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Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is the author of The Palace of Illusions, a retelling of the Mahabharata from Draupadi's perspective. Her novels often explore themes of mythology, history, and the experiences of women.
The Conch Bearer
Synopsis
The Conch Bearer is the first book in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's Brotherhood of the Conch trilogy. Twelve-year-old Anand works long hours at a Kolkata tea stall to help support his family, until he meets Abhaydatta, an old healer who is secretly a member of a magical Brotherhood. Abhaydatta entrusts Anand with a conch shell of great and dangerous power, and asks him to help carry it home to the hidden Silver Valley high in the Himalayas.
Joined by Nisha, a sharp, resourceful girl with no memory of her own family, Anand sets out on a journey across India's plains, rivers and mountains. Along the way the three travelers are pursued by Surabhanu, a former member of the Brotherhood who wants the conch's power for himself, and Anand must draw on courage he didn't know he had. By the journey's end, he faces a choice between the ordinary life he knows and the world of magic he has always dreamed of.
Genres
Characters
AnandProtagonist
A twelve-year-old boy from a poor family who is entrusted with a magical conch shell and must journey to the Himalayas to return it to the Brotherhood of Healers.
SurabhanuAntagonist
A renegade former member of the Brotherhood who stole the conch and pursues Anand's group to seize its power.
NishaSupporting
A resourceful street girl with no memory of her own family who joins Anand's journey to return the conch.
AbhaydattaSupporting
An old Master Healer of the Brotherhood who entrusts Anand with the conch and guides him on the journey to the Himalayas.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Conch Bearer part of a series?
Yes. The Conch Bearer is the first book in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's Brotherhood of the Conch trilogy, followed by The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming and Shadowland.