Chhattisgarh: The Land of Hidden Mystery

Born officially in 2000, Chhattisgarh is one of those states that we know exists but about which we actually know very little. Whether composed of 36 forts, giving it the name Chhattisgarh, or being the Empire of Chedi, i.e., 'Chedisgarh,' which later became Chhattisgarh, it remains one of the lesser-known and overlooked states in Bharat. The suspense arising from this ignorance created fascination and excitement in me to learn more about it.

I was fortunate to come across this book, which provides comprehensive knowledge about all important aspects and matters regarding Chhattisgarh, from its distant past to the present.

The author delves into the issue of Naxalism, conducting on-the-ground research and analysis in Chandigarh to uncover the real reasons behind it. The author also raises significant questions about the handling of intelligence on explosives possessed by the Naxalites, putting soldiers' lives at risk by not making appropriate decisions and addressing how the Naxalites obtained these explosives and other materials.

The vivid descriptions of different temples in Chhattisgarh, including those associated with the Ramayana and Mahabharata, along with delightful additions of colorful photos of these places, were some of my favorite parts of this book. It not only includes Hindu temples but also Jain and Buddhist ones. The archaeological sites were fascinating enough to make us imagine the glory of the place during the time these structures existed.

Additionally, the palaces, waterfalls of Jagdalpur, Chitrakoot, and other amazing places in Chhattisgarh, described with beautiful pictures, tempted me to visit all these places soon. There are many fascinating facts as well, such as the longest festival in the world and the worship of Ravana, which many of us have heard about but don't know much in detail.

I must praise the author's and editor's skills for providing so much knowledge. The information about places, their history, and the stories associated with them, all presented in a concise manner, within around 200 pages, allows even a casual reader to enjoy it. The division of topics into small parts was really helpful in this regard.

We genuinely need individuals like the author who dedicate time, money, and energy not only to collect information but also to present it in an engaging and entertaining manner. I can see the hard work put into this book by the author, and I genuinely thank her for offering us the opportunity to learn about Chhattisgarh in such an amazing way. I would have never imagined learning so much in so few pages and feeling so overwhelmed while reading it.

Trust me, I've not even covered 0.1% of the book, and it stands as one of my best non-fiction reads of the year. I thoroughly enjoyed every page, chapter, and topic, along with the visuals, which I don't even know how to elaborate on. So, I'll simply urge you all to go, get it, and see for yourselves, as I'm not going to reveal anything more in this review.