The Krishna Key - Ashwin Sanghi

The Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi is a thriller read revolving round the quest for unlocking the key – an answer to all the possible questions of the history professor Ravi Mohan Saini and his PhD student Priya Ratani.

Anil Varshney – had spent his life at archaeological sites, particularly ‘Kalibangan’, the most important Indus valley site in Rajasthan. The story now starts here when this young linguist and symbolist finds a small rectangular seal with three animal motifs engraved on the face of the seal. His study reveals surprising information of four such seals and a ceramic plate to hold them - which in turn itself is – The Krishna Key. Having shared this information with one of his school friend and other such friends, he had made all the arrangements to keep the seals and the information secure. For he knew it was a risky task he has taken in his hand. And this proved correct when he was murdered.

Being looked as murder suspect of his school friend Anil Varshney - the history professor and his PhD student, a few times escapes from police custody, now where their quest begins. Their conversation throughout the journey walks us through different fields of study – be it- astrology, space, an epic The Mahabharata, the yadavas, four yugas, Hindu philosophy and incarnations of the Vishnu. Having known about the seals and with who each of these seals resides from Varshney, the professor knew whom, what and where to search for.

How the professor one-by-one hears the killing of his friends and the renowned scientists, in the same fashion as others - makes him think more of the similarities that resemble the death of the Krishna.

Now begins the discussion that date backs to the place Kurukshetra – where took place ‘war of Mahabharata’. It takes us through the unknown knowledge of ‘Sarasvati Civilisation’ and finding and missing of seals one after another.

In the middle of the course of this adventurous journey there takes a shocking turn, all the persons involved – the professor, PhD student, the attacker, the lawyer, Inspector and her sub-ordinate, CBI Director, dons of Mumbai – reveals their true face. Here, it makes this book a thrilling experience of ‘what next?’

This book can be looked as benefit of two in one. For, beginning of every chapter, Lord Krishna himself is telling the story about himself even before he himself was born – as eighth incarnation of the Vishnu.

I found a few pages wherein I started losing my interest due to the extra knowledge on every topic and character. I think if not mentioned, the book could had been a less bulky. But, later was able to link a little from this knowledge in coming chapters.

I liked the book being presented in ‘108’ chapters. According to Hindu Philosophy this number is considered as sacred. We can find how well are explained the importance of numbers -5, 7, 18, 108, 786 & 894- used in ancient times.

One who is interested in acquiring knowledge related to ancient scriptures, space, nuclear science and genetics – a book with basic knowledge for all, somewhere relatable to ancient times and how we use it these days.

This book takes us to nooks and corners of ‘Bharatavarsha’ and importance of the concepts and principles of previous times.

At the end, after true faces are revealed and a few of them being killed– finally the true ones find a destined place they were searching for. And as they found out the place also do they come to know the real truth.

Like the characters, as you go through the chapters from start to end, you yourself will find the truth that lies in – ‘The philosopher is more important than the stone!’

Thriller read people!!!