloons add a nice twist to the time-versus-distance struggle of the period. The best part is how all of this supposed modern advancement was already existent in ancient scriptures, and yet a large majority of us are largely unaware of them.

It is also endearing that Lord Krishna has found a crucial role to play in the storyline, albeit indirectly.

Martand’s embodiment of the 'Ashwapurak Yantra' -Arjuna’s technique of feeding horses on the run, is another thrilling episode.

The Khidmatgar commander having to take pains to learn Sanskrit to pull off a victory is an ironic, classic touch. The power of Knowledge is not left to the imagination, especially in the turn of events showcased in the story. War scenes are filled with vivid imagery in their ruthless depiction. Reading the book was reminiscent of the blockbuster Bahubali II in the technology used during the war.

The story is thus a thrilling celebration of ancient wisdom, which is undermined and ignored in the modern era of technology.

Narrative

The narrative is simple and easy to follow. It is also fast-paced to retain the interest of the reader. The chapter names allow a forewarning of what is to come, but retain the suspense of how the events come about. Some of the dialogues are peppered with small Sanskrit sayings that are a joy to read. There are ample translations for these. What I liked was how the Khidmatgars who do not know Sanskrit perceive them as ‘symbols’, which is hilarious.

Also, I totally loved the vivid descriptions of the war, the science behind the inventions of the weaponry.

The only grouse I had was that the editing team of the publishers should have been a lot more vigilant. Grammatical aspects, such as articles and tenses, could have been taken care of with more care. Definite articles are especially missing in the narrative, in most of the lines. Had this aspect been addressed, the book would have been elevated to a higher level of Historical literature.

Conclusion

I rate the book 4.6 out of 5. Extra points for the delicious depiction of scientific warfare during the crippling challenges of the ancient times. A must-read for historical thriller lovers. Will definitely watch out for the forthcoming books in the Gondwana Chronicles.

Found my review awesome? Follow my blog for more insights on the books I read through the year.

Happy reading, readers!

***
Reviewed by: Chethana Ramesh
Author - The Blue Phoenix
Available on Amazon
18 reviews1 follower
January 23, 2021
Book Review

Book- Gondwana Chronicles – The Genius of Indraprastha
Author- Harshwardhan
Publisher- Om SaiTech Books Publishers
Pages- 305(Kindle version)
Genre- Mythological Fantasy Fiction

This Novel held me by nerves!! I felt transported to the world of post Mahabharat era while reading this Novel. At times I felt living among the characters of this Novel. The narratives of rich Aryan history re-lived inside me as I completed this Novel. Author did complete justice to the plot and characters of this story.

2500 hundred years after the war of Mahabharata, another war was fought,The War of Indraprastha.The Arabian tribe who migrated to the land of Gondwana in search of water were expanding their command over Gondwana for trade and commerce under the leadership of their over ambitious commander Bakht Khan. While he managed to capture the land of Garuds, Vaanars and Asuras, he met stiff resistance from an Aryan prince Martand.Each chapter unfolds a different set of events to the bewilderment of readers. The Author has breathed life in to the characters of this Novel by his mighty pen. Each character has his own stance, quite difficult to judge. It will not be easy for readers to side with one or other character.

The Aryan deities like Lord Raam ,Lord Krishna and great mythological figures like Bheesma, Arjuna and Karna from the Epic Mahabharata also finds their mention in the Novel.Mahabharata forms the inspiration for the novel and the story takes the base from many events of the great epic. This Novel is a feast to mind and soul. The Novel ends paving the path for second book of the series which I am eagerly waiting for.

Some of the fascinating extracts from the Novel are:

1)Love will make your soul strong and your thinking flexible. Love will drive you to great heights. The day, love for your mother, love for your people becomes your strength, you will be undefeatable.

2)Son, human mind is a very powerful tool. You can use it to find solutions to problems, to think alternatives to various scenarios and differentiate between right and wrong. Similarly, it can be used to communicate with other minds. All it needs is a correct medium

3) War has always been the same story – old men talking and young men dying. There is no masculinity in going to war. Actual masculinity lies in avoiding the war. A real brave man would try to win the situation without recourse to war. He should ensure a solution that would save money and life. This is possible only by scientific superiority.

