Smita Diwan
Nothing excites the soul other than mysteries woven by chapters in history. Some harsh, some strange – All spine-chilling & brimming with adventure. Over a millennium since the massive destruction that struck Dwarka with irreversible effects. Revisit pages in history as Sona Sharma pens down the events in her latest book ‘Time and Tide’.
Sona, a science enthusiast & medical professional, has spent considerable time in the retail sector too, expanding her perspectives across several human behaviours. An ardent believer in adding feathers of excitement to children’s education, she has also written children’s books with science concepts and runs an educative Vlog and magazine named ‘Think Science India’. We got in touch with the author to find out more about the book.
Q. Your Inspiration Behind Writing ‘Time and Tide’?
A great mystery surrounds the events that occurred in Dwarka before its end. The city, as described in the Mahabharata, was for long considered a myth. However, the original Lost City was discovered underwater by Marine Archaeologists, which highlighted some astounding facts, making the events seem real. This confluence of myth & reality is the inspiration behind the story. Exploring and piecing together this event from archaeological, scientific and mythological sources has been an amazing journey for me.
Q. Tell Us in Brief About the Book and Its Audience
There’s no specific age group; the book is certain to appeal to all considering its underlying theme. Time and Tide traces to the story of Samba, who is in the spotlight of events that unfold in Dwarka in its final days and the dynamics of his relationship with his illustrious father against a backdrop of natural calamity. The story gets exciting when compounded by a mysterious weapon from one part of the story.
The second part introduces us to Samvardhana, who lives in the future. Samvardhana’s life follows Samba’s life graph but in a rather uncanny manner. He grapples with insecurities and failure while trying to hold on at the helm of the conglomerate his highly successful father has built. As known to many, Samba’s Dwarka ended up drowning in a severe natural disaster. Samvardhana’s end seems inevitable too. But this time, history has given him a clue. You will need to browse through the pages to find out.
Q. Tell Us About That One Most Interesting Learning While Coining the Book
Frankly, not much was known about the era in which this historical part of the story is based. In fact, this period was known as the dark ages, for the lack of information. What research showed was that at a time when the world had very few civilized societies to speak of, we were running a democratic government, travelling across oceans for trade and had an ID card system. There is also this reference to a mysterious weapon that brought about death & destruction, just like modern weapons do. Hopefully, with more research, things will become clearer.
Q. What Was Your Source of Information for the Archaeological Facts of This Place?
The works of Dr S R Rao and his team of marine archaeologists have been very interesting and the founding source for archaeological facts. The references to timelines have been deliberately keeping fluid considering there is no clear consensus amongst the experts yet. Further research will throw light on more facts about this glorious period. We all know history is a treasure of knowledge that can help shape our future. The more we know, the more we will be prepared as mankind to avoid past mistakes.
# Please Share Your Insightful Philosophy With Our Audience
This story is testimony that our attitudes and decisions make all the difference in our lives. Even when it seems like one’s fate is sealed, there is a window of hope and our attitude in this situation can be life-changing. I do hope you will enjoy reading ‘Time and Tide’ with as much vigour as I enjoyed writing it.
‘Time and Tide’ is available online on Amazon and Crossword as well as at Crossword bookstores across the country.
