The Divine Sword

**‘Rita Chowdhury is an energetic and empathetic storyteller’ AMITAV GHOSH AN UNFORGETTABLE TALE OF LOVE, AMBITION, RIVALRY AND FATE PLAYS OUT IN AN EPIC CLASH OF THRONES. WINNER OF THE SAHITYA AKADEMI AWARD** The unexpected demise of Prince Mriganko of Gobha, orchestrated by his rival, King Jokanko, has sent shockwaves of sorrow rippling not only through his grieving parents but also the entire kingdom. Then, in a surprising twist, Jokanko voluntarily surrenders himself. Abi Konsari, the custodian of the threads of the past, must now unravel the sequence of events that led to this tragic fate, even as long-buried truths about bloodlines and tumultuous histories come to light. At the heart of Gobha lies a story of power and prophecy. Years earlier, the young and radiant Queen Chandraprabha was banished by her husband for supposedly nurturing an amorous desire. In a foreign land she later transformed into Konsari. Despite her efforts to start anew, her son Mriganko became ensnared in a ceaseless cycle of ambition and greed, navigating perilous landscapes marked by rival kings and their malevolent schemes. Now, burdened by his mother’s curse and armed with the truth, Jokanko must alter his destiny, wielding a divine sword that can bestow boundless might upon its owner. As dynasties clash and kingdoms crumble, an intense battle ensues among men hungry for the sword’s limitless power. All the while, the wheels of destiny continue to turn inexorably ... Originally published in Assamese as Deo Langkhui, this stupendous novel won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2008. It weaves an epic saga of love and sacrifice, revenge and redemption, immersing the reader in the blood-soaked tapestry of Assamese history.