Answers to the Biggest Questions About Sanatan by Amishi Seth (Book Review: 4.25*/5) !!!

  

10th Book of 2025!

 

The reading list of any year feels incomplete if it doesn’t include enough books on religion or spirituality. There was a time when grandmothers would narrate religious and mythological tales to their grandchildren. These days, however, we hardly get time to sit with our elders due to study or work pressure. Hence, the only way left to connect with our culture and roots is by reading such books ourselves whenever we get the chance. This very quest makes me pick up religious and mythological books regularly. This time, I chose a very aesthetic book with a beautiful cover titled “Answers to the Biggest Questions About Sanatan.”

 

The book is written by Amishi Seth and published by Rupa Publications, spanning around 325 pages. Amishi seems to understand that most people aren’t looking for something deeply philosophical but rather wish to learn the basics of Sanatan Dharma. Accordingly, she has structured the book around questions that many of us have — even after reading or watching Ramayan and Mahabharat. The book is divided into three main sections:

1. From the Epics and the Purans

Here, she covers topics whose answers can be found in these ancient texts. It includes queries related to Ramayan, Mahabharat, and other Hindu deities described in the Purans.

2. From Sanatan Dharma

This section is particularly engaging, as it explores questions we rarely encounter while reading epics or puranic stories. The author clarifies many intriguing aspects — such as the reason behind multiple Gods and Goddesses, the meaning of Shivling, why certain Hindu deities have animal faces, the significance of fasting, the concept of afterlife, and much more.

3. Basics

In around 15 pages, the author answers some fundamental questions such as the meaning of the word AUM, the daily duties of a Sanatani, the three paths for self-realization, and the concept of the four Yugas.

 

The book concludes with a glossary and references section, which helps readers understand the meanings of several difficult Hindi and Sanskrit terms used throughout. One of the most fascinating chapters is where the author discusses Sanatan’s connection with modern science, and it also happens to be the longest one in the book. It seems this very concept might have inspired the book’s creation.

 

Amishi highlights references from various shastras that mention modern scientific concepts long before they were formally discovered — something truly insightful. For instance, the Chhandas Shastra discusses literary rhythm, the Garbha Upanishad explains foetal development, the Vaisheshika Darshan explores atomic structure, Ayurveda delves into medicine and life sciences, Dhanur Veda talks about the science of warfare, and Vaimanika Shastra touches upon aeronautics.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book for its simplicity and sincerity of intent. You can feel the author’s genuine devotion and curiosity in the way she presents each answer and story. This is one of the best books for anyone wanting to understand the essence of Sanatan Dharma, even if they are not avid or regular readers.

 

Talking about the drawbacks — a few explanations lack proper references to the original scriptures, which makes them somewhat debatable. Some interpretations seem to reflect the author’s personal beliefs due to the absence of cited sources. A few chapters also feel quite brief and could have delved deeper into their subjects. I believe the author could have researched certain topics further to make the book feel more authoritative, almost like a religious text in itself.

 

Overall, I would rate this book 4.25 stars out of 5.

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WRITING BUDDHA

The Fierce and the Free by Virender Kapoor (Book Review: 4.5*/5) !!!

  

9th Book of 2025

This Independence Day, I decided to revisit my childhood and read the kind of books that shaped those years. I picked up “The Fierce and the Free” by Virender Kapoor, published by Rupa Publications. The tagline itself tells you what the book is about — “25 True Tales of India’s Boldest Freedom Fighters.” Kapoor has written a book that can be equally engaging for a child in 4th grade as well as for a 70-year-old reader.

Year after year, we keep reading and hearing about the same prominent figures — Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose, and a few others. But there are countless lesser-known heroes who were equally instrumental in securing India’s freedom. Kapoor revives their stories and introduces readers to these forgotten fighters, allowing us to rediscover the freedom struggle from a fresh perspective.

At one point, the book highlights famous figures like Rani Lakshmibai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bhagat Singh, while at another, it brings to light inspiring yet lesser-known names such as:

• Sido and Kanhu Murmu – who led the Santhal Rebellion of 1855–56 against British rule and exploitative landlords.
  
  

• Matangini Hazra – who, even when shot by the police, continued chanting “Vande Mataram.” Her courage at an advanced age remains a symbol of indomitable spirit.
  
  

• Baji Rout – India’s youngest martyr, only 12 years old, from Odisha. He was shot dead by British police for refusing them passage across a river during a protest. His fearless act became a rallying symbol of youth resistance.
  
