Global Online Book Launch Adṛsya: Hidden Marvels of the Mahābhārata

An avid reader of history and Itihasa, Pranshu Saxena inherited love for writing and reading along with diabetes from his forebears. This madhurmeha (and madhumeha) stuck with him through his education on three continents. He enjoys delving into details of stories to find hidden truths and lessons which his young students at Vidyalaya enjoy. His stories have been published in INDICA anthologies (Unsung Valor, Flight of Deities, Shared Roots, Adrsya, Gods in Exile) and on RealMahabharata of VedaVyasa. His writings on Epics, cricket and history are available on various portals. Pranshu shares his life with wife, daughter, father-in-law, and a lifelong collection of books in suburban New Jersey.

A student of the Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana, Ramanjaneya Sharaph’s writing is inspired by India, Indic themes and the feminine. Writing across formats, his oeuvre includes over 300 poems, four plays, several short stories, and thought-pieces. Fluent in six languages, he writes in Kannada, English, and Hindi. A Pushcart Prize nominated author and Himalayan Emerging Authors Resident, his work has appeared in Bridges Not Borders – an Anthology of South Asian Writing, Amar Ujala, Quillmark, TMYS Review, anthologies of Indic Today, India Poetry Circle, The Hive Publishers, and platforms such as Indica, The Himalayan Writing Retreat. Self-Defence, a play in Kannada was performed in the UK and poem Dandakanan Nivasi ke Vilaap was performed at the Tata Litlive Mumbai. He is working on a novel based on the Panchakanya. A Chartered Accountant and an MBA, Ramanjaneya advises founders and CEOs of large corporations on strategy, growth and finance. He lives in Mumbai with his wife.

Madhavi Girish Kunte holds an M.Sc. in Medical Microbiology, an MBA in Marketing, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights. She has previous work experience in the fields of marketing and intellectual property rights. Currently, Madhavi is a full-time storyteller, writing in the genres of mythological fiction and contemporary fiction. Her essay titled “Beej Mata” was recently published in the anthology Padma Bharatis – Ordinary Indians, Extraordinary Triumphs, by INDICA. Her short story “The Waterways” was featured in another anthology, Vanishing Eden: Chronicles of Human Resilience, published earlier this year. Madhavi has contributed to several other anthologies that are in the pipeline and is currently working on her debut novel, set in the contemporary world. She is a founding member of the online writers’ community, The Ink and Quill Collective (IQC), which supports writers in developing consistent writing habits through peer reviews, guest author interviews, and community engagement. She also serves as the Publication Manager for IQC’s biannual magazine, QuillMark. Madhavi resides in Whitefield, Bangalore.

With her Masters Degree in English literature, Neena Mukherjee blends her academic expertise with a passion for history, anthropology, mythology, and Indic fine arts. Her literary journey is adorned with both poetry and prose, showcasing a versatile command of both Hindi and English languages and a deep understanding of diverse cultures. Beyond her writing, she dedicates herself to Sangam Talks, where she actively volunteers through editing and writing, contributing significantly to the dialogue on cultural and historical topics. Her work not only illuminates the past but also inspires a thoughtful appreciation of the arts and humanities in contemporary society.

Shambhavi Tripathi is a lawyer working in the medtech industry, bringing together her academic background in Law and Forensic Science. Outside her professional role, she is a passionate reader with a deep interest in Indian history and politics. Apart from reading she enjoys watching anime and documentaries; and loves to explore new places over the weekends. This piece marks her first attempt into creative writing—a journey she is excited to continue exploring.

S. Anuradha is financial journalist, historian, commentator, archivist and novelist. Anuradha published her debut novel ‘The Friendless God’ in 2017 (Moonlight Books). The novel is set against the background of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid conflict and tracks the lives of a religious son and an atheist mother through the worlds of Carnatic music, Kalamkari painting and gardening. The novel reaches the denouement on the day millions converged in Ayodhya to claim the land they consider the birthplace of Rāma. Anuradha has contributed to an anthology of short stories on the lesser known characters of Mahabharata (Adrsya – Hidden Marvels Of The Mahabharata, curated by Aditi Banerjee and published by BlueOne Ink). She has edited a lecture series by Kathirasan K on ‘Shiva Samhita’ a medieval Yoga-Vedanta text and which was published by Motilal Banarsidass under the title “Advaita Vedanta of Shiva Samhita” in 2018. She has published a lecture series by Kathirasan K on Adi Shankara’s Sadhana Panchakam under the title ‘Forty Steps to Liberation’ in 2024. Singapore-based 56-year old Anuradha is Deputy Editor (Asia Equities) at IFR Asia, a publication owned by the London Stock Exchange.

Shantheri Mallaya is a journalist with over 20 years of experience in technology journalism. She currently serves as the Editor at Economic Times Business Verticals, the digital arm of The Economic Times. She holds a Postgraduate degree in Journalism, after completing her Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) from Bangalore University. Additionally, she has completed a certification course in Guidance and Counselling from IIPR. Alongside her professional career, Shantheri is a passionate reader, blogger, writer, storyteller, and an active theatre artist, having worked both onstage and backstage in English and Kannada productions. She is also exploring other creative mediums, including short films, and featured in a small role in a film titled "The Emergency." A published author, Shantheri co-authored a thriller novella titled “The Game of Pawns”, released by Authorspress in 2018. As a film blogger, she extends her love for cinema into podcasting. She hosts “My Legend”, a film-based podcast where she interviews film critics and fellow cinephiles, delving into memories and stories associated with cinema.

