CHAPTER 12

Journey through Meluha

‘Who was Manu?’ asked Shiva. ‘I have heard of him often, referred to as “the Father”.’
The caravan had been travelling for a few days on the broad road from Devagiri to
Kotdwaar. The central part consisted of a row of seven carriages identical to the ones used
during the trip to Mandar. Five of them were empty. Shiva, Sati, Brahaspati and Krittika
travelled in the second carriage. Parvateshwar was in the fifth, along with Ayurvati and his key
brigadiers. The general’s presence meant every rule had to be adhered to strictly. Hence
Nandi, whose rank did not allow him to travel in the carriage, was riding a horse with the rest of
the cavalry. Veerbhadra had been inducted as a soldier in Nandi’s platoon. Led by their
respective captains, the brigade were in standard forward, rear and side defence formations
around the caravan.
Both Brahaspati and Sati started answering Shiva simultaneously.
‘Lord Manu was the...’
They both stopped talking.
‘After you please, Brahaspatiji,’ said Sati.
‘No, no,’ said Brahaspati with a warm smile. ‘Why don’t you tell him the story?’
He knew whose voice the Neelkanth would prefer.
‘Of course not, Brahaspatiji. How can I supersede you? It would be completely improper.’
‘Will somebody answer me or are you two going to keep up this elaborate protocol forever?’
asked Shiva.
‘Alright, alright,’ laughed Brahaspati. ‘Don’t turn blue all over now.’
‘That is hilarious Brahaspati,’ smiled Shiva. ‘Keep this up and you might actually get
someone to laugh in a hundred years.’
As Brahaspati and Shiva chortled, Sati was astounded at the inappropriate manner in which
the conversation was going on. But if the revered chief scientist seemed comfortable, she
would not say anything. And in any case, how could she reprimand Shiva? Her code of honour
forbade it. He had saved her life. Twice.
‘Well, you are right about Lord Manu being the Father,’ said Brahaspati. ‘He is considered
the progenitor of our civilisation by all the people of India.’
‘Including Swadweepans?’ asked Shiva incredulously.
‘Yes, we believe so. In any case, Lord Manu lived more than eight and a half thousand
years before the present day. He was apparently a prince from south India. A land way beyond
the Narmada river, where the earth ends and the great ocean begins. That land is the
Sangamtamil.’
‘Sangamtamil?’
‘Yes. Sangamtamil was then the richest and most powerful country in the world. Lord