Aashka Mandal

by અશ્વિની ભટ્ટ (Ashwini Bhatt)

વિરાટ ફલક ઉપર આલેખાતી આ નવલકથા માંડલ કુટુંબની ત્રણ પેઢીઓને સમાવી લે છે. રેગીસ્તાની ઇલાકામાં આવેલા હમીરગઢનો રાજકુમાર સિગાવલ કેશી તેનો નાયક છે. થોરાડની વીરડી પાસેથી મળેલું એક હાડપિંજર આ વાર્તાને જાણે ભૂગર્ભમાંથી બહાર લઇ આવે છે. કોનું છે આ હાડપિંજર ? લોકકથા જેવા બની ગયેલા શરનસિંહ માંડલનું ? પ્રથમ વિશ્વયુદ્ધના સમયગાળામાં બનતી આ કથાનું નેપથ્ય સન સત્તાવનના વિપ્લવ જેટલું જુનું છે. શૂરજિતસિંહ માંડલ, શરનસિંહ માંડલ, આજીવન લડતા રહેલા વિપ્લવવાદીઓ આ કથાના લોક્નાયાકો છે. મંદિરની પરસાળમાં આરતી ટાણે જન્મેલી આશ્કા માંડલ , વિપ્લવની જ્યોત જેવી નાયિકા છે. એકાએક ગુમ થઇ ગયેલા તેના પિતા શરનસિંહ માંડલની ખોજમાં તે એક ખૂંખાર પ્રવાસમાં નીકળે છે, જેમાં અન્ય પ્રવાસીઓને નાનસાહેબે છુપાવેલા ખજાનામાં રસ છે. રોમેરોમમાં આગ ફેલાય તેવી ઘટનાઓથી સભર સાધંત સાહસકથા.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Novels

408 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2013

About the author

Ashwini Bhatt was born to educationist Harprasad Bhatt and Sharadaben Bhatt on 12 August 1936 in Ahmedabad. He graduated in psychology. He was interested in theatre and he worked as a child artist in Gujarati adoption of Bengali drama Bindur Chhele (Bindu No Kiko). He had failed in several business ventures like poultry farm to a vegetable vendor before starting career as a writer. He moved to United States in 2002. He died on 10 December 2012 at Dallas, Texas, US

He wrote twelve novels and three novellas. He translated several works in Gujarati including Alistair MacLean and James Hadley Chase. He also translated Freedom at Midnight by Collins and Lapierre in Gujarati as Ardhi Rate Azadi which was critically acclaimed.

His serialized novels include Othaar, Faanslo, Aashka Maandal, Katibandh, Nirja Bhargav, Lajja Sanyal, Aayno, Angaar, Jalkapat and Aakhet. Besides writing novels, he was also involved in theatre. His Katibandh was made into TV series.

Reviews

[Vimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of Ashwini Bhatt is always a gem. Beauty, danger, courage, suspense, love story, sacrifice all aspects in one book.
Aashka Mandal story starts from Hamirgadh Rajasthan goes to Chambal region and comes again in Rajasthan. Main protagonist Sigval Singh found out a skeleton and tried to find out whose skeleton it was. He found out murder at his place along with some important papers missing. He ended up in deadly treasure hunt when he tried to solve the murder mystery. During his treasure hunt he met with a beautiful and brave heart girl Aashka. Treasure hunt was infamous for 0 % success rate in past, but people join the quest for various reason with very low hope of finding treasure.
Storyline is very smooth. There are few writer in Gujarati literature of this genre who writes with such amazing skills that bring readers back to his books again and again. Reader wishes his books never end. No one can describe person or location better than Ashwini Bhatt. His detail description can help reader to visualize each and every incident in their mind just like watching a movie.
Must read in Gujarati literature.

http://chevusread.blogspot.com/2016/0...

[Urvi Patel · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome thriller
love it.

[Book'd Hitu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give this book a 50 stars rating. An awesome gripping thriller set in Rajasthani deserts.
Ashwini Bhatt at his very best. Keeps you hooked till the last page.
Aashka steals away the hearts of reader.
Hats off !!

[Jay Trivedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Book Ever.

[Raxa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like 👍

[Foram]

[Pulkit · Rating 5 out of 5]

If David Lean would have known about this book, I'm sure he would have made a film about it!

[Manisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent thriller. Would like to read it again.

[Bhavik Gandhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect touch of Indian Legacy, prosperity, splendor, culture and dedication towards the society and surroundings. Each character is brilliantly described.
I think a movie should be made on this novel and I will recommend Mr. Sanjay Leela Bhansali as the director. No one else would be able to justify this great novel.

[Yoga Desai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything in one book , suspense thriller nd romance . Great imagination.......love it

[Manisha Vasani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book..Love to read..

[RIDDHI SONI · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Urvi]

સરસ

[Sikligar Anil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am very excited!

[Raj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aashwin bhatt was great author in gujarati literature.
Beat suspence, thriller, beauty of culture and everything in his books. I love this book and it's grippy book.

[Jagat]

Mari priy book che

[Ankit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrilling

[Vipul Bhai]

How to read online???

[Paraag Shukla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent thriller one of the best in gujarati novel

[Gopalbhai Thakrar · Rating 5 out of 5]

અદ્ભુત

[Aashka Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I am named after. I have read it more than 5-7 times and I would love to read it again. Xx

[Mahendrasinh Jadeja · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on Rajasthan background

[Hiren Bharwad · Rating 5 out of 5]

આશકા ને વાંચો એટલે રણમાંય તરસ લાગે ❤

[Dipeeka · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the book which brings you to amazing journey!

[Anekant · Rating 4 out of 5]

the imaginative power is awesome....!

[Shreyas 'Hosh' Trivedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome one of my favourite

[Rudram · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best
ashwini bhatt is amitabh bacchan of gujarati novelist

[Rohan Thakrar]

Awesome Novel

[Jitendra Rana]

i like this book

[Purvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story righting skill of author. I read this book 2nd time after 18 years but still same charm to read it. Romance, suspense, thriller everything