4) It was not me who attacked first. They chose to attack me. I am not an evil demon. I was a peace loving prince who chose not to topple his father and peacefully accepted the overlordship of Indraprastha. They attacked my city and brought the Rudra out of me. And this is what happens when someone pokes Rudra’s third eye.

I sincerely hope that soon this series will be adapted to a motion picture or Web series over OTT platforms. Best of luck to Author and eagerly waiting for next book of the series.

So what do you think my rating of Book should be!! of course 5/5

Get your copy and migrate to the fantasy world crafted by Author's magical pen.
Profile Image for Aarushi Kanwar.
3 reviews2 followers
February 28, 2021

❤️The Genius of Indraprastha ❤️
A book by @padoleharshwardhan
Firstly i am a big fan of Indian ancient origin mythology books so a big salute to your work for Indian history and culture.🙏🙏🙏
Back on review...

🍂Book is mainly based on Aryan past a myth or history if it is history then what happened to the rich technological heritage of the Aryan’s. If we really interested in Indian ancient history then this is the way you can see through the past in a very well mannered.
How things happened in orderly manner with minor error of logic.
🍂Starting of the book is truly amazing in contest of whole idea of book.It gives goosebumps to you till the half of book and then you understand the importance of starting chapter.
🍂 The style of story telling is great once you start reading the book you couldn’t put down the book easily. This book gives you the visual presentation rather than only a reading.in this part author gives every character a justice.The hype of commander’s character building process shows author’s work on imagination.
Author focus on every minor aspects of readers expectations about trade systems,communication system, drainage systems and weaponry system etc. these minor information gives realistic thoughts about historical events of vedic period.
🍂 My favourite part in this book is “father and son “ it truly presents the feeling of son and a father who knows the hate of his son towards him.and the maturity of his son. Agnivesh accepts the reality of the situation and he didn’t react the situation but responds.
🍂Sometimes you didn’t expect too much from new authors why because we didn’t give them a full read. But in this book you feel those expectations fulfilled by @padoleharshwardhan
it’s worth reading book
Give a full read to this book and share your experience here...
Profile Image for Narmatha.
109 reviews
April 14, 2021
It's an intriguing saga between the native tribes of Gondwana (namely Aryans, Vaishyas, Garudas, Waanars, Asuras) and the dreadful Khidmatgars. Commander Bakht Khan is the wise and good leader for the Khidmatgar tribe but ruthless to the Gondwana tribe. He snatched a silver chest containing scrolls of ancient knowledge from the Vedic times of the Waanars after the attack. Commander chose to attack the Aryan tribe for the invasion of Gondwana.

The first part of the story has its fair share of introductory that doesn't dull away with the detailed descriptions, because that is much needed for the story to know all the backdrops of the war. Latter, the second part was interesting with the narration of the Indraprastha war. The younger generation present in the saptasindhu mandal gets to know about the genius of Indraprastha, the Aryan Prince Martand and how he demolished the major cities of Khidmatgars that happened twenty-two years ago. Bitter memories! Hastinapur's impeccable history had been tarnished by Khatmatgars.

What shall happen next? Book 2 of the Gondwana Chronicles has to reveal everything. Till then with loaded eagerness, I am going to wait.

My experience:
Honestly speaking , when I got this and started reading I had thought that it's going to be another Mahabharata retelling. Oh no! That's not it. I am intrigued and impressed with its fascinating mythological tale. The Aryan Prince Martand's character and was an interesting take to the story. The author has weaved the tale with an interesting research and I completely enjoyed it.

Fans of historical fiction and mythology lovers will definitely enjoy this story.
Profile Image for Bibliomane.
295 reviews2 followers
July 19, 2021
Book Name: The Genius of Indraprastha

Author: Harshwardhan

Genre: Mythological Fiction

"The more you sweat in peace, the lesser you bleed in war"

The Genius of Indraprastha by Harshwardhan is a perfect blend of history and myths. This book talks all about the history of Gondwana and the war of Indraprastha. This book talks about the Saptsindhu Mandal, Khidmatgars and the history of five major tribes of Gondwanana - Aryans, Garudas, Vaishyas, Waanars, and Asuras. It all also talks about Lord Manu and Manusmirti. Then it takes us to the war of Indraprastha and Prince Martand. 

