The Hoysala Adventure is a story revolving around the royal dynasties and their allies in the Western Ghats. Set in the twelfth century CE the story is of Devaki, a 12-year-old girl who is responsible and courageous for her age. Devaki is progeny of the Hoysalas, a Kannada- speaking dynasty from the Western Ghats in Karnataka where the folklore indicates that the mythical founder of the Hoysala dynasty was a warrior named Sala. The warrior struck down an attacking tiger (poy in Kannada) and earned the title Poysala. This over the years evolved into ‘Hoysala’ who prospered under their kings Vishnu Vardhana and Vira Ballala. The author has weaved every chapter with historiography, sharing details of the wars between different dynasties like the Chalukyas, the Hoysalas, Changalvas and Kongalvas. The various chapters read like pages of a diary from yesteryears.
The first chapter details Devaki’s family, her daily duties during vacation days, she being a supporting daughter for her parents, nursing her ailing father and helping her mother with household chores. The author also through interactions between Devaki and her grandmother outlines the gender roles as decided within the families and how Devaki as a young educated girl questioned some of them. She did not like the fact that her mother and Devaki were the last ones to eat in the family, a ritual that exists till date in many households for many present day Devakis. The following chapters etch out the courageous rule of Emperor Vira Ballala II and his network of trusted chieftains who collected taxes on his behalf and armed him with information from regions assigned to them. The grandeur of the palace architecture, the expanse of the kingdom and a ruler’s concern for his people and their livestock are meticulously given by the author.
The latter half of the book takes children on an adventure with Devaki and her younger brother Bopa to the Hoysala capital with a group of pilgrims. Armed with bow and arrow and vast reserves of knowledge as imparted by their Guru Nemi, the two children set out on a journey. The travel track enumerates traders coming from overseas and inland trading of silk, cotton, sugarcane, ragi and other millets, areca nuts, betel leaves, sandalwood and camphor. The details of temple architecture almost draw the temple structure in words for the young reader to imagine. The illustrations by Priyanka Thampi bring alive the market-place, the temple, the king’s court and the captivity of Princess Somala. Devaki emerges as the star of the adventure who pledges to bring back her father’s lost name and credibility as the chieftain. As a daughter she presents her father’s case and does not rest till the King restores his faith in the services given by her father. Devaki also becomes the beacon of hope for another girl of her age, Princess Somala, and rescues her from captivity fighting the bandits and few treacherous traders.
The book by Nitin Kushalappa MP is a complete guide for young readers on statecraft, ruling dynasties, teachings and religious practices, system of allies and spies, trade routes and how women in each era have stepped up and created history adding feathers to the ‘Girls of India’ Series.