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Expanding horizons of historical novels: From history to prehistory
We know Dr. S. Kalyanaraman for his voluminous works on Vedic River Sarasvati and for his quite plausible reading of Harappan writings. What is great to discover is that there is a novelist in him that promises to expand the horizons of historical novels from history to prehistory.
As we all know, historical novels are a fine fusion of history and story. As commonly perceived, history is a ‘factual’ account of past events while story an imagined narrative. Interestingly, however, both are derived from Greek ‘istoria’, a term which initially stood for ‘inquiry’ but later developed to denote ‘an account of knowledge’. And, on the authority of Roymond Williams (vide his Keywords: A Vocabulary of Culture and Society. London: Fontana, 1988, p. 146), it may further be observed that as late as the fifteenth century a distinction between the two had not even arisen in English language. Be it as it may. Noteworthy is the fact that it is this thin and almost imperceptible line of demarcation between history and story and their overlapping boundaries that make historical novels extremely significant.
Historical novels have fascinated readers the world over and ever. Besides satisfying instinctive aesthetic feelings, they have contributed a lot to several desirable domains of human world of emotions: love and respect for achievements of our ancestors, appreciations of exaltedness conveyed by distinguished pieces of sculpture, architecture, painting, music and dance and, above all, a spirit of nationalism (if you are not too extra-liberal to denounce it!).
In view of this nature and value of historical novels, it may be stated without any fear of contradiction that Kalyanaraman’s two illustrated novels:Sagan Finds Sarasvati and Akkadian Rising Sun (both published by Sarasvati Research Centre, Herndon, VA. 2013) are in no way less thought provoking than his other recent publications like Indus Script Cipher (2010), Rastram (2011), etc.
While it is difficult to compare relative value of his books (as all are equally well-written), I am inclined to favour his two historical novels as the best ones. This is because knowingly or inadvertently he has ushered in a new era in the area of this genre of literature. He has expanded the horizon of historical novels from history to prehistory.
Many great historical novels have been produced all over the world. Several writers of historical novels are known and read far beyond their countries. Space-Time context of the novels too vary a lot. But none of the novels, so far as I can see, plunges so deep into antiquity as those of Kalyanaraman. Even Elizabeth Cooks Achilles, L. Sprague de Camp’s The Arrow of Hercules, Gore Vidal’s Creation, Colleen McCullough’s Antony and Cleopatra, Esther Friesner’s Sphinx’s Princes or Alfred Duggan’sFounding Fathers seem to just scratch the ground in comparison. Kalyanaraman’s is a real transition from history to prehistory in novels.
Prof. Shivaji Singh
July 18, 2013