While reading the book I was able to visualize each and every scene described in the book and it gave me goosebumps. This was a page-turner, indeed. One cannot go back once started to read. The story becomes more interesting and captivating once the war started. I was able to feel the adrenaline rush while reading the book. This book was able to evoke pity and fear at the same time. This was the first book of the Gondwana Chronicles and I am too eager to read the next book. 

What was the result of the war of Indraprastha? Who won the war? What was the result of the war? Who was the hero and who was the villain? Want to know more about the history of Gondwana and the history of the tribes of Gondwana? Who were Khidmatgars? To know the answer to all the questions you have to read the book. You must read this book once and you will not regret picking up this book. If you have read this book then do share your opinions in the comments section. 

"Desired results can be achieved only if the motivation is proper"
Profile Image for Prince Raj.
518 reviews19 followers
July 23, 2021
This is the story of valour On the land of Pandavas there was once a ruler named Martand this is his story of how he fulfilled his duty for his motherland.

The silver chest which is the most awaited item of the century had finally arrived in the camps of Ghulam-e-Khidmatgars, by Alauddin the captain of Khidmatgars appointed by the commander.

Bhakt Khan the commander of Khidmatgars whom everyone in his tribe calls Abu and is very rude and strict, he is a foreigner and for the last 25 years, he had made his way to Gondwana Lands capturing vaishyas with the help of his army and now he is planning something sinister for Gondwana people.

After the fall of Somajeya, no one in Aryan Empire was safe and now the silver chest is found by Commander Indraprastha is at stake what will happen next.

Aryans of Gondwana have come forth to save the land of Gondwana from unworthy commander bhakt Khan who is invading the lands and terrorism it with his large army and the Prince Martand of Hastinapur is revolting against him now with the knowledge of silver chest which commander wants what will happen now for that you will have to grab the book.

The cover of the book is very catchy and feels like a thrilling story it would have but when I read the book it didn't give me such a thrilling experience which I expected it to be, the suspense of the story kept me hooked in it I felt boring sometimes but the ending had some energy in it and has left lots of questions which will be answered in the next part of the book.
Profile Image for Shalloo Walia.
132 reviews9 followers
January 27, 2021
This book was a pleasant surprise for me. It was better than my expectations. From the title, I assumed that this is perhaps another retelling of Mahabharata. But I was so wrong.
This is a story of the glorious Vedic past. Aryans, Vaishyas, Garudas, Vanaras and Asuras lived together in harmony at Gondwana but things changed with the invasion of Khidmatgars. Now 250 years later, Khidmatgars have become all the more powerful under the rule of Uno. Their army Commander Bakht Khan is unstoppable and his next target is Indraprastha. But there is one man standing in his way: the Aryan prince Martand.
What I liked about the book is how the author has given logical & scientific reasoning for the so called 'myths' of Vedic times. We get a glimpse of the Vedic culture and the technological advancements of those times. The author has written a well researched plot and you can't help marveling at his creative genius.
The characters are well developed. Both the protagonist Prince Martand and his adversary the Commander are equally strong and fierce characters.
The narrative of Indraprastha War is so engaging. The author has written battle scenes with vivid imagery. The language of the book is simple and yet impactful. This mythological fiction will appeal to readers of all ages. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Manpreet Kaur.
31 reviews1 follower
February 7, 2021
Book : The genius of Indraprastha
Author : Harshwardhan

250 years ago , the land of Gondwana was invaded by the Khidmatgars where once lived the five native tribes - Garudas , Vaishyas , Waanars , Asuras and Aryans in harmony. In the present , having subdued the four tribes , the commander of the Khidmatgars is determined to tame the Aryans as well. But it would not be easy to challenge the strongest tribe of Gondwana. For this aim , The commander is after the silver chest which would be the key to his success.
The royalties are afraid if the silver chest and it’s secret gets into the hands of Khidmatgars ,they will be destroyed.

