The book review summarizes the novel "Immortals Of Meluha" by Amish Tripathi. It discusses the author and his writing style, the themes of the book, and characters. The book is described as using Hindu legends and mythology to tell a new story. It redefines concepts like virtue and vice. The review provides a 3 sentence summary of the plot, describing Shiva considering moving from Mount Kailash to the land of Meluha for a better life, and discovering he is destined to save Meluha when his throat turns blue after drinking an elixir of life.

1. Book Review
For
Immortals Of Meluha
Submitted By:
Shobitash Jamwal
MBA HR

2. Title Page

3. About Author
Amish Tripathi(born on 18 October 1974) is an Indian author. He is known
for his novels The Immortals of Meluha, The Secret of the Nagas and
The Oath of the Vayuputras.
Amish Tripathi is an alumnus ofIndian Institute of Management Calcutta.
Although he originally wanted to be a historian, Tripathi initially chose a career in
finance because he couldn't afford the former.He worked for 14 years in the
financial services industry, in companies such as Standard Chartered,
DBS Bank and IDBI Federal Life Insurance, before starting his writing career.

4. Writing Style Of Author
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The author has used our Classical legends to provide impetus
of his story. The characters are not new, but the tales, told in
the third person omniscient narrative, are totally a creation of
unifying imagination.
The legends like Shiva, Sati, Nandi, Birbhadra, Daksha - all
roam around a certain topography as true human beings of
flesh and blood.
The objectivity of the author over the pivotal question of
‘Virtue/Vice’ also allows the readers to form their opinion
independently.The god like character is seen from a kindly
perspective where ‘Karma’ or Achievements are the only
yardstick for such lofty baptization.

5. Theme Of The Book
Though the story tries to redefine the nomenclatures like ‘Virtue’ and
‘Vice’, from the very beginning of the story, the web of legends, Puranas
and folktales seem to mingle into a cohesive pattern to give us a glimpse
of a time when the earth was ruled by old values and battles were fought
for pride. That was the time when oracles used to turn the wheel of fortune
and kingship was seen as an order of divinity, a time which we believe
never existed in reality but only in epics and mythologies. And herein lies
the greatness of our Classical super-past that always allows us a window
to look through it only to find ourselves little insignificant beings in front
of such a stupendous cultural cosmos. We also come to know about
certain cultural rites beliefs and the logic behind such Dos and Don’ts.
The story truly has captured the spirit of those bygone ages in their true
color.

6. Characters In Book
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Shiva-The Barbarian
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Sati-A Meluhan Princess(Considered as Vikrama)
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Nandi-Captain Of Meluhan Army
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Veerbhadra-Captain Of Shiva's Army
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Brihaspati-Chief Scientist of Meluha
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Daksha-King Of Meluha
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Kanakhala-Chief Minister of Daksha's court
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Parvateshwar-Head of Meluhan Army
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Ayurvati-Chief of medicine

7. Characters Of Book Continued
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Surya Vanshis-Followers of solar calendar
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Chandravanshis- Followers Of lunar Calendar
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Naga-Cursed Tribe with physical deformities
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Meluhas-Empire of Suryavanshis
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Swadweep-Empire of Chandravanshis
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Dandaka Forest-Where Nagas Stay

8. Book Summary
The Immortals of Meluha opens with Shiva watching the sun
set and smoking marijuana. While Shiva debates in his mind
the offer by a foreign visitor to leave Mount Kailash and
relocate to Meluha we think all is well. A stage is set where
Shiva, the leader of the Guna tribe, is tired of fighting the
Pakratis for survival each day and he is considering moving to
Meluha with his tribe to lead a new life. Chasing the dream of
a life devoid of warfare “sounds so damn good” to Shiva. As
he is mulling over the Meluhan’s proposal, the Pakratis strike.
A short assault follows where the Meluhans help Shiva and his
tribe drive off the Pakratis, and Shiva decides to move to
Meluha.

9. Book Summary
When Shiva arrives at Meluha with his tribe he is awestruck by the
near-perfect system of living and governance. Meluha is a place
where no one is poor, everyone has food, everyone lives in identical
homes, the society has excellent drainage and all the Meluhans are
in the pink of health. Meluha is a land of dreams; a place where
everyone would want to live. It’s the great escape. To fold mythology
into this cacophony of a story, Amish explains the caste system in
Meluha. Shiva is told stories of how the caste system was established
by Lord Ram and it is based only on merit. It allows every
individual to pursue their natural talent rather than pursue a
vocation based on their inherited caste. To achieve this kind of
equality, a Maika system was put into place. Now, if we read this in
one go without pausing to think, it seems like a really good way to
work in a society. However, once we zoom out and do some
reflection, we wonder how it could ever be out into practice. While I
read this, I made a mental note to look this up.

