The Missing Rocks of Hampi

MY THOUGHTS

I love it when a book forces you to look at a familiar place through a new lens, and that’s what is so exciting about Mala Kumar’s The Missing Rocks of Hampi. With Hampi in the book title, your mind automatically thinks about the historical ruins, but this story, though set in Hampi, is a tribute to the brilliance of the water management system developed by them.

I haven’t been to Hampi in years, but I still remember how awestruck I was when I visited the historical ruins. The sheer scale of the monuments and intricate details in the carvings offer a glimpse into the opulence of the then capital of the Vijayanagara empire.

Eleven-year-old Devyani is mortified to learn that her school has been shut down indefinitely over water issues and an unstable building. She, her brother Sarang, and her cousin Nakul now have to accompany her mother, Dr Brinda Ratnagar, a renowned water resources expert, to a project in Hampi. They expect to do some standard sightseeing, but are shocked when a series of events involving their mother’s phone lands them right in the middle of a mystery! The three children who call themselves “The Seekers” now have to find out who stole their mother’s phone and erased important data, and more importantly, who doesn’t want Dr Brinda to publish her report on the upcoming tourism infrastructure project. What are they hiding, and who among all the people they have met in Hampi can be trusted?

Woven expertly with Devyani’s story is sixteen-year-old Shubha’s story from Vijayanagara in 1407. Shubha dreams of designing and building grand aqueducts just like her grandfather, Vijendra, who was instrumental in making Vijayanagara a prosperous kingdom. As Shubha spends her days creating complex drawings to ensure all citizens of the kingdom get water for irrigation, she overhears a plot to sabotage a vital dam. She now has to alert the authorities with the little freedom offered to her as a young girl. Will she be able to stop the plotters from harming the kingdom?

I enjoy reading books by Mala Kumar because of how well they are researched and the fun and exciting way in which she presents this extensive research. Her earlier book, Travelling Treasures (reviewed here), was an absolute delight and is still being pulled out to read from our bookshelf every week! The Missing Rocks of Hampi introduces children to not just the rich history of our country but also the architectural brilliance. Using a gripping mystery, Kumar draws the reader in and keeps them hooked, while dropping little nuggets from history.

The Missing Rocks of Hampi is a fabulous read for children 10+. Make it fun, read the book and then go visit Hampi! Is there a better way to learn history?