Queen of Ice

Queen of Ice
By Devika Rangachari
Duckbill Books
YA

Queen of Ice is a tale from another time. I hesitate to label it a piece of historical fiction. History tends to put teen readers off and that would be a pity, for this is a book with drama, with intrigue, with characters that captivate you and events that keep you riveted. The teen protagonist’s angst as she grapples with the unfairness of the world will resonate with young adults. However, it cannot be slotted as a YA book either. As with her previous work for children, Harsha Vardhana, Devika Rangachari creates a fascinating tale based predominantly on historical fact. The choice of subject is even more interesting this time – Didda is the crippled queen of Kashmira, a ruler who had hitherto been relegated to obscurity on account of her gender. This is a book you should read if you are politically inclined, a history buff, a feminist, a champion of the differently-abled, or just someone who appreciates a story well told. Queen of Ice will enthrall you and leave a delicious lingering after-effect.

The first thing that struck me about the book was its exquisitely crafted cover, made me wonder what beauty it held within. The book opens with Didda’s powerful voice. Her gender, her deformity, her father’s contempt – she doesn’t have much going for her. Yet, young Didda comes across as someone who is incredibly strong and determined. Is it because of the astrologer’s prediction that she is destined for greatness? Or something she has inherited from her forceful mother? We see that Didda loves and hates with equal passion. We witness her vulnerability as she deals with her father's rejection and her cousin's animosity.  Enter Valga, whose circumstances are far removed from Didda’s royal parentage, but who has something in common with Didda – her father has no affection for her either.  With her exceptional physical strength, Valga becomes Didda’s carrier-girl, a position that makes her privy to the princess’ secrets.

Didda is an ambitious woman – I love that she is unapologetic about it. As the book progresses, we sense that she is capable of destroying anything that stands in her way – I love that the author does not judge her for this ruthless streak.

Devika Rangachari paints an unflinching portrait of Didda and a beautiful picture of tenth-century Kashmira. The details and descriptions left me with the feeling I was reading an account written by someone who had witnessed these events as they occurred.

I wondered initially about the style. Why was the book targeted at the teen audience? The language was simple enough and the content seemed appropriate for slightly younger kids. As I read on, it became apparent that the style, stark and reminiscent of Kashmir in winter, serves to accentuate Didda’s complexities.

The book is presented as two first-person accounts – that of Didda’s and her porter Valga’s. Didda’s overpowering voice and the fact that I identified so much with her, made Valga’s voice seem superfluous at first. It was only later that I realized her perspective was essential, for it is through Valga that we see a side to Didda that no one else does. And it is after Didda’s cruel acts that we catch her in her tender moments, in scenes so beautiful that I found myself misty-eyed. Devika Rangachari deserves applause for treading a delicate path with great skill.

[Image source duckbill.in]    

Interview with Vaishali Shroff

Our guest reviewer Rachna Dhir is happy to share with you all an interview with author of Raindrops, Ari and The Missing Bat, Vaishali Shroff.

Vaishali, your son Arinjay is the inspiration behind your latest book - Ari. Please share the story behind the story

I always try to write stories that parents and children alike can relate to. Stories that drive home less talked about problems that many kids face.

As a child I was just like Ari. I remember coming home from school and sitting before the mirror after being rejected in school concert shows. I could never run to the teacher and confess that I think I can do it. I preferred to hide. But I still used to wonder why not me. Till I accepted the cruel fact that may be I wasn't as good as the others.

My son decided to do something about his ordeal. That's when I realised it needs to be told. Ari needs to stand up and be heard by parents and teachers who may have failed to see the true potential so called introvert children bring to the table. The real fireflies with an inner glow vs the butterflies that everyone loves to chase. The trauma that comes along with being labeled as an introvert and constantly told that you're someone who cannot perform as well as the outspoken kids can dent young minds for life

Having said this, I am not trying to say that extroverts lack potential. This is only about the other half that can do it but lack the opportunity.

You are a writer, editor, columnist, and story teller-
Tell us how it all started?

I have been writing ever since I can remember. I started off with poetry. My first publication was a poem in The Indian Express during the 1993 Mumbai riots. I cannot ever forget how it felt!

Those were the days of fan mails and receiving letters from places far and wide, from people young and old including soldiers posted in Sikkim! . The encouragement to write more made me think I am destined to write. Thus began this amazing journey that happened alongside my corporate life.

Subsequently I also started a storytelling club for children in 2009 in Pune and now continue the same in Mumbai as well.

Your first book was Raindrops, also with Tulika. It was very different from Ari - both story and look and feel wise. What was the inspiration behind Raindrops? Please include your other works too.

I've always drawn inspiration from real life events for my stories. My second book 'The Missing Bat' by Pratham Books was based on my travels in Kashmir. Raindrops, too, was a result of a personal experience with children. It's important that children are sensitive to the environment. That they think about things they see and experience around them. I like to bring that out in my stories.

Tell us about your childhood, your inspirations - what attracted you to writing? Who were your role models and mentors?

My mother always made me write. She used to keep throwing topics at me and I used to write. She used the Wren and Martin as a guide for she herself did not have a flair for the language. Writing became a huge part of me and slowly I realised how I felt better every time I wrote. The pieces were like highly guarded secrets tucked away under a pile of books so no one ever laid hands on them. Writing, in those days was never talked about as a profession like they spoke about engineering and medicine. So I secretly nurtured my passion thinking some day... May be....

You work across many media - magazines, CBSE readers, anthologies. Please share some favourites?

Any media only helps to take your story to a wider audience. With magazines it's interesting because you can talk about current issues and trends in the reading and writing industry. It felt incredibly proud and humbling to be recognised by the CBSE board as someone whose stories needed to be read by thousands and thousands a of children across the country. That feeling is simply indescribable. Yes, they will also give exams with my stories being part of the curriculum. Ha ha.

Anthologies are special because your story proudly sits next to works of some famous authors who you've always dreamt of being! :-

You have had memorable travel adventures with your son. May we hear some juicy details, please?

Ha ha ha. My son has this interesting knack of observing details about surroundings that one would never dare to imagine. To cite, we love going for wildlife safaris with him. At the end of one such safari he said, "I never thought tigers can be so scared. We enter the animal's house without asking them, chase poor tigers to take pictures, and some bad people even make noise. Who is the wild one? I always thought it was the animal."

Needless to say it's now a story :-)

Would you like to give aspiring story tellers and authors some guidance?

A good story needs to be told. While some stories make us fantasise and others make us realise... They all make us think about how we can make this world a better place. I cannot imagine growing up without Roald Dahl and Ruskin Bond and Enid Blyton and Dr. Seuss who I discovered along with my son (I'm still growing up!).

While people say that a writer is about their writing style I say Nay! A writer is all about the story and how long it stays with you after you've closed the book and put it back in the shelf along with many others.

My only advice to writers is to be honest to who you are and write only about what you strongly feel. Not what the industry demands and the reader reads. It's important to tell the story in a way that makes people think and say, "why didn't I think of this before!"

Please share details of some more projects you have done for children?

I've had many other publications for children which include pop-up story books, readers, various fiction and non - fiction articles for children's magazines, parenting columns, and so on.

Thank you Vaishali!


Life's got a little more beautiful with a five year old next to me and an infant nestled in my arms. It's tough but now I can only imagine how many stories I get to tell through it all :-)

Thank you for reviewing Ari. It's a book very close to my heart for a multitude of reasons. I secretly dream of Ari being staged as a play so that people can actually experience every word in the story and more. :-)