Gods and Godesses of Indian mythology have always held deep
fascination for the historian and scientist alike. For centuries people have
tried to find the truth behind the story: did the Ramayana actually happen?  Was
the Mahabharata a historical fact or a
mere myth perpetuated and embellished over  the ages? Did Krishna really exist? And was he
a God or cowherd? Ravi Mohan Saini, historian of repute in Delhi’s St. Stephen’s
college  is intensely  interested in establishing the truth or “historicity”
of the legend of Krishna. With several other characters in the book sharing
this passion, the familiar story of Krishna 
and the Mahabharat , form the
back drop of  this fascinating thriller.
Criss- crossing centuries and cultures and cross referencing science, history, mathematics
and mythology, “The Krishna Key” is a page turner from page one.  At the start of the book, the author warns you
not to flip through the pages for fear of ruining the story. You would do well
to heed this advice as you begin with “The Krishna Key.”

A seemingly inconsequential murder of an archeologist in
faraway Rajasthan who happens to be Saini’s friend Saini and the last person to
have seen him alive,  has Saini under the
purview of the law. With the circumstances stacked heavily against him he is
unwittingly pulled out of the reassuring calm of academia and pushed onto a
roller coaster ride of intrigue. In what is undoubtedly the ride of a lifetime,
Ravi Mohan traverses the sands of Rajasthan, visits the Coast of Gujerat and
even finds himself helplessly trapped in a deep, cavernous recess of  Mount Kailash. Racing against time, he finds
himself pitted against an unknown foe that always seems a step ahead of him. In
a series of events that have a dramatic and unexpected twist, the tale moves
forward as Saini and his doctoral student Priya track down the trail of the
Krishna Key. In this riveting story, they meet Taraak Vakil the merciless cold
blooded killer and his spiritual guru and manipulator,  the wily Mataji  in their quest to discover the secret of the
Krishna legacy.

 What is Taraak Vakil
is after? How is this connected to the story of Krishna? And why are so many
people interested in uncovering the secrets of Krishna’s legacy? Are our so
called modern scientific discoveries truly contemporary or did they exist in
Vedic India?

Find out the answers to these questions and more which will
undoubtedly pop into your mind after reading this enthralling tale. Starting
out with the ancient story of Krishna, told in simple straightforward language,
 Ashwin Sanghi weaves a parallel
narrative set in modern post Independence India. Well researched , with an
attention to detail and with plausible arguments, Sanghi actually has you start
wondering when fact ends and fiction begins. The two tales are unfolded with
deceptive simplicity, a tightly knit plot at a pace that will keep you on the
edge of your seat.  “The Krishna Key” a
masterpiece of a novel and as Ashwin Sanghi’s third work, proves beyond doubt that
Sanghi is an accomplished and sophisticated raconteur who is here to stay. A
must read for every lover of contemporary fiction, historians and scientists.

The Krishna Key – by Ashwin Sanghi , published by Westland
Ltd.