Prof. K. Sridhar will read excerpts from his recently released novel, Ajita, and take the audience through the process and design of this unique novel, in which the lives of a fifth-century philosopher, Ajita, and a modern-day professor, Moksh, intertwine most unexpectedly. Separated by centuries but united through philosophy, this novel explores the complex dimensions of human existence.

It is the fifth century, and Ajita, a curious young boy, is endlessly fascinated by ants. How do they know where to seek food? How do they move in such an orderly fashion? Do they communicate? These questions ignite his lifelong pursuit of knowledge. During Ajita’s evolution into a philosopher of the Cārvāka school, his life crosses paths with many interesting characters, from Emperor Ajatashatru to Makkhali Goshala, Mahavira and the Buddha.

Centuries later, Moksh Malhar, a contemporary academic, is battling the shadows of his past. To cope, he seeks solace in books, ideas and philosophy, where he finds himself drawn to the Cārvāka philosophy and the life of its foremost thinker, Ajita. As his immersion deepens, Moksh finds the boundaries of space and time beginning to blur.

The talk will be followed by a moderated Q&A session with the author.

About the author

K Sridhar is a theoretical physicist whose interests encompass high-energy physics, particularly extra dimensions and supersymmetry. However, his work and concerns extend to art, philosophy, and education as well. His first book, a work of literary fiction called Twice Written, was published in 2011. Ajita is his second novel.

Sridhar is a former faculty member of the Department of Theoretical Physics, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, where he worked from 1995 to 2021. He completed his PhD from the University of Mumbai and post-doctoral work at the University of London, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad and CERN, Geneva.

Prof. Sridhar currently teaches at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru.

Hosted by IHA in collaboration with Azim Premji University.