In the kingdom of Hemangada, a treacherous minister named Kattiyangaran, decides to usurp the throne, and kill the entire royal family. Queen Vijaya escapes the slaughter. In a dark cremation ground, unhappy and alone, she gives birth to a child and puts his father's royal ring upon his finger. The child grows up to be Prince Jivaka. Jivaka has many adventures but the core of the book becomes apparent in the end when a weary Jivaka decides to renounce his kingdom and become a Jain monk.
India is a country where there is unity in diversity. However is this really true? This book narrates a real life story of socio-communal integration which began in Assam during the British era. With the passage of time it has become a unique example of national integration, patriotism and social service. “Challenging Destiny” is about the illustrious “Agarwala Family” of Assam. The family’s story is intertwined with the events that occurred in Assam during the British Raj. The dismissal of the last Ahom King, the opening up of tea gardens, discovery of oil and coal, the revival of the Assamese language and cultural identity, beginning of the freedom struggle, the effects of World War 2, partition and the independence of India. The story begins in 1827. A teenaged Navarangram Agarwala starts off on foot from Churu, Rajasthan, in northwest India to redeem a fortune. He walks across Northern India and finally reaches Assam in northeast India. In Assam he not only gains wealth but begins a process of socio-communal assimilation that spawns a lineage that integrates completely into the Assamese community. By 1947 Navarangram’s progeny by their deeds and contributions become the standard-bearers of Assamese socio-cultural renaissance and a symbol of its identity. It is a story of national integration with few parallels in India proving that unity in diversity is not just a catchy slogan.
The chivalrous and charismatic Koch Generalissimo Sukladwaj known as Chilarai, was the younger brother & Prime Minister of King Naranarayan of the kingdom of Kamrupa-Kamata Kingdom during 1510-1571. Before mentioning about Mahaveer Chilarai, it would be worthy to mention that Maharaj Viswa Singha, who rose from the position of cow-hard king to that of a very powerful monarch of Kamrupa-Kamata and the founder of the Koch Kingdom, was a great and benevolent king. He was known as a great warrior, a superb organizer of people, a just and efficient ruler, extraordinarily courageous, highly religious, tolerant in attitudes, and undoubtedly adventurous with sky rocketing ambitions. His children in general, Naranarayan and Chilarai in particular must have genetically inherited all the great qualities of their father, importantly aggressive personality, organizing and leadership qualities and there of a nation builder. The qualities as part of teaching vis-à-vis learning were-art of warfare, wrestling, study of the sastras, weaponry, horse-riding and fighting from horse-back and particularly attacking the enemy with swords & shields, spears, bows & arrows, fire-arms etc. Once Nara Singha, one of the sons of Viswa Singha, succeeded the throne after the death of Viswa Singha without following norms as set by his father. Naranarayan and Chilarai removed him from the throne and further entered Nepal to fetch Nara Singha who fled to Nepal. In Nepal, the king of Nepal honored both Naranarayan and Chilarai. As “Hanuman Danda” and Druga murti as the sacred deity of Koch kingdom also recovered from Narasimha by Chilarai with delicate approach. Further, the duo brother (Naranarayan and Chilarai) continued to extend their kingdom with massive platoon of soldiers little over 6 lakhs with Bhutiya, Daflas, and Bhuyan joined as one force.
