How to be brave and gentle

Prince Kadis, the protagonist of the novel, learns about bravery through his adventures between two warring kingdoms

Two things came together around the same time, inspiring New York-based actor-filmmaker-writer Jugal Hansraj's new children's fantasy book, The Coward and The Sword (HarperCollins India). "My son was just born [in 2018], so I was spending more time helping my wife take care of him. I had also for many years been studying the Buddhist philosophy, Nichiren Buddhism, and there was this quote by 13th century Japanese reformer Nichiren Daishonin, that stayed with me. He said: A sword is useless in the hands of a coward. It was profound and layered, and spoke about how you should find courage within you. I had read that quote many times before. But, probably this time, because of fatherhood, it struck a completely different chord."

A map of the Kingdoms of Kofu and Molonga. Illustration/Ruchi Shah

That's how the germ of the idea took root in Hansraj's mind, and led to him create the "anxious and shy" Prince Kadis, the 16-year-old heir to the imaginary Kingdom of Kofu, ruled by the brave King Rissho, and inhabited by equally courageous people, who are skilled in war. At the heart of the plot are two warring lands - Kingdom Molonga, once part of Kofu, is now being ruled by Rissho's estranged cousin, who is conspiring to go to war, and settle scores with the family. The bitterness that has continued for generations, we soon learn, is because of a magical "sword," which will only glow in the hands of a true warrior. Kadis is terrified of war, but will he take charge and secure peace?

This coming-of-age novel is a breezy read with a multitude of bends, twists and turns that will remind you often of the joys of reading JK Rowling's Harry Potter series - Hansraj too, admits he is a fan. But, if there are similarities, it's in the adventure, and the fact that there are a bunch of teens spearheading it, with some guidance from their uncle Shonin [à la Albus Dumbledore]. The fantastical world that has been recreated - and illustrated by Ruchi Shah - is one of a kind.

Jugal Hansraj

Hansraj, who won a National Award for his animation film Roadside Romeo (2008), says he deliberately chose not to write an Indian-themed fiction, because of the "universal nature" of his story. "It basically talks about bravery, peace and love, and while I really want young Indian readers to enjoy this book, I also wanted it to resonate with a universal audience, and appeal to everyone. If I added [any kind of] culture to it, I would risk alienating other readers," feels Hansraj, whose first book Cross Connection: The Big Circus Adventure was published in 2017. He explains, "When you create a completely new world, which is not inspired by a specific place or time, it also enables the reader to visualise this story in so many different ways. I wanted to leave this world [of Kofu and Molonga] open to imagination." Hansraj says that Shah's watercolour illustrations, not only helped evoke a different and unusual world, but also had quite a "calming and gentle" effect of him.

It is, however, bravery that shines through Hansraj's novel, forcing the reader to think of it differently - not merely as an act of being valiant or strong. "This whole idea of bravery permeates through my study of Buddhist philosophy, and has seeped into my subconscious. It is a lot easier to be angry and aggressive, but it takes a lot of courage to be nice and good to people. I thought it was a beautiful thought to put across to my young readers. In a world that is increasingly becoming violent, we need to know this more than ever."

WHAT: The Coward and the Sword
WHERE: amazon.in
FOR: Rs 299