Historical fiction set in racy thriller

New Delhi: Entrepreneur turned author Aroon Raman's love for history has led him to pen his second adventure fiction novel which combines thriller with a bout of history.

Released recently, "The Treasure of Kafur" is set in Mughal India, about 250 years before Akbar, when Allauddin Khilji, one of the first Delhi sultans sends his general down south to drain it of its treasures.

Thus, the prologue of the book is largely centred at the hiding of the treasure; how Khilji's general Malik Kafur goes down south, procures the treasure but is very scared to send it north because a lot of rulers are after it. So, Khilji orders Kafur to bury the treasure until the dust settles which is when the general dies and the secret of the treasure remains buried.

Cut to 250 years later, "Hindustan, 1580 AD when Akbar is at the height of his power, seemingly invincible. But twenty years of war have earned him many enemies, and rebellion is brewing led by Asaf Baig, the king of Khandesh who stumbles upon the knowledge the secret of the treasure of Kafur, that will guarantee victory to Akbar's enemies, is known to an old woman Ambu," says the book.

The adventure begins when Baig kidnaps Ambu and the old woman's grandson goes out to rescue her. At many instances, historical characters come in but the book is primarily a work of adventure fiction.

Raman, a history enthusiast always wanted to embed the Mughal era as the backof his novel therefore, research
required to pen down a historical thriller was never too daunting.

"It was my love for history combined with my diet for thriller and adventure so research was not a challenge. Being a history enthusiast and having done a substantial amount of writing on the Mughal period, the research and process of writing the book simplified," Raman told PTI in an interview.

Written over a period of five years, the book was the first book to be written but second to be published, his first being 'The Shadow Throne'.

"'The Shadow Throne', which got published first, was written within a span of six months. It was the time when Osama Bin Laden was killed and I was asked by my publisher to spin out a quick, fast-paced, sub-continental thriller exploring the theme of an Indo-Pak nuclear Armageddon," he said.

The author believes his second book is more nuanced and measured in its style.

"Unlike the first book, this is set in Mughal India hence, the writing is measured; there is less colloquialism, characters speak formally. Vernacular words of that time in Hindustani, Persian, Urdu languages have also been incorporated to make it true to the setting," he said.

Raman who has grown up reading crime, thriller and adventure fiction believes the plot, pace, characterisation and consistency of backare some requisites for writing good adventure fiction.

"The plot, pace and backof the book are very important aspects of adventure fiction. A lot of research needs to be done by writers to bring authenticity to the plot and characters. For this book, research was done on Akbar, his persona and a fair amount of reading in Mughal history," he said.

Raman considers the niche of adventure fiction and thriller is relatively unexplored in India with not enough quality work being done.

"The Indian fiction is doing fairly well but the niche of crime, adventure thriller remains relatively unexplored. There are enormous plot ideas in both contemporary or Mughal India wherein one can spin all kinds of yarns in adventure fiction," he said.

The two-book old author is now looking to penning down a sequel to his first book 'The Shadow Throne'.