Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.3 out of 5)
I’ll be honest. When I first looked at RAAG KASOOMAL, I didn’t expect it to stay with me the way it did. Maybe it was the cover, that muted yet alive Rajasthani miniature aesthetic. Or maybe it was the word “raag” itself. Music always does something to me. It slows me down. And this book, even before I opened it properly, felt like it was asking me to slow down.
In my years reading and reviewing books, especially as Editor-in-Chief at Deified Publication, I’ve learned one thing. Some books want your attention. Others want your patience. This one wanted my listening. I kept feeling like the story wasn’t trying to impress me. It was trying to hum something old and familiar, something you don’t recognize immediately but somehow know.
I read the blurb twice. Then again. And somewhere between the mention of Kishangarh, Bhakti rasa, and that word “Kasoomal,” I felt that soft tug. The kind that says, sit with me for a while.
What the Book Is About: Not a straight line, more like a melody
RAAG KASOOMAL by Dr. Ramesh Chand Meena is not a novel that runs in a straight narrative line. From what the blurb reveals, it feels structured like a classical composition. There is history here, yes. There is politics, valor, devotion, art, and love. But they do not arrive as bullet points or plot twists. They arrive as notes.
The story draws heavily from Rajasthan’s cultural and artistic legacy. You feel the presence of Nagari Das and the divine love tradition associated with Bani Thani. You sense the meticulous brushwork of the Kishangarh school of miniature painting. These are not just references thrown in for intellectual weight. They seem to form the emotional backbone of the novel.
Across twenty two chapters, the book appears to weave together the worldly and the spiritual. Raag becomes the pulse of life, while Kasoomal, that delicate pink hue, turns into an emotional color palette. The novel builds a literary world where imagination and history sit beside each other without arguing.
I think what stood out to me is that the book does not seem obsessed with plot in the conventional sense. It is more interested in atmosphere. In feeling. In resonance. It reads like something that wants to be felt rather than summarized.
What Stood Out to Me: Craft, culture, and a certain confidence
I have read enough historical and culturally rooted novels to know when a writer is performing knowledge and when they are living inside it. Dr. Ramesh Chand Meena clearly belongs to the second category.
His academic background in Indian miniature painting and aesthetics shows, but not in a heavy handed way. The blurb hints at a language that is lyrical, influenced by music and visual art. That combination is not easy to pull off. Many writers try and end up sounding decorative. This book, at least from what it promises, sounds grounded.
The idea of raag as life’s heartbeat is something I kept returning to. It reminded me of how, in Indian traditions, art is never separate from living. Music is not entertainment. Color is not just pigment. They are ways of understanding existence.
Another thing that stayed with me was the balance the book claims to maintain. Politics and devotion. Heroism and tenderness. Art and spirituality. In my experience, balance is harder than intensity. Anyone can go loud. Balance requires restraint.
If I had to gently question something, it would be accessibility. This novel seems deeply rooted in Indian aesthetics and history. That is its strength, but it might ask more from readers who are unfamiliar with these traditions. Some readers may need time to adjust to the rhythm. This is not a book you skim. And honestly, it does not seem to want skimming readers.
The Emotional Core: What I think readers might feel
There is a certain softness promised in this book. Not weakness. Softness. The kind that comes from devotion, from art, from long looking.
I imagine readers feeling a sense of nostalgia even if they have never been to Kishangarh or studied miniature paintings. There is something universal about longing, about beauty tied to devotion. The idea of Kasoomal as an emotional color felt particularly touching to me. I have seen how certain shades, certain songs, certain stories become emotional shorthand in our lives.
Some parts, I suspect, will make readers pause. Maybe reread a paragraph. Maybe sit back and think of a temple they visited once. Or a song they heard in childhood. Or a painting that stayed in their mind longer than expected.
This feels like the kind of book that does not shout emotions. It lets them surface slowly. And in 2025, when everything around us is urgent and loud, that feels meaningful.
Who This Book Is For: And who it might not be for
This book is for readers who enjoy cultural depth. If you like novels that are rooted in Indian history, aesthetics, and spiritual traditions, RAAG KASOOMAL will likely speak to you.
It is for readers who appreciate language. For those who enjoy when writing borrows from music and art. If you have ever been moved by a painting or a bhajan and could not fully explain why, this book might feel familiar.
It may not be for readers looking for fast paced storytelling or clear heroes and villains. If you want sharp twists or modern dialogue driven plots, this might test your patience. And that is okay. Not every book needs to be for everyone.
Final Thoughts: Why this book matters to me
As someone who has spent over fifteen years reading across genres, I can say this. Books like RAAG KASOOMAL remind me why literature still matters. It is not just about stories. It is about preserving ways of seeing.
Dr. Ramesh Chand Meena brings his deep understanding of art, aesthetics, and Indian cultural philosophy into this novel. And while I have not read every chapter yet, what the book promises feels sincere. It does not feel rushed. It does not feel trendy.
At Deified Publication, we often talk about books that add something to the cultural conversation rather than chasing it. This feels like one of those books.
It may ask for your time. It may ask for your attention. But I think it gives something back in return. A mood. A feeling. A lingering note.
FAQ Section
Is RAAG KASOOMAL worth reading?
If you enjoy culturally rich novels rooted in Indian history, art, and spirituality, I think it is worth your time.
What genre is RAAG KASOOMAL?
It reads like a historical literary novel with strong aesthetic and spiritual elements.
Who should read RAAG KASOOMAL?
Readers interested in Indian art traditions, Bhakti philosophy, and lyrical storytelling.
Is this book easy to read?
The language seems poetic and layered, so it may require patience rather than speed reading.
With over 11 years of experience in the publishing industry, Priya Srivastava has become a trusted guide for hundreds of authors navigating the challenging path from manuscript to marketplace. As Editor-in-Chief of Deified Publications, she combines the precision of a publishing professional with the empathy of a mentor who truly understands the fears, hopes, and dreams of both first-time and seasoned writers.