Let's Read Indu Sundaresan

Indu Sundaresan is an author of historical fiction novels. She hails from India and is currently living in Seattle. She has written a total of six books, and her stories are set in medieval and contemporary India. More information about her works, her interviews, and her blog can be found here.

I came to know about her when I was looking for novels and stories based on ancient or medieval India. During my hunt, I kept coming across three books, namely, "The Twentieth Wife", "The Feast of Roses", and "Shadow Princess" by Indu Sundaresan. All of these books were set in the Mughal Era and spanned from the reign of Emperor Akbar to the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. At the first glance, I did not realize that these three make a trilogy called the "Taj Trilogy". Upon figuring this out, I decided to read all three books. And I can confirm that it was an excellent decision. The stories and the story-telling were quite immersive. The atmosphere set in the books was quite compelling and dragged me through space and time into a completely different era.

The first book in this trilogy is also the novel with which Indu Sundaresan made her debut. The story is set in 16th century India and primarily follows the character of Meherunissa, who became the twentieth wife of Emperor Jahangir, and later, came to be known as Nur Jahan. Though Meherunissa is the main character of the story, the story is not just about her. It follows the politics in the court and harem of Emperor Akbar and captures the many layers of intrigue and machinations of a royal household with utmost competence. Elements regarding the feud between Akbar and Salim are also heavily present, making the story more rooted in reality. The manner in which fiction is woven around facts is extraordinary. Above all, the characterization of Meherunissa is definitely captivating. She is smart, outspoken, and way ahead of her time. The narration also zooms in on the love that brewed between Meherunissa and Salim, and the resistance that it faced. Nonetheless, the story is much more than a story about star-crossed lovers who triumph in the end and should be experienced at least once.

The Feast of Roses follows immediately after the events of The Twentieth Wife. It is my favorite book in the series. It is also the longest one in the series but it will still leave the reader wanting for more. The book follows Meherunissa's transformation into Nur Jahan and the onset of her participation in court politics along with Jahangir. Again, the narration is spell-binding. The struggle and backlash experienced by Meherunissa and the manner in which she handles them have been depicted in all the glory that the character deserves. The relationship between Meherunissa, her father, and her brother is sketched beautifully as they are shown depending on one another during tough times. The strength of Jahangir's character has also been made evident in the narration. He is shown gracefully dealing with his fair share of hurdles and gossip that goes behind his back about how he lets a woman rule in his stead. As always, the politics and the court intrigue is the best part of the book and should be savored while reading. The depiction of different factions in the court, their interactions, and the manner in which they choose or switch sides has been wonderfully executed. The book also addresses the growing presence of East India Company in India. The contrast between the East India Company officials and the Mughal royalty has been portrayed extremely well. The end of the book also corresponds with the end of Meherunissa's era when she retires from the world of politics.

Ultimately, the last and final book of this trilogy follows the eldest daughter of Emperor Shah Jahan, Jahanara, and her struggles as she attempts to fill in the shoes of her mother, Empress Mumtaz Mahal after she dies. After the death of Mumtaz Mahal, Shah Jahan loses all hopes for living and ruling. In these dire circumstances, Jahanara steps up and takes care of not only her father but also his estate. Her struggles with her family and members of the court have been described in a very moving manner. I might sound like a broken record here, but the political gossip has been illustrated brilliantly. The whole scheming, plotting, and back-biting have been amazingly portrayed. Powerful writing has made sympathizing with the main characters very easy. The joy, love, pain, and betrayal felt by the Jahanara is something that the readers can effortlessly relate to. Even though "Shadow Princess" is the third and final book in the series, it can be read as a standalone and one really does not need to read the first two in order to enjoy this one. The story of Meherunissa ends with the second book and we follow new characters in this third novel, which makes it a bit self-contained.

Overall, I liked Indu Sundaresan's writing for her portrayal of strong female characters and their struggles. Her commentary on the political scene present in the country during the Mughal era depicts her acute understanding of Medieval India's history. The writing and narration seem very modest in the beginning, but the depth increases as the story unfolds. I read these three books one after the other in quick succession and the only regret that I felt after reading them was that I should have come across them sooner.