28th October, 2025
The Maharaja's Bodyguard
A tale of love and courage
- A fragile boy, whose father mysteriously disappeared, transports to become a heroic warrior in the distant past under the charms of a strawberry moon.
- He survives through mastery of supernatural martial skills to become The Maharaja’s Bodyguard in a setting of opulence during the Raj wars.
- Haroun must choose between wielding magical powers as The Maharaja’s Bodyguard in the 1800s or remain in 1960s Britain, face bullies at school and care for his frail and grieving mother.
- Haroun loves the life of a warrior, of wearing armour, bearing two swords and a shield, and putting right the wrongs of past dictators.
- However, being a time warrior involves sacrifice. Soon, he is no longer in control and loses everyone dear to him, his mother, and Isaac, his only friend and guide.
- His love Clarissa may too be lost if he does not resist dark forces. He vows to give them up, to save her from explosive childhood flashbacks. Despite the promise, he risks a final dangerous mission to prevent her parents’ horrific murder.
Papa was gone. Mama knew. Haroun knew. That didn’t stop Mama talking with Papa. Haroun heard her chattering. He was used to it. Mama caught Papa up on all the events of the preceding day, along with singing their favourite songs as she cooked and cleaned; she even hummed them in her sleep. Haroun heard his voice too – faintly – entangled with the clangs and chinks of the dishes and pans and with the glorious harmonies from the bird choirs in the garden.
Inspiration
The book is for anyone who enjoys fantasy novels. I introduce a new kind of champion. There are few Indian or Sikh heroes in contemporary fiction. A notable exception is a film version of A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: a Nihang warrior cleverly played a formidable Captain Nemo!
What fiction do I enjoy? I love The Time Traveller’s Wife, The Last Samurai, Midnight’s Children, The Bourne Identity, and Love Marriage. These incredible works assemble chivalry, thrill and fantasy with a playful use of time. I recall reading Stephen Donaldson’s novels (The One Tree, The Wounded Earth) and excitedly discussing these with other fans. I was not alone in the sensing the psychedelic sentiments and emotions created by the author. I hoped to create similar thrills and enjoyment through fantasy in The Maharaja’s Bodyguard.