Major Garg

1001 CE: A 30-year-old Maḥmūd takes over the reins of the Ghaznavid Empire & turns his eye East. Persuaded by religious zealotry, he starts a cycle of mayhem & massacre in Bhāratavarṣa—the land of infidels & black magic, and of riches & glory—the likes of which the world had never seen before.

1025 CE: Rajendra Chola—the vanquisher of the Cherā-s & Pāndyā-s, the conqueror of River Gangā, and the overlord of Vengai—is ready to embark on a naval expedition to Ṣrivijaya Kingdom when the news of Somnath Temple’s destruction reaches him.

~*~

Meanwhile, an ancient book in an unknown script calls out to its keeper, waiting for its secrets to be revealed.

An enraged son, yearning for battle—with a destiny yet unfulfilled—leaves a trail of destruction in his wake.

A lethal female warrior from a primitive tradition uses her skills to fulfil the rapacious ambitions of her Sultan & ingratiate him.

~*~

In this alternative timeline, the Chola king, enraged by the destruction of Somanātha Temple, impulsively changes his plans and decides to take Maḥmūd head-on.

Will this one decision of Rajendra Chola change the future and deter the future Ghauris, Khiljis, Bābars & prevent the recurrent massacres? Or will there be no Bhāratavarṣa anymore?

This is the story of Pūrva Pakṣa, Swayambodh, & Śatrubodha, the tale of a war between Dharma & adharma—a war that never happened but had the potential to change the course of history.