The plot is very interesting. You’ll see amalgam of myth and science or technology here. Both protagonist and antagonist (I’m not sure there is one) are such strong characters that at some points it gets difficult to categorise them as such. Both Khidmatgars and Aryans stand firm in their belief systems with a boost of morality. The book ends on an interesting note finally revealing about the War of Indraprastha (22 years ago )which changed everything.

Small chapters helped me keep my pace intact while reading. The only thing it gets a little boring in between but then gains the interest of reader by some twist. So, this mixture is also seen in the book. Overall it’s worth a read 🌟
Looking forward to the next part 💫
Profile Image for Amulya Kulkarni.
76 reviews18 followers
February 9, 2021
The book “The Genius of Indraprastha” by Harshwardhan Padole is based on the Aryan history. The book narrates the story about the five native tribes of Aryans, Vaishyas, Garudas, Waanars and Asuras which lived together in harmony at a place known as Gondwana. The harmony and peace was short lived when a foreign force of Khidmatgars attacked the land of Gondwana.

Led by commander Bakht Khan, the Khidmatgars were able to successfully tame all the tribes, except the Aryans.

During one of his conquests, the commander comes across a secret from the times of Mahabharata, which can help the Khidmatgars to claim the entire Gondwana. At the same time, the Aryan prince wants to annihilate the Khidmatgars using the same secret. What’s the secret? And what will be the consequences if the secret is revealed?
All these questions are answered in a thrilling climax.

After a very long time, I came across a wonderful book by an Indian author. Indian mythology and Indian history is one of my favourite genre to read and I am very impressed by this book.
The writing style is good and the character development is great. Each and every character leaves a mark on you. I liked the word play by the author and I could imagine each and every scene happening right in front of me.

A great effort by the author and I’m surprised that it’s the author’s debut novel!
Profile Image for Nikita Bharti.
276 reviews2 followers
Read
April 5, 2021
Book : The Genius of Indraprastha (Gondwana Chronicles #1)
Genre : Mythological fiction
Genre : ⭐⭐⭐⭐

> In Association with Kharidobecho.in
> Check @kharidobechoBooks for affordable Book Deals.

I tend to enjoy Mythological Fiction immensely, and this one was no different. I personally enjoyed it even more, because of the element of relatability, since we have been hearing them from our Grandmothers since we were kids. 💛

This revolves around the Gondwana territory where the Aryans, Vaishyas, Waanars, Garudas, and Asuras lived together in harmony, until they were attacked by the Khidmatgar tribe who aspired to invade the entire territory.
The first part focuses more around the historical war that was witnessed by the inhabitants of Gondwana, the significance of the ancient knowledge they possessed for mastering wars, and the havoc that is impending on them now that the invaders have those scrolls of knowledge in their hands. 📃

I enjoyed the story immensely. One of the few things I appreciated was how it is not all black and white when it comes to the characters. While the Commander of the Khidmatgar tribe may be a usurper, he's a fantastic leader and is revered and loved by his people. And on the contrary, we see the protagonist Martland (the leader from Gondwana's side) as a relatively cruel person. ✨

That said, there were many instances of blatant racism in the story - the description of the tribes, coining them as fair or dark based on the names or the tribe they belong to. Or the distinction with the Khidmatgar tribe being Islamic and Gondwana tribe being Hindu. 😐

Barring these, it was definitely an interesting read and I am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Thank you for the free copy! ✨
Profile Image for Achu Aswathi.
376 reviews1 follower
February 17, 2021
The story is so interesting. The author has written it in a simple way with immense imagination and creativity. The explanation for the weapons and other instruments used in the war had a scientific explanation and the invention of the flying machine seemed to be a hot air balloon. The Saptasindhu Mandal and the way the message transmission is done were so interesting.

The story is about the Gondwana tribes and Khidmatgars. The native tribes of Gondwana are Asuras, Waanars, Garudas, and Aryans. Khidtmagars are people from central Asia who invaded some part of Gondwana and are trying to extend the kingdom with the expertise of great commander Bakht Khan.

Khidmatgars want to extend the kingdom as they have promised to supply water and intake people from their native to Gondwana which is so resourceful. The native tribes are trying to protect their kingdom and people. To know what happens, Is there a war, what was the plan of the commander and native Gondwana's, you should read it guys.
Profile Image for Chaitanya Srivastava.
213 reviews126 followers
February 14, 2021
The Genius of Indraprastha is supposedly book 1 in a series of upcoming book series based off on Indian mythology. Harshwardhan Padole has managed to capture the rich and exquisite Vedic texts. I am not a person ho picks up mythology easily and I read this book in a week. This is just to say that it's easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to enjoy.

