Battles, Imagination and a Little History

The Cholas held power over a large geography, spanning the Lakshadweep in the west to Malaysia in the east

- By PRADEEP CHAKRAVARTHY

words, which give an accurate indication of what is to come. In 269 pages, the author takes you through battle after battle in all the bloody detail. If a king looked out from his mansion, which Kanisetti believes was whitewashed and gleaming, he was mounting campaigns. If another king was pacing up and down his palace, he was surrounded by loot and war booty. If a king was travelling up the river, there too he was only plotting further campaigns. Which ruling power is not violent even today? The Cholas certainly were, and no empire was built based solely on persuasion and diplomacy. Administrations are rarely, if ever, conflict-free.

If the blood of the battlefield nauseates you, then you cannot turn to the fields and farms, which are only places of cruel exploitation by the landowners-mostly Brahmins. Turn then to the traders, but here too traders are shown more for their support of the Chola naval battles than for their trading. The book is a maze of blood and gore with no escape.