Alex Rutherford’s novel, Empire of the Moghul Raiders from the North, releases all the realistic elements which have perpetually determined the fate of kings and princes from the moment they are born! Gripped with hard facts of Indian history, how Babur began the Mughal Dynasty in India, the author never recedes to capture the interest of the reader. This is not surprising because Rutherford clearly possesses the knack of researching and adding through his individual style, colour to the characters woven around his novel. 1494, is the period when the new ruler of Ferghana (Central Asia), twelve-year-old, Babur begins his life by facing seemingly impossible challenges. Smitten by an alarming ambition, Babur (The prime figure of the book) waited for every opportunity to gain power. Often, the victories were like premature dreams turning into nightmares. After all, Babur had dangerously inherited the crown from his father – Umar Sheikh, King of Ferghana. But the nomadic warrior expected his confidence to grow, every time he saw Tamburlaine’s (Timur the lame) prized ring on his finger. In every way, by-day-by-night, Babur considered himself the true heir of Timur.

The play of Babur’s life gives the full idea that it was anything close to being envied. The sight of it is altogether a structure of: bloody battles, both hidden and open, and dangers lurking from everywhere. On the scale that counts, the majority of us would not even take a few steps forward to step into the shoes of the late Emperor who made it from Ferghana and conquered Hindoostan. Corresponding to the daring events of those times and how Babur won over the different factors, measures extremely well the caliber of Rutherford. There is no doubt in my mind that I will consider Empire of the Moghul Raiders from the North as a favourite book of mine.

Geeta Chhabra