ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Maj Gen Randhir Sinh has a biography of Lieutenant General Sagat Singh to his credit, which was a bestseller on Amazon. He retired after 37 years' service in the Army and has studied military history in detail. His knowledge of history and of the period has enabled him to take suitable advantage of the research and work on the novel.
INTERVIEW:
Q. Tell us something about your book The Flute and the Sword.
The Book is a historical fiction that follows an authentic timeline of 16 Century Rajputana. It starts off with the founding of the Principality of Merta and traces the life of its two principal protagonists, the mystic saint Meera and her cousin Jaimal. Their life intersects through the turbulent period of the first half of 16 Century.
Q. How did you come up with the title of your book?
The title of the book is connected with the two heroes; Meera and the flute of Lord Krishna and Jaimal and his struggle to save his kingdom and secure his family.
Q. What is the key theme and/or message in the book?
Rajputana was in the cusp of a major political upheaval. On one hand, was the invasion of Babar and on the other the struggle to withstand the expansionist designs of the Sultanates of Malwa and Gujarat. Within Rajputana itself, the Rajput kingdoms were far from united and their constant struggle against each other led to their ultimate downfall. The history of that era shaped the history of the rest of India.
Q. Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
The two main characters hold a special place. Meera seems to call out through the centuries. Her love for Krishna and deep mysticism strikes a deep chord. On the other hand, Jaimal is the epitome of a Rajput warrior, whose chivalry and exploits even now resonate through time.
Q. What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
I have hardly any income as a writer. The expenditure was generally more than the income. Most of it was spent on research.
Q. How many books are in your house?
I have approximately 3000 books in my house.
Q. Future of SALISMANIA.com through your eyes.
It fills a vital niche which gives encouragement to writers to project their talents as well as their effort. It gives good publicity and establishes an Author’s marketability and status.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The book, though fiction, follows an authentic timeline as it tells the story of the two remarkable grandchildren of Rao Duda, Meera, and Jaimal.
Meera was a gifted child, recognized for her intellectual brilliance and piety from her childhood. Her devotion to Lord Krishna was intense and never changed, even though she was married to Bhojraj, the son of Maharana Sanga. The book traces her life until she reaches Dwarka and is finally absorbed by her lord.
Jaimal, on the other hand, remained constantly at war, struggling to preserve his kingdom against powerful forces ranged against it. The constant struggle against Marwar finally leads to the destruction of Merta with the curtain coming down with Jaimal indomitably leading the defense of Chittor against Akbar.
Teeming with characters well known in history, the book offers a slice of it in painful though valorous detail. Despite their tragedy, the Mertias are a force to reckon with but as the Authors put it, in the 16th Century they created their own Camelot which rose and fell within three generations.
PUBLISHER: VIJ Books
GENRE: Historical Fiction