Rikin Khamar may have been brought up in London yet he tells a story that is rooted in Indian history with a skill that is not at all deliberate or practised. His book “The Lotus Queen” is set in 1303 A.D., where Rikin is retelling the story of Padmini who becomes the queen of Chittor and all those trials and tribulations that contribute to this saga. Currently based in Dubai, Rikin was in Bangalore for the launch of “The Lotus Queen” at Reliance TimeOut.
A book that has been touted as historical fiction with humour and a heart, Rikin says, “I understand the aggression from the North, because my wife is from there, but on a serious note, this story chose me. I got wind of the story when I visited Chittor for the first time and for me it is a completely exhilarating experience because I see a story behind each of these places.” For the author who grew up on a staple of Amar Chitra Katha, the history excited his imagination.
The book was first written 10 years ago and then pushed to the back of his drawer because he thought it wasn't good enough. He never remembered it until a few years back when he rewrote the entire book, “This time around there were moments when the hair on my neck stood up and that's when I knew I loved it and I could feel the scenes and feel the passion.”
Rikin does admit that it is difficult to write historical fiction, “Sometimes you are bogged down in detail and sometimes there just isn't enough. It is a craft to strike a balance, which I think I have done in my book,” he says.
“When you write a book, the characters are a part of yourself, as much as you try to deny it, you cannot help it. It is a process of understanding the character within you and putting it on paper.” But his character of the queen Padmini, “I was in love with Rani Padmini when I was writing her. In fact I live in a very feminine household and I have seen in them a strength of character, which is difficult to find in men. I honestly don't believe the man versus woman imbalance exists and I am in no way modernising Rani Padmini's character. Women in those days were also very strong and were leading men in several fields. I have simply put down facts.”
Rikin thought that he was always a reader and never a writer, “But once I got behind that desk there was no stopping me, because at the end of the day writers cannot help themselves. In my book I am not trying to bring history to a modern day story, I am just trying to tell an entertaining story.”
