Book Review #38 : Once Upon A Dharamyudh

Author: Vibhor Tikiya

Publisher: Srishti Publishers and Distributors 

Pages: 208 

Category: Fiction

Price: Rs. 150/-

Blurb:

Dharam is a dream institution for its founders and employees alike, who give it their sweat and blood. In time, it prospers owing to the fine acumen of its owners and efforts of its employees.

Prakash is caught in the web of fulfilling his fathers dying wish and gives up his dream job to take up the mantle of responsibility at Dharam. A radical thinker equipped with modern ways of working, he sets the company and workers on a path of development, though with much resistance to his methods. Udays humble origins and difficult childhood inspire him to dream big, he dreams of equality and fair treatment for the weaker sections of the society. He believes it is his Dharam to raise his voice against any injustice. The fight between a mans belief and an institutions values becomes a tussle between the haves and the have nots, acquiring magnanimous proportions. Both believe they are right and are willing to do what is needed to be done for their Dharam.

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I got an autographed copy from the author recently. The title does not reveal much.

Once Upon A Dharamyudh tells the story of Prakash, a young man, his mission in life, his passion for it and the journey of a lifetime.

The war is fought for the existence of a spinning mill called Dharam symbolising the war for the victory of Dharma.

The story is from an industry owner's perspective and the challenges they face. This book gives great management lessons on how to run a firm, some ethical tactics are shared.

All in all, it doesn't give you much turns and twists. Just a simple story with little love and romance. It is more about entrepreneurship, the battles, deceit, business and politics.

“Once Upon A Dharamyudh” stands out and makes Vibhor come across as a confident storyteller with a smooth narration.

There is a right man doing the right things often forced by the system to resort to wrong means to achieve the right results. Then there is a right man doing wrong things while appearing to make himself come across as right - an ideological war 'Dharamyudh'.

All the characters are true to life.

Once Upon A Dharamyudh is definitely a very engrossing read with generous sprinkling of verses from the Gita. Story moves from 60s to early 90s without hiccups.

Mighty impressed with Vibhor and loved the way he has kept it awesome within 208 pages.

My Rating: 4.2/5

Author:
Vibhor Tikiya is the author of the bestseller book DADA and has followed it up with Once Upon A Dharamyudh. He is an ME from IISc, MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and an LLB. He believes Dharamyudh highlights the underlying difference in the aspirations of different strata of contemporary society and the ensuing struggle between them guided by the age old Bhagvad Gita.