Interpretative Possibilities of Historical Fiction

This paper, based on a selective reading of a historical novel set in 17th century India, attempts a theoretical reconstruction of Indian military history. Cuckold by Kiran Nagarkar is however not merely a narration of events and experiences in the life of Maharaj Kumar, heir to the throne of Mewar. Nagarkar conceives him as a political character to serve as an effective foil to the milieu of feudal India, with all its possibilities and problems; his attitude towards the military and other matters are highlighted to deliberately counter prevailing feudal norms. Nagarkar skilfully reconstructs Maharaj Kumar's military experiments to critically examine the military mentality of feudal Mewar.