A nov
Rajendra Chola
Chennai, 1st February 2026: The English book launch of “Aazhikondan – The Conqueror of Oceans (Part 1)” was held at the Tamil Virtual Academy, located within the Anna University campus in Chennai. Published by Pustaka Digital Media Pvt.Ltd., one of India’s leading digital publishing platforms, this historical fiction novel has been authored by 16-year-old young writer Rounaak Shiv, who writes under the pen name Andhuvan. Conceived as a continuation of the late Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan, the novel has been developed as a factual fiction work, centered on Rajendra Chola’s overseas conquests and supported by epigraphical (inscriptional) evidence.
Rounaak Shiv, an 11th-grade student from Bengaluru, has emerged as a young historical writer inspired by stories narrated by his grandmother and by the works of Kalki. With a deep interest in Chola history and Indian heritage, he dedicated his debut novel Aazhikondan to the late Kalki after extensive research. Also a cricketer, Rounaak aspires to present the grandeur of the Chola Empire to today’s generation from a fresh and engaging perspective.
At the event, the print edition of the book was released by Professor Dr. G. Deivanayagam and received by renowned writer Kalachakram Narasimha. The e-book edition was launched by noted author Pattukottai Prabhakar, while the audio book edition was released by Siva Anand, Director of Madras Talkies. The event also featured a special address by eminent historian Dr. K.V.S. Maruthu Mohan.
The publisher behind this release, Pustaka Digital Media Private Limited, has been a prominent name in India’s digital publishing industry since 2014. Over the past decade, the company has published more than 11,900 e-books, 3000+ print books, and 400+ audio books, marking a significant milestone in the publishing space. With a network of over 950 authors, Pustaka’s success is strongly attributed to its transparent and ethical publishing practices. The company stands as a pioneer in taking Tamil literary works to a global audience and has released Aazhikondan as part of its continued efforts to encourage and nurture young writers.
