PLOT: 4/5
CHARACTERS: 4.5/5
WRITING: 4.5/5
ENTERTAINMENT: 4.5/5
GENRE: Historical Fiction, Action, Adventure
THEMES: History, Mythology, Battle for Dharma, Naga Sadhus
“The war has just begun and will last for centuries. Our enemies will increase and invade like the plague. We shall be the antidote. Many civilizations will perish and many will convert. What will survive in the times to come are the Trinity, trident, and temples.”
– Akshat Gupta, The Naga Warriors: Battle for Gokul
The Bhoomi of Bharat is rich with splendid tales of valour and courage, even in the face of impending doom. Our land is of ancient warriors who have given their everything—material possessions, familial ties, and even their lives—for the sake of protecting Dharma. It then falls on their successors, we of the current generation, to bring their stories to light. To keep their tales alive and thriving, so that every child and adult knows of their unbridled courage and relentless service to Dharma.
One such beautiful attempt in this endeavour is made by author Akshat Gupta, who, after the tremendous success of the Hidden Hindu trilogy, is back again with his next series, The Naga Warriors. This series pays a humble but excellent tribute to Nagas, those great warrior sadhus who fought many a battle so that we could survive as a civilization.
What is the book all about?
The Naga Warriors: Battle for Gokul is a book that documents and celebrates, albeit in a fictional way, the fierce battle that was fought between Naga sadhus (with their minimal numbers) and the formidable Afghan army (with their imposing numbers) under the Afghani ruler Ahmed Shah Abdali. This book, the first in the series, emphasizes the battle of Gokul that the Naga sadhus fought with Abdali’s general, Sardar Khan, who was all too eager to wreak havoc on the beautiful and religious city of Gokul. While the book is fiction, the episode it is inspired by is real history, where the Nagas successfully saved the precious city from the demonic invaders.
The characters
The nameless Naga is one interesting character. The book starts and ends with him. The year is 2024, and we see him rescuing a British mountaineer from an avalanche. In the process of nursing him back to health, he begins narrating the epic battle of 1757 and the events that led to it.
Ajaa, Shambhuji, Vanraaj, Mathadhish, and Dhruv are some other interesting characters who are the heroes of the story. Sardar Khan, on the other hand, is vicious and diabolical. Ajaa and Shambhuji are truly inspiring, while Vanraaj comes as a pleasant surprise.
The writing
The writing in The Naga Warriors: Battle for Gokul is fast-paced and action-oriented. The story begins in the current time, but the reader is quickly transported to the year 1757. Apart from good pacing, interesting battle sequences, and intriguing characters, what I also liked is the author’s ability to educate readers about many unknown aspects of Naga sadhus. In this way, we also get many historical and cultural lessons. Why do the Nagas smear ashes on their bodies? What is the significance of that? Why does a person have to perform the last rites of all their family members (even those who are living) before they are inducted into the ranks of the Naga sadhus?
In addition to that, the book also educates the reader on many aspects of Sanatana Dharma and sheds light on the significance of many concepts and rituals like Shukla Paksha, Chandra Darshana, Shankh, Tripoorn, while also educating us about the divine weapons of the Devas like Trishul, Vijaya Dhanush, and Sudarshan Chakra.
The battle scenes
Since the major part of the book is either the battle or the preparation for it, there is a good amount of focus on the storytelling aspects of it. The lead-up to the battle, starting with character introductions, setting of the stage, amping up of personal ambitions, and relentless pursuit of Dharma by different sects, has all been powerfully orchestrated.
A battle, whose result is already etched in history, and whose result is already known, is still played out mysteriously and intriguingly by the introduction of unexpected twists and turns. Apart from the obvious enemy, there are other grey and shady characters too, who keep the suspense up and act as a balance to the absolute black and white of other characters.
In the end
The Naga Warriors: Battle for Gokul is a historical action-adventure fiction enthused with elements of mythology. It is entertaining and racy, while also being informative and philosophical at times. A great dharmic fiction, indeed!
Can’t wait to read it? You can buy your copy of The Naga Warriors: Battle for Gokul using the link below.
