A historical, particularly one that is based on true events, is immensely intriguing since it is a window into the past, a sort of time travel into a fascinating bygone era. Even though history doesn’t repeat itself, if narrated with passion and sincerity, a historical can give the reader a chance to vividly experience and understand events that went down in history. That is exactly what happens in Rrashima Swaarup Verma’s new book, The Royal Scandal – A love story that changed the power dynamics in British India.
This book is a true account of a turbulent love affair between a Hyderabadi princess and an officer of the East India Company, amidst a volatile atmosphere of intense war and politics. Of course, as Shakespeare said, the course of love never did run smooth. Then again, love is a force like no other. Add in the treachery and power play of war and politics, and you get a story that is poignant and riveting in equal measure.
The first thing that stands out in this book is the love story between the two protagonists, Princess Khair un Nissa and Lt Col James Achilles Kirkpatrick. The book chronicles this true tale of love and all the trials and tribulations that happen when two religions, two countries and two empires are involved. Lovers of romance and history will savour the pathos and passion with which the author transports us to the magnificent palaces, grand forts and enthralling pleasure gardens of 18th century Hyderabad. Rrashima has really managed to recreate the magic of that time with panache, elegance and conviction. So compelling is her narration that readers will find it difficult to tear themselves away from the story.
Another thing that deserves special mention is the intense and painstaking research that has been undertaken to write this book. The author has left no stone unturned, which is evident from the comprehensive and meticulous list of references that has been provided at the end. The book is an accurate and vivid description of 18th century life in the Deccan and the information has been carefully woven into the story, without any interruption to its natural flow. The powerful narration of the events, the dialogue, the descriptions of the architecture and music, the wars and the complexity of the politics of that time, all come together to create strong visual imagery, making The Royal Scandal a pure joy to read.
It is believed that characters can really pump life into a story, and this is one of Rrashima’s major strengths. The character research and description in The Royal Scandal is flawless. So much so, that the characters and their conflicts really seem to come alive through the pages of the book. Readers will find themselves easily empathizing with the protagonists and their struggles, since the book is high on the emotional quotient. The story from the perspective of the female protagonist has been given equal weightage which displays the author’s sense of balance and proportion. Rrashima’s engaging narration has also brought out the fascinating traits of the secondary characters who add depth to the story, seamlessly providing strong support to the plot and protagonists. To do justice to the protagonists as well as keep the secondary characters sufficiently engaged with the story and its narration, is a characteristic of a talented author and Rrashima has displayed that in ample measure.
Represented by India’s leading literary agency The Book Bakers, and published by one of the country’s biggest publishing houses, Srishti Publishers and Distributors, The Royal Scandal is a remarkable tale of love, politics, war and sacrifice. Thoroughly researched and brilliantly narrated, if there is a book that should not be missed this year, it is The Royal Scandal.