  

Each chapter is dedicated to one freedom fighter and doesn’t extend beyond five pages, making it easy to read and grasp the essentials of their stories. For readers who wish to explore further, it’s a great starting point — for example, after reading about Baji Rout, I couldn’t resist researching more about him online.

Virender Kapoor doesn’t follow a typical biographical style listing parents’ names, birthplaces, or dates of birth. Instead, he divides each chapter into clear sub-sections and narrates the most defining events from each person’s journey in India’s struggle for freedom.

The book also reveals how many of these revolutionaries were connected — either by geography, ideology, or shared missions. A few fascinating interrelations that I learned from the book include:

• Sido and Kanhu Murmu, Mangal Pandey, Rani Lakshmibai, Tantia Tope — all part of or inspired by the 1857 Revolt, India’s first organized rebellion against British rule.
  
  

• Tilak, Pal, and Lala Lajpat Rai formed the Lal–Bal–Pal trio, symbolizing early assertive nationalism.
  
  

• Tilak’s writings inspired younger revolutionaries like Savarkar, who later founded secret societies in London and India.
  
  

• Chittaranjan Das influenced Bengal’s revolutionary network, which produced figures like Khudiram Bose.
  
  

• Kartar Singh Sarabha (Ghadar Party) inspired Bhagat Singh, who called him his “guru.”
  
  

• Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Rajguru, Sukhdev, and Azad were all linked through the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), later renamed Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).
  
  

• Khudiram Bose, Basanta Biswas, and Amir Chand were part of Bengal’s earlier revolutionary network that influenced the HRA’s strategies.
  
  

• Sardar Udham Singh admired Bhagat Singh and drew inspiration from his ideals of revenge and justice.
  
  

• Captain Lakshmi Sahgal headed the Rani of Jhansi Regiment under Subhash Chandra Bose’s leadership.
  
  

Now, speaking of drawbacks — I feel the author could have managed these interconnections between fighters more cohesively. At times, the repetition of overlapping events makes a few chapters sound familiar, as similar incidents are retold from different perspectives.

Other than that, this is a perfect book for school students — something you can gift them without hesitation. It’s informative, patriotic, and inspiring without being heavy or monotonous.

I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5.

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WRITING BUDDHA

The Higher Education of Geetika Mehendiratta by Anuradha Marwah (Book Review: 4*/5)!!!

  

8^th Book of 2025

 

I remember reading Anuradha Marwah’s Aunties of Vasant Kunj last year and enjoying it enough to rate it 4 out of 5. This year, I came across another book by her titled “The Higher Education of Geetika Mehendiratta.” I was surprised to see that she had written another book within a year, but only after reading the back cover did I realize that it was originally published in 1993. It has now been republished by Rupa Publications in 2025, spanning around 225 pages. Since the author had already impressed me with her previous work, I didn’t think twice before picking this one up.

 

The book reads like a chick-lit novel, the kind that became popular after Chetan Bhagat during the decade of 2010–2020. However, it’s fascinating to discover that Anuradha had written this story almost ten years before Bhagat even came into the picture. The language isn’t overly simple — it takes a little time to get into the rhythm — but her command over literary English becomes evident within the first few pages itself.

 

The character of Geetika begins by describing her locality, particularly her village named Desertvadi in Rajasthan. It’s fun to read such a fictional name because you can almost guess which real towns it might be inspired by. The author very wittily portrays the lifestyle of people living in such a place, completely detached from the urban way of life.

 

You also get a glimpse of how girls were ambitious even in those days, despite growing up in rural settings. Geetika’s dreams come true when she gets an opportunity to visit Lutyenabad — a full-blown city that people from Desertvadi aspire to reach. She makes the most of it, never restricting herself from making choices that would have been unthinkable back in her hometown. It’s exciting to read how she transforms her mindset and personality once she becomes a regular at Lutyenabad.

 

Her growing interest in boys, and the way her thoughts and feelings differ when she interacts with Andy and Ratish, are portrayed beautifully. You can clearly sense how a woman reflects deeply when it comes to marriage — knowing that compromise is inevitable; it’s only a matter of how much. Anuradha makes this dilemma very relatable through Geetika’s inner conflict.

 

Geetika’s experiences with her parents and in-laws reveal how she manages to liberate herself despite so many external factors trying to confine her. The book feels like a girl’s diary, chronicling her dreams while showing the heavy price she pays for living them each day. Her support from a few friends — and their surprise at her constant evolution — reflects the author’s understanding of how individuals often get trapped by societal expectations and slowly lose the ability to make unbiased decisions.

