Krishnadevaraya is a familiar name. I remember some of the battles he fought from history class in school. I’ve marvelled at the lofty gopurams he built in Hampi. But who was Krishnadevaraya, the man?

Ra.Ki. Rangarajan tells us in “I, Krishnadevaraya”, a novel written in the first-person. I had never come across such a narrative of an Indian king and the book is quite unique for this reason – it’s the only one in its genre.

The novel opens with Krishnadevaraya’s ascent to the throne under precarious circumstances. He is about to get into a lifetime of battles—both external and internal. Ra. Ki.’s portrayal of the young emperor is refreshingly human. Here’s a man who dreams of pursuing literature, longs for love, and yet must shoulder the weight of a sprawling empire. His trusted minister and mentor, Appaji, serves as a constant reminder of his responsibilities, pulling him away from his romantic pursuits and toward his duty as a king.

I really enjoyed this rare glimpse into Krishnadevaraya beyond his image as an emperor known for his brilliant military strategies. Here, he is a man who follows his heart. His pursuit is not of neighbouring kingdoms but a beautiful dancer, a devadasi named Chinnadevi. His battles are not with the Sultans of the Deccan but with his mind as he wonders how to disclose his love for Chinnadevi to his mother. He is a man torn between his natural inclination for the arts, music, and architecture and his duty towards building an empire, a pull that often sends him into moody reflections. These deeply personal thoughts he shares with his aide and friend, Gayatri. Some of his conversations with Appaji and his mother reveal a whole host of interesting trivia about royal life and traditions of 16th-century Vijayanagara.

The novel could have done with some tighter editing but otherwise Suganthy Krishnamachari’s translation reads like a charm.

What a lovely read.