10. Book Summary
As Shiva is shown around Meluha, Amish has described a place one
wishes new India could be. Shiva and his tribes are give the typical
Indian treatment for a guest, where the guest is considered God.
Among other things, Shiva and his tribe are given somras.Somras is
an elixir of life and the reason why all Meluhans are immortal.
Legend says that a man from a foreign land will arrive and when he
drinks the somras it will reveal his blue throat; this is the man who
will save the Meluhans from evil. On drinking the somras, Shiva’s
blue throat reveals itself and he is, therefore, established as the
Neelkanth Meluhans have been looking for. While Shiva is coming
to terms with his new-found identity, Shiva bumps into Sati. He
pursues her in a style.Incidentally Sati turns out to be the daughter
of the King of Meluha! When the King of Meluha learns of Shiva’s
fondness of Sati, he slyly nudges Shiva to pursue his daughter Sati
in the hope that Shiva would save Meluha to impress Sati.

11. Book Summary
He lets Shiva and Sati travel together too. This is the point where
Amish goes Bollywood with his so-called book and he doesn’t stop
there.This part was, frankly, the most ridiculous of the lot. A lovestruck Shiva then marries Sati, but not before he abolishes the
vikarma system of penance. Under the vikarma system, a person had
to bear fruits of the evils in his previous birth. Amish has explained
how Lord Ram established this as a logical system to maintain
balance in society. Shiva abolishes this system for all of Meluha and
then marries the once-vikarma Sati. The married and happy Shiva
then goes on to search for what he thinks is his destiny—to destroy
the evil that Meluhans face. During the course of the story, Shiva
learns of the Suryavanshis and Chandravanshis. He is educated of
the teachings of Lord Ram. He weighs his own beliefs against what
is told to him. He doubts himself and finds courage when the
Vasudevs proffer him much needed advice. And finally, Shiva goes
to war to destroy evil.

12. Outstanding Quotes
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“A person's ethics and character are not tested in good
times. It is only in bad times that a person shows how
steadfast he is to his dharma.”
“Whether a man is a legend or not is decided by history, not
fortune tellers.”
“A man becomes a Mahadev, only when he fights for good. A
Mahadev is not born from his mother's womb. He is forged
in the heat of battle, when he wages a war to destroy evil.
Har Har Mahadev - All of us are Mahadev.”
“his burden didn't feel any lighter. but he felt strong enough
to carry it”.

13. Outstanding Quotes
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“I don't believe in symbolic gods.I believe that god exists all
around us.In the flow of the river,in the rustle of the trees,in
the whisper of the winds. He speaks to us all the time.all we
need to do is listen.”
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“Hate is not the opposite of Love. It is apathy.”
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“Don't turn blue all over now.”
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“There are many realities. There are many versions of what
may appear obvious. Whatever appears as the unshakeable
truth, its exact opposite may also be true in another
context. After all, one's reality is but perception, viewed
through various prisms of context.”

14. Evaluation
First of all kudos to the author for trying to deal with Hindu mythology
and giving it the shape that would be interesting to the modern reader.
Hindu mythology is a subject that very few Indian authors have tried to
use in their story telling,much less to base their story on it. The fact that
Amish has,goes a long way to say how our rich heritage could be used in
the modern day and age. It is a very noble beginning, and I really hope we
have many authors who would use this historical background to base their
stories upon.

15. Evaluation
Sure, as a work of pure fiction, it is indeed good, but there are certain facts
misrepresented as history of our land. It would be very unfair on my part
as a reader, if I do not put out an unbiased view of the book, because even
I really enjoyed how the story unfolds.Lastly it is a book, one should read
as purely a work of fiction. Please do note that there are grossly
misrepresented facts but yes, the storyline is good, some of the concepts
given in it are extremely interesting and overall a good read, though I
would not rate it as a "must read".

16. Learning Objectives Of the Book
Reading is an integral part of our life. Those who do not
read everyday, become obsolete and lack of creativity.
More we read, more we feed our mind with the
information. Our thinking, our decision making ability,
our communication, the way we put things forward, the
way we speak and our behaviour are guided by the kind of
materials we read.
In this book one can learn in from of Shova and in form of
Brihaspati how to lead people , what quality a leader
should possess, how a leader should communicate and how
a leader shoud take a decision.This is not just a fiction
novel , actually it is a teaching.

17. Thank You
Any Questions?