The Secret of the Nagas by Amish Tripathi

This is the second book in the trilogy and meets the expectations set up by the first book. The characters are developed further making us empathise with their thinking. The war against the Chandravanshis was won and triumphant Suryavanshis with Shiva entered the city of Ayodhya at the end of the first book. The city is so very different from the Meluha cities. There is colour everywhere and people are all loud and noisy. There is no subdued behaviour like those of the Meluhans. There is poverty and wealth spread among the people.

However, while they are different from the people of Meluha they are not evil as Shiva had been led to believe. He finds this very disturbing and feels regret at the killings caused by the war. There is more intrigue as there is internal squabble for the throne of Ayodhya. Shiva is sent on a tour of the Chandravanshi kingdom to gather people together, which would make reforms easier. There are a couple of attacks by Nagas. Shiva sees firsthand what the raiding party has done and vows to find and punish these people.

Meanwhile, a son is born to Shiva and Sati in Kashi. Sait’s father brings for the grandson a year’s worth of somras and reveals that there is another secret factory for manufacturing somras. Shiva is told that the small kingdom of Brangas may hold the secret to finding the Nagas. So will Shiva find them? This common need to find the Nagas has the soldiers from both sides working together. Sati is left behind as their son is very young still. She has her own set of adventures in trying to find out what the King of Kashi is hiding. When a nearby village is attacked by lions, Sati offers to save the village but will she succeed? What are the Nagas doing in this village?

Will Shiva and Sati find the Naga city and uncover the big secret there? It is a fantasy tale and one should not look to equate it with the religious myths. The tale of old days, when the civilisations were flourishing in different parts of India with different cultures and beliefs, hold the reader’s attention throughout. It shows clearly our fear of the unknown and believing different is evil. Something which is even true today! The things we do not understand we equate them with magic and of course it must be bad! The thought provoking that started in the first book Immortals of Meluha is continued in this book. Now to wait for the last of the trilogy in a couple of months.