The Anthology features IIT-and IIM turned Indic knowledge authors who are also entrepreneurs with great interest in Indian epics
Bengaluru, 12 August 2025: The city’s literary and cultural community turned out in full strength to explore lesser known but highly fascinating dimensions and characters of the Mahabharata in a new work, Adṛsya: Hidden Marvels of the Mahābhārata, an anthology published by Indica in collaboration with BlueOne Ink. Held at the RV Institutions in the city, the evening was a vibrant gathering of readers, writers and admirers of India’s civilisational narratives. Prakash Belawadi, renowned cultural personality, who was the chief guest, said: “The anthology revives voices that continue to hold moral and cultural relevance.”
Adṛsya was conceived by INDICA as a collective act of remembering. Curated and edited by Aditi Banerjee, the book brings together fifteen authors who turn their gaze to characters often left in the margins of the Mahābhārata, figures whose lives, choices and silences offer powerful insights into the human condition. By reimagining their voices, the anthology invites readers to engage with the epic in new ways while honouring its timeless spirit.
The evening opened with a welcome and an introduction to INDICA’s vision of preserving and promoting Indian Knowledge Systems through education, events and publishing. The formal launch brought together chief guest Prakash Belawadi, special guests Abhinav Agarwal, (He holds a bachelors degree in Computer Engineering from Mumbai University and is a gold medalist from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore), Dr. Arun Krishnan (He has worked at various corporations, research institutes and also in academia as an Assistant Professor of Computational Biology. And then, just to shake things up, Arun went for an MBA and turned entrepreneur) and Sai Swaroopa Iyer (Saiswaroopa Iyer is an Indian author in the mythological genre of books such as Abhaya, Avishi, Draupadi and Mauri. She has an MBA from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and is a former investment professional), alongside the contributing authors present, for the ceremonial unveiling.
In the highlight segment, the six authors in attendance, Madhavi Girish Kunte, Shivakumar GV, Ramanjaneya Sharaph, Shantheri Mallaya, Sri Charan Bottu and Sumathi Sridhar, shared the inspirations behind their stories, offering glimpses into the research, imagination and personal connections that shaped their work.
The special guests reflected on the enduring place of the Mahābhārata in contemporary discourse, the art of storytelling and the responsibility of retelling heritage with authenticity.
The event closed on a note of gratitude to everyone who made the launch possible. Many in the audience left carrying copies of Adṛsya, eager to step into the lives of the epic’s hidden marvels and share them with others.