THE MAURYAN by Komal Bhanver

Book Summary

Originally published by Hachette India in AprilMay 2017 , The Mauryan imagines the youthful years of Emperor Ashokaborn frail and overlooked by his father, Emperor Bindusara. A prophetic seer foretells greatness, but when Ashokas brothers, especially elder Susima, are groomed as heirs, Ashoka grows up embattled and underestimated. Held back by both family expectations and humiliation, he trains under his mother Subhadrangis guidance and finds early allies. Along the way, he meets a courageous woman who reshapes his understanding of valor and identity. As tensions escalate and rivals move to eliminate him, Ashoka must prove himself through strength, strategy, and resilience. With richly described court politics, evolving character arcs, and pivotal personal relationships, the novel traces how an overlooked prince transforms into the person who would one day unite and redefine an empire .

About the Author:

Komal Bhanver is a Mumbaibased management graduate turned author, with a career spanning the tech industry, entrepreneurship, education, and creative writing. She previously held leadership roles in brands such as Tata Infotech and iflex, and cofounded organizations like PeopleFirst and The Next Milestone Technologies, which focus on employability and tech innovation. Drawing on her diverse background, she published The Mauryan as her debut historical-fiction novel, followed by a nonfiction collaboration Click! The Amazing Story of Indias ECommerce Boom. Known for blending meticulous research with emotional narrative, Komal lives in Mumbai with her familyand, fittingly, a pet Labradorcontinuing to combine her roles as author, artist, entrepreneur, and thoughtleader in both literature and business