 

The last four lines of the book truly moved me — the part where Geetika speaks with her papa. It made me think about people who live courageously, knowing they’ll be judged even by their own family, yet choose to stay strong for what lies ahead.

 

Overall, The Higher Education of Geetika Mehendiratta was a joy to read. I give it 4 stars out of 5.

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WRITING BUDDHA

 

12 Years: My Messed-up Love Story by Chetan Bhagat (Book Review: 3*/5) !!!

  

7th Book of 2025!

 

Anyone who began their reading journey with Indian authors more than a decade and a half ago knows what Chetan Bhagat means to the Indian book ecosystem. If you haven’t read him, you probably don’t realize how his success paved the way for countless other authors to find a place in the Indian fiction section of bookstores. Having read all his previous books, I was quite excited about his new release, especially since it arrived after a four-year wait. I finished reading his latest novel — “12 Years: My Messed-up Love Story” — in just two sittings, despite it being his lengthiest book to date at 432 pages!

 

Chetan Bhagat returns to his signature style — easy narration, simple English, and a conversational tone — the very traits that brought him massive popularity back in 2005. The book flows effortlessly, allowing readers to get through it quickly and comfortably. It revolves around the love story of a 33-year-old man, Saket Khurana, and a 21-year-old woman, Payal Jain. Saket is recovering from the wounds of a divorce while trying to navigate a new career path, whereas Payal is stepping into the corporate world, finding her footing. The title 12 Years is aptly chosen, representing the age difference between the two protagonists.

 

At first glance, one might expect the story to focus primarily on the challenges the couple faces due to their age gap and differing ideologies. Surprisingly, though, they connect rather effortlessly. The initial dating conversations are engaging, and Bhagat effectively builds the personalities of both characters through those exchanges. The stand-up comedy scenes, a recurring element in the plot, are handled well — light, humorous, and easy to visualize. Alongside the main characters, Bhagat gives fair attention to the supporting ones too — whether it’s Saket’s friend, Payal’s parents, or her influencer best friend.

 

There are a few romantic and intimate scenes, written with the familiar flair that Bhagat is known for — something that has earned him both praise and trolling over the years. He executes them tastefully, making readers feel the same passion as the characters. The funniest moment in the book is when someone catches them in the middle of an intimate act — a scene that genuinely made me laugh out loud. I even made my friends read that part, and they all had the same reaction! Bhagat also injects humour through a Punjabi character’s perspective on the restrictive lifestyle of the Jain community but does so respectfully, ensuring it never comes across as offensive.

 

The story later shifts from Mumbai to Dubai, which adds freshness to the narrative. It’s rare to see Indian love stories travel beyond domestic settings, and the Dubai chapters add a nice visual variety. However, I wished Bhagat had explored the setting a bit more; it felt somewhat underutilized.

 

One major difference this time is Bhagat’s attempt to integrate real social issues into the storyline. He raises strong points about India’s gender-biased divorce laws that often work against men, the trend of unreasonable alimony demands, the social taboos surrounding caste, age gaps, and the “divorcee” label in matchmaking, the evolving dating culture, and the need for youngsters to balance career and relationships. He also highlights how marriages can fail without anyone being a “villain,” how Indian parents still try to impose their choices on children, the struggles of start-up funding, and how social media often masks the reality of people’s lives.

 

Despite being one of my go-to authors, I must admit that this book didn’t completely satisfy me. Bhagat’s return to love stories feels somewhat dated, offering nothing particularly fresh or groundbreaking, given his experience in the genre. His writing still caters largely to college-going readers rather than evolving to appeal to a wider, more mature audience. The narrative slows down noticeably in the second half, which affects the overall momentum. The plot also follows Bhagat’s familiar formula — two people fall in love, parental opposition arises, separation follows, and fate brings them together again. It feels a bit too Bollywood-esque, which can get repetitive.

 

I wish Bhagat had experimented more with the storyline, just as he did with the themes he courageously touched upon. The book could have benefited from tighter editing — it didn’t need to stretch to over 400 pages; somewhere around 250–300 would have sufficed. Moreover, the age-gap theme, while central to the title, doesn’t contribute much depth to the chemistry between the protagonists, making its prominence slightly puzzling.

 

Overall, “12 Years: My Messed-up Love Story” is a casual, breezy read that may appeal to new readers or young couples who enjoy light romantic fiction. For seasoned Bhagat readers or those seeking something deeper, it might not leave a lasting impact.

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⭐ Rating: 3 out of 5

 

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WRITING BUDDHA