A lot of research goes into writing a mythological fiction, and from what I read, it's evident that the Padole has taken care of that. The history and the subject have tons of information that once can find very fascinating as the plot mainly concerns itself around the era of Aryans in Gondwana and the insurgence of the Khidmatgars.

The writing is simple yet effective. The world-building is not very elaborate or detailed but it still is quite atmospheric.

All in all, this was a good book. For someone who's looking for an Indian mythological read, then this can be quite amazing.

Thank You Harshwardhan Padole and the publishers for sending in a review copy. My opinions are personal and are not a part of any promotion. Thanks!
Profile Image for Anjali Sharma.
936 reviews56 followers
June 6, 2021
Long ago, five native tribes of Aryans, Vaishyas, Garudas, Waanars and Asuras lived together in harmony at Gondwana. Things changed when a foreign force of Khidmatgars attacked. 250 years after the invasion, Khidmatgars now are a formidable force in Gondwana. Led by Commander Bakht Khan, they have successfully tamed all the native tribes except the Aryans.

The Genius of Indraprastha is the first book of Gondwana Chronicles series. Set in post - Mahabharata times, this book is a good historical fiction. The characters are well developed, I liked how the character of Bakht Khan is written, he is revered yet feared, he is a great warrior. All the characters seem real. The book is interesting and gripping. You can actually visualise some of the scenes. The plot is excellent and writing style is perspicuous. I kept turning pages in anticipation. It's fierce as you can expect from the cover. The dialogues are nicely written. Recommended for historical fiction lovers!
Profile Image for Sangeeta Sharma.
Author 1 book11 followers
February 9, 2021
From the time I got my hands on this book, I can't stop researching what happened after Mahabharath. For me, this was a fast-gripping tale about what happened after the war of Mahabharat. Nothing, but another war! And this war was not the same. It took place after Khidmatgars attacked the five native tribes namely The Aryans, the Garudas, the Waanars, the Vaishyas, and the Asuras. Now, Commander Bakht Khan who is the head of the Khidmatgars tamed all the tribes, except the Aryans. The Aryans stood for their morality and never looked down. Finally, the war of Indraprastha changed everything. This book is filled with action and every page made me feel 'what-will-happen-next!' I highly await the next book. I recommend this book to all mythological fiction fans.
135 reviews2 followers
March 28, 2021


A perfectly made story with a wonderful combination of history and folklore. The creator has cautiously weaved the plot around the period of Aryans in Gondwana and the insurrection of the Khidmatgars. It is the account that really occurs after the Mahabharata war

The advancement is astounding. Narration is so smooth and fresh. one thing that I search for in a story is the congruity or the straightforwardness with which one thing prompts another and the creator has accomplished a splendid work in such a manner.

One of the extract I liked the most from this book

"It was not me who attacked first. They chose to attack me. I am not an evil demon. I was a peace-loving prince who chose not to topple his father and peacefully accepted the overlordship of Indraprastha. They attacked my city and brought the Rudra out of me. And this is what happens when someone pokes Rudra’s third eye."

58 reviews
February 10, 2021
2500 years ago after the war of Mahabharat another war was fought, the war indraprastha. I am not a fan of mythological books but this is a pleasent suprise for me. From the title, I assume it would be boring but I was so wrong. The book has interesting plots I think author has done complete justice to the plots. All characters are expressed very well. The narration of indraprastha war is so engaging i have imagined the scenes. The writing style is simple yet impactful. I would recommend it to every history lover.
2 reviews
February 5, 2021
An epic story of the vedic past of India by a fantastic story teller, Mr. Harshwardhan Padole. The language is very simple and plain. The best feature of this book is nothing but narration. For each chapter, the context is stated very simply at first and then all the parts that need to be explained in it are explained as much as possible. Past contexts followed by the present makes the storytelling different. The purity of the characters' personality is preserved by the narrator throughout the novel.
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