Chanakya Returns covers a vast canvas of power, love, history, politics, betrayals, sex and more. It is narrated by Chanakya (370-282 BC), reincarnated in the contemporary world as the adviser to Avanti, the daughter of the head of a nameless state in India. In the course of the novel, Chanakya poses an eternal question: What shapes our lives— The Power of Love or the Love of Power? His protégée, Avanti, has to choose between love and power. The choice Avanti makes has all sorts of implications not just for herself and her dysfunctional family, but for the people of the state her family has ruled for years…
In his previous existence, the historical Chanakya was exiled from his homeland and took his revenge on the king who was the cause of his misfortune by defeating him in a war. He was then responsible for anointing Chandragupta as ruler of the Mauryan Empire, and advising him on every aspect of statecraft. In the novel, Chanakya provides the same services to Avanti. He manoeuvres the awkward young daughter of a charismatic, powerful politician across the chessboard of power to becoming a brilliant successful politician and leader in her own right.
Timeri N. Murari began his career as a reporter for a Canadian newspaper before moving to London to write for The Guardian, Sunday Times and other newspapers, and magazines. He also wrote columns and articles for The Hindu, Frontline and the Indian Express. He has written sixteen novels, five non-fiction books, a young adult trilogy, stage plays and screenplays. Time included his film, Daayra, in its top ten films of the year in which it was screened and he later directed it as a stage play, starring Parminder Nagra. His novel Taj has been translated into twenty-five languages and The Taliban Cricket Club into eight.
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