Parthiban Kanavu

infobox Book |
name = Parthiban Kanavu
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author = Kalki Krishnamurthy
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country = India
language = Tamil
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genre = Historical novel
publisher = MacMillan India
release_date = January 2003
media_type = Print (Hardback)
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isbn = ISBN 1-4039-0954-7 (hardback edition)
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" Parthiban Kanavu " (பார்த்திபன் கனவு - "Parthiban's dream") is a famous Tamil novel written by Kalki Krishnamurthy.

Plot summary

This novel deals with the attempts of the son of (fictional) Chola king Parthiban, Vikraman, to attain independence from the Pallava ruler, Narasimhavarman.

The Cholas remain vassals of the Pallavas. Parthiban conveys his dream of the Chola dynasty regaining its glory - which he believes is lost since they are no longer the independent rulers of their land - to his young son Vikraman. Parthiban refuses to pay the taxes to the Pallavas and this triggers the Pallavas to wage war against the Cholas. In the resulting war Parthiban is killed and in the battlefield an enigmatic monk promises to Parthiban that he will make sure that Vikraman fulfills Parthiban's dream. Vikraman grows up and plans his retaliation against Narasimhavarman. But his uncle, Marappa Bhupathi, betrays him and Vikraman is arrested and banished from India by Narasimhavarman.

The narrative moves on to describe how Vikraman comes back longing to meet his mother and the mysterious beauty whom he saw before being deported. To his woe he later discovers that his mother has disappeared and has in fact been kidnapped by the savage Kapalikas - a tribe which believes in human sacrifice. He also comes to know that the beauty he has fallen for, Kundhavi, is none other than the daughter of his sworn enemy, Narasimhavarman.

The novel climaxes with the identity of the monk being revealed and establishment of the independent Chola kingdom under Vikraman in uRaiyUr.

Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science

As is his wont Kalki mixes many historical events/personalities along with fictional characters to weave an interesting novel that moves at a brisk pace. The historical characters/events include :

* Narasimhavarman - The Pallava ruler
* Paranjothi aka Siruthondar - The commander of Narasimhavarman's army and one of the 63 "Nayanmars"
* Pulakesi II - The Chalukya ruler
* The visit of the Chinese traveller Huang Suang
* Narasimha Varma's efforts to abolish human sacrifice

Suggested reading

It should be mentioned that reading Kalki's "Sivagamiyin sabadham" before reading "Parthiban kanavu" provides the reader with a more enjoyable experience since many characters that play an important role in Sivagamiyin Sabadham are referred either in passing (Sivagami's hut for example) or play a major role (Paranjothi for example) in this novel.

However, in that case, the major suspense element of "Parthiban Kanavu" would be lost, as the readers who have read "Sivagamiyin Sabatham" previously, would be able to guess very easily, who the one-handed man is!