Shivakumar G V is Director – IKS Changemakers at INDICA, where he leads programs that nurture changemakers into domain experts, institution builders, and cultural leaders. He curates the IKS MetaRetreats and hosts the IKS Changemakers Podcast. An IKS Research Scholar, his work focuses on the Itihasa-Puranas, particularly the Mahabharata and Purushartha. He has authored over 100 articles for INDICA Today and contributed to anthologies such as Aryaa, UnSung Valour, and Adrsya. He is currently working on a book exploring Mahabharata stories through the lens of Purushartha. Shivakumar has delivered leadership courses, storytelling workshops, and spoken at conferences on Dharma, sustainability, and indigenous knowledge systems. He advises Vidyakshetra Gurukulam and is actively involved in advancing IKS across institutions. With an M.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Bombay and over 25 years in IT, he previously served as Principal Director – L&D at Mindtree/LTIMindtree, leading learning design and digital skills initiatives. He lives in Bengaluru with his family.

Sri Charan Battu is a system software engineer specializing in embedded systems, with a Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from IIT Kharagpur. A passionate writer and blogger, he writes on a variety of topics including science and technology, fantasy, and literature, which can be explored here. He also writes in Telugu, his mother tongue, and has composed a collection of 108 poems and several devotional songs on Lord Krishna. These works, while published informally on his blog, are not currently intended for formal publication. As a contributor to Adrsya: Hidden Marvels of Mahabharata, he chose to explore the lesser-known character of Shalya, highlighting the depth and complexity of his role in the epic.

Raghu Ram Sola works as an engineer on advanced driver assistance systems for a prominent automotive parts manufacturer. He is a writer by passion. Encouraged by his grandfather, Raghu Ram finds joy in everything related to the Mahabharata. His interest in the Puranas and Itihasas began in childhood, sparked by the many movies he watched. This deep-rooted fascination continues to inspire his reflections and creative pursuits today. The Mahabharata is deeply rooted in the daily lives of many Indians. Numerous works based on this Itihasa carry its stories into various cultures and media. However, over time, the original text often gets distorted, and some important characters are forgotten – like Vikarna. Raghu Ram hopes to reintroduce Vikarna, the courageous warrior who stood up and objected to Draupadi’s Vastraharan. He is deeply grateful for the opportunity to present Vikarna’s story through this anthology. The author finds a deep resonance with the character of Vikarna, who, despite his meagre strength and small voice, stood up for Dharma while everyone else remained silent. He hopes that readers will draw inspiration from Vikarna’s courage to stand for what is right, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

Rajesh Ramachander is an engineer and AI researcher with a deep interest in the intersection of technology, history, and spirituality. His professional work in artificial intelligence focuses on pushing the boundaries of innovation, while his personal pursuits draw him toward Vedic studies and ancient Indian texts. Rajesh is particularly fascinated by the hidden narratives within the Puranas and their relevance in understanding our collective past. He believes that reconnecting with authentic history can help shape a more conscious and thoughtful future. Beyond his work in engineering, Rajesh spends time immersed in ancient scriptures, seeking insights that bridge the wisdom of the past with the possibilities of the present.

Sumathi Sridhar is a financial analyst turned mythologist, with a keen interest in Indic mythology and religious iconography. She holds an Advanced Diploma in Comparative Mythology from the University of Mumbai and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Hindu Studies at the K. J. Somaiya Institute of Dharma Studies, Mumbai. She has authored books in Tamil and English on the iconography of Indic deities, exploring the cultural and symbolic significance of their weapons. Through her YouTube channel, Kulture Katha, she shares lesser-known stories from Indian mythology, with a focus on their social and cultural contexts. Sumathi has spoken at several forums, including the Asiatic Society of Mumbai and Mythopia, a dedicated platform for mythology enthusiasts. At the heart of her mythological exploration lies the Mahabharata—her enduring source of reflection and inspiration.

Kavitha Sankaranarayanan is a scientist working on human health and disease and spends most of her waking hours ‘lost’ in the world of sci-fi. Armed with a PhD and an MBA in Entrepreneurship, she has spent more than 2 decades actively into scientific research exploring the molecular basis of health and disease. She has authored numerous scientific publications in peer reviewed international journals and runs a popular science blog for children as well. She mentors research scholars and is on the editorial board of science journals as part of her profession. Penning down her thoughts on diverse non-science topics, she forayed into the field of Hindu mythology and spirituality along with her co-author Paras Artwani. The story of Barbareek is her maiden attempt at Hindu mythology and has ever since written a few stories that would soon be on the offering to everyone. Other than science she enjoys literature, nature, photography and is a thorough foodie as well. Paras Artwani, also from the field of medicine has been associated with spirituality from a very tender age. Giving up his medical career he started exploring the field of IT, and has been a serial entrepreneur in the computer science domain. While that was his technical passion, he remains deeply rooted to culture, spirituality and is associated with many religious and spiritual organisations both in India and abroad where he offers his knowledge to serve people better. He is one of the pioneers in the field of digital marketing in the spiritual domain where he has effortlessly used his experience to spread the word of saints and philosophers to the masses using social media. He has a deep interest in mythology and is a very good story teller as well. This story is one such offering he makes along with Kavitha where they explore the depths of the character Barbareek and his role in Mahabharata. Paras loves photography, video making, technology, travelling and claims to be a foodie as well. Their lives are guided by the principles of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother of Pondicherry and are inspired by Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Maa Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda.

Ananya Ganesh is a biology undergraduate from Pune with a deep passion for science and storytelling. A talented writer, who has been fond of writing from childhood, Ananya enjoys writing across genres, from creative fiction to academic essays. In her free time, Ananya is an avid photographer and a voracious reader. Her work is often inspired by her love for travel, classic literature and nature. She enjoys the noisy companionship of her two dogs. Blessed with a curious mind and a versatile pen, she brings clarity, creativity, and nuance to everything she writes.