Sikandernama is a book based on Greek sources elaborating the life of Alexander the Great – aka Sikander in India. It details the life of the great ruler in very descriptive and historical prose way.

His quest to conquer the world as we know it today was ambitious. This focused drive to achieve the near impossible meant that he had to dismantle the only superpower of that time – the ancient Persian empire. The ambition instilled in him by his parents and by his teacher Aristatalis or Aristotle made him an impeccable ruler who conquered the empire. His father, King Failafus or Philip was no slouch when it came to conquest. It was he who created a Maghdouniyeh or Macedonia, so powerful that Sikander was able to fulfill this ambition.

Sikander’s achievements as a conqueror are undoubtedly unparalleled. What sets him apart and bestows the sobriquet of Azam or ‘the Great’ was his dream to marry the civilization of Yunan or Greece with Farsa or Persia, which was an unthinkable move for the people of both nations. He worked, despite stiff opposition towards it, but his untimely death robbed him of what could have been a ‘super civilization’. Though the effect of his achievements and valour lasted for more than 1500 years.

The book is a very intense read for all those who are fond of history. It is coated with fiction to bring the authors imagination to the fore and make it more insightful just like Sikander. The author portrays Sikander’s dreams and achievements in very interesting factual manner.

It is truly delightful to read the birth description of Sikander. Though all fictional histories do tend to seem like a drag when there’s more fact to fiction. This one seems to have carried away the author with the achievements of Sikander, which are endless but hey who hasn’t read of those.

Because the book is written by an India it would have been more intriguing to read more on Sikanders attempt to conquer Hindustan (now India). Had there been details about the battle and more details on losing against Hindustan, I’d be hooked.

But, the author makes up for that by his own take on the death of Dara. IT is nice to know that the author has an active imagination and also conspires theories to those that already exist. One of the most gripping detail is that Dara, as most of the people may not know, died with a one arrow shot.

The world of books is full of Work War historical fictions but hardly any that dates back two thousand years. Sikandernama is such a book that will make you see dust and bow arrows just like you’d see on the big screen. But just like any feature presentation, keep your facts in the purse and hold on tight for this one will knock you off your feet without you knowing it.