Ayush Kumar, the brilliant mind behind "Hastinapur Crumbling: The Battle That Started The War," has captured the essence of ancient epics with a modern twist. As an accomplished writer, he skillfully weaves a tale of intrigue and conflict, transporting readers to a world where myths and reality collide. With an innate passion for history and mythology, Ayush delves into the depths of the Mahabharata, unearthing hidden nuances and lesser-known aspects of the epic. His attention to detail and meticulous research shine through in his narrative, bringing to life the iconic characters and the enigmatic city of Hastinapur. Through "Hastinapur Crumbling," Ayush Kumar presents a fresh perspective on a timeless saga, seamlessly blending the past and the present. is evocative prose takes readers on a captivating journey, exploring not only the grandeur of ancient kingdoms but also the complexity of human emotions and choices. Ayush's writing style leaves a lasting impact on his readers, engaging them in a thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating experience. He challenges conventional beliefs and presents the grey areas of morality, making his work stand out in the realm of mythological fiction. As a writer, Ayush Kumar continues to break new ground, leaving fans eagerly anticipating his future literary endeavors. With "Hastinapur Crumbling: The Battle That Started The War," he has etched his name as a talented storyteller, capable of reshaping ancient legends for a contemporary audience.
1. Can you provide us with an overview of your book, "Hastinapur Crumbling: The Battle That Started The War"? What inspired you to write this particular story?
> When I was a child, my grandfather had the DVDs of the entire BR Chopra version of the Mahabharata. We'd watch it end to end, then finish it and start over. So my interest in the story, not just as a religious story but as just a tale about people - their personalities, their needs, the complexities - all of that appealed to me. And even within that story, the perspectives of two pivotal characters - Bhishma and Shakuni - haven't really been dealt with in depth. And that came as a surprise to me. Look at how interesting their trajectories are! It's a story of revenge, deceit, hubris, and of a crumbling empire driven by greed and arrogance. It's the enduring human emotion that got me to write the story.
2. The Mahabharata is a well-known epic with countless retellings. How does your book offer a fresh perspective or unique interpretation of the events leading up to the war?
> For one thing, it's a story told from a fresh lens - that of two differing characters driven by different things. Bhishma is an enduring symbol of timelessness - but at what point does that timelessness become emotional or moral stagnation? Shakuni is a complex character we often reduce to a caricature - but look at his sacrifice as well. He moved from Gandhara (Kandahar in Afghanistan) to the banks of the Ganga for the rest of his life. My book tells their story, and in the context of a growing, dynamic world. When we talk about ancient Indian civilizations, we address how we actively traded with and coexisted with other civilizations - the Greeks, the Chinese. My book also briefly touches on that, an ever-expanding world.
3. In your research for the book, what sources did you consult to ensure historical accuracy? How did you balance historical facts with your own storytelling and creative liberties?
> I relied on Mr. Bibek Debroy's Mahabharata as my source of truth. But mine is a work of fiction. I've taken the blank spaces in the original story and filled them in with my own interpretations. But the narrative theme, the character details, come from Mr. Debroy's work. The visualization is partly inspired by the BR Chopra version, and a lot of what I interpreted it to be.
4. Hastinapur, the ancient city where much of the story takes place, is rich in mythology and history. How did you go about recreating its atmosphere and bringing it to life for readers?
> My thumb rule is always the same. What's this character's colour? To my mind, Bhishma was silver - unchanged, spotless, but also desirous of being noticed for the spotlessness. Shakuni was a shade of gold - materialistic, and not unwilling to savour the finer things in life.
But again, no civilization exists in isolation from its people. We talk about the kings and princes of Hastinapur, but there was a flourishing economy, and a lot of the events had economic factors to them. And economics is always bottom-up. So I started off by thinking, what would a common person in this kingdom be like? And I built my way up.
5. The Battle of Hastinapur is a pivotal moment in the Mahabharata. What challenges did you face in depicting this battle and maintaining the right balance between action, drama, and historical accuracy?
> The beauty of writing is that history is always from the outside looking in, but fiction is from the inside out. In the very first chapter, Bhishma comes across one of the young Pandavas on the battlefield. Now we can talk about the flying arrows, but I chose to delve into Bhishma's psyche. His first instinct is not to shoot off a bunch of arrows, but to marvel at how much the young Pandava resembles his father. Action and drama will always come if you focus on the people. People are dynamic and dramatic.
6. Characterization is crucial in any story. Could you tell us a bit about the main characters in your book and how you approached developing their personalities and motivations?
> I started off by asking myself, what does this character need? And how does this need affect every single one of their actions? What's your defining trait and your biggest fear? That's what will drive you forward, and that's what will define your morality. Bhishma found that his need was to be a pillar of strength - his biggest fear was being perceived as less than that.
Shakuni wasn't driven just by revenge - it was more than that. Revenge dissipates. He truly believed that his role was something larger, something cosmic. Once you have the need in place, the rest becomes relatively simpler. Just dots and dashes and colours and sounds.
7. One of the book's themes is the idea of power and its corrupting influence. Can you discuss how you explored this theme in "Hastinapur Crumbling" and why it is relevant to readers today?
> I recently had the opportunity of meeting Mr. Gajendra Chauhan, who played Yudhisthir in BR Chopra's Mahabharat. He posited that what drove the war wasn't greed, but arrogance. Every single character is arrogant in some way or the other, and that's why Hastinapur is crumbling. Bhishma feels arrogance about his unblemished character, to the point that he proceeds to ignore the blemishes. Arjun, Duryodhan, even Yudhisthir, all of them feel a degree of arrogance. Power is not simply political - power can be physical, emotional, even moral. And all power corrupts.
The readers of today would find this to be a valuable lesson - humility is the biggest sustainable competitive advantage.
8. As an author, what do you hope readers will take away from your book? Are there any particular messages or themes that you want them to reflect upon?
> As an author, I'm not necessarily trying to give any message - my role is to tell a story to the best of my abilities, and hope it engages the readers enough to keep turning pages. But the themes that I particularly found interesting while writing the story was our tendency to paint others in shades of white or black. But we don't do the same with ourselves, because we intuitively understand that people can have shades of grey. Was Karna an evil character, or simply a good friend? Was Arjun a noble warrior, or an arrogant bully? The Mahabharata has such brilliant characterization that every character can be explored a million ways. Who's good? Who's evil?
9. Writing a book based on a mythological or historical event requires careful attention to detail and a deep understanding of the subject matter. How did you manage the research process while still maintaining your own voice and storytelling style?
> My boon and curse is that all of us know the story so well. So far the only negative feedback I have received has been from my mother, who was scandalized at some of the characters drinking soma. But it's an established fact that soma was consumed at the time. The key is simply to be humble and respectful to the subject matter. I love writing, but I'm simply one of many trying to interpret the greater story of all.
10. Finally, could you share any upcoming projects or future plans you have as an author? Are there any other historical or mythological events that you're interested in exploring through your writing?
> Currently I'm storyboarding the second part of the series, exploring the story from the eyes of a different character, one that we know very well but haven't heard from a lot. I hope that one will receive the same kind of response as this one has. Fingers crossed!
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