Sharvay a Novel

It is the eighth century in South India during the rule of the Rashtrakutas.Indian philosophy is at its zenith, Ayurvedic knowledge is being compiled andthe new Prakrit languages are being developed to read and write new texts.The heroine, Sharvay, is born into this world with many disadvantages. She isan orphan, the daughter of a dasi, a mixed-caste person of low social standing,bonded to the royal princess of Kavipura as a spittoon holder. Despite allthis, she is determined to devote herself to a life of learning and becominga philosopher. Can Sharvay overcome the socially imposed limits of casteand gender to access Sanskrit and philosophy? If she does succeed, will herteachings be validated by the world?Sharvay's story is told through the experience of a contemporary womanacademic who chances upon a sculpture of an ancient female philosopherduring her research. The sculpture inspires the academic to dream of Sharvay'slife. She forms a bond with this exceptional historical character as sheencounters places and objects that were important parts of Sharvay's life.This remarkable debut novel sensitively explores what it meant to be anordinary, marginalized person in ancient India, and questions the gender, classand caste biases within the discipline of philosophy, which has been dominatedby men for centuries. Intriguing, atmospheric and richly imagined, Sharvay ishistorical fiction at its best