The Incredibly Real Adventures of Shankar Singh

Short listed twice among hundreds of entries for the First Prize in Literatureby Guernica Editions, the author, a master of innovative historical fiction, inthis novel, The Incredibly Real Adventures of Shankar Singh, is at his very best.Wow, what a gripping saga. I’m truly impressed by the sheer scope ofyour work, as well as your writing skills—well done indeed.—Dr. Vonda, EditorRegarded and celebrated as one of India’s greatest freedom fighters, ShankarSingh’s brief alliance with the Axis powers during World War II might appearcontroversial, but his commitment to India’s freedom struggle and his role informing the Army Of Indian Revolutionaries (AIR), compelled the Britishto capitulate, which hastened India’s path to independence.The protagonist Shankar, is mentioned in the author’s first Book, A Dip at theSangam, which was short listed for Guyana’s First Book Prize in Literature.This book has been used as research material by Waseem Ahmad Wani,Research Scholar, when he presented a paper: Transformation from Coolies toEntrepreneur at the International Conference on Subalternity. The protagonistof the novel, Raja, after completing his indentureship, had transformed himselffrom coolie to entrepreneur in his adopted home of British Guiana.A Dip at the Sangam could be compelling movie material. The setting at theTriveni Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati riversconverge, offers a visually rich backdrop for storytelling. The Maha KumbhMela, a massive Hindu pilgrimage, adds another layer of drama and spectacle.The spiritual significance of the holy dip, where millions seek purification andconnection with the divine, provides a powerful emotional core.Road to Belwasa, the author’s second book, takes the reader on a journey ofepic proportions, detailing his struggles to find his ancestral village, Belwasa, atiny hamlet in Bihar, where the villagers turn out to welcome a great grandsonof Raja, one who had been missing for many years and had returned. Read more