This story explores the meaning of humanity through the lives of those bound by tradition, superstition, and the long-standing feud between two villages in a Himalayan valley. The bitterness between them has endured since the days of the British Raj. The Holy Man of the Himalayas gifts a silver flute to young Vidhi, telling her she is like a candle. As she burns slowly, she brings light to those around her. He declares that she alone will bring peace and prosperity to the valley. Eight years later, he unites the two rival families by arranging a marriage between their children.

Some journeys take us far from home and lead us to our true destiny. In a quiet corner of that valley, a kind woman named Betty watches the life of the young bride next door unfold. Betty still remembers how, during the war, her husband and his friend were saved by strangers in Burma. Her husband never forgot them, and often said that gratitude is the memory of the heart. It helps make sense of our past and brings peace to the present.

With his words etched in her heart, Betty opens her home to Vidhi after the young bride is cruelly abandoned. Over the next two decades, Vidhi faces racial prejudice and the scorn of her own community. Yet through it all, Betty stands beside her like a true mother. For Betty, the greatest gift in life is being a mother. Though she could not fully be that to her own daughter, Kathy, she becomes something just as powerful to Vidhi.

Janaki Sastry was born into an Indian freedom fighter’s family. Those were the most turbulent times of the country. The young girl remembers them as exciting and confusing. She went to school in Free India. She studied M.A. (Psychology) at Ravenshaw College, Cuttack, and B.Ed. at Delhi University. After moving to England with her husband, she studied M.A.(Linguistics) at Leeds University.

Her teaching career began in India and continued in England. She enjoys meeting people of various cultures. She believes that it has broadened her outlook on life in general. She admires how similar many cultures are.

In the mid-eighties, she became an author with the Story Chest reading scheme. She sincerely thanks two people for her entry into writing: Pam Hutchinson (The Story Chest), who gave her the first break to be an author and Barbara Applin for (Caribbean Readers).

Later, she began to write short stories in Telugu, her mother tongue. Various stories got published in Indian magazines.

She enjoys her journey of three decades in India, followed by five decades in England, with immense enthusiasm.

Customer Reviews

5.0

2 reviews

Prana Kishore Bommireddipalli

A Poignant Journey of Sacrifice, Resilience, and Unlikely Bonds Rating: ★★★★★ The Whirlpool of Destiny is a deeply moving contemporary novel that masterfully weaves together the themes of ancient tradition, cultural friction, and the enduring power of human kindness. Set against the breathtaking yet harsh backdrop of a Himalayan valley, Janaki Sastry tells a story that is as much about the weight of the past as it is about the hope for a better future. The narrative follows Vidhi, a young woman burdened by a prophecy that she will be the "candle" that brings light to her warring community. Her journey from a child gifted a silver flute by a Holy Man to a young bride caught in a marriage meant to end a generations-old feud is heart-wrenching. Sastry does an excellent job portraying the claustrophobia of superstition and the cruelty of being abandoned by one's own people. However, the soul of the book lies in the relationship between Vidhi and her neighbor, Betty. Betty is a standout character—a woman who carries her own history of wartime gratitude and uses it to fuel an incredible act of maternal love. The bond that forms between these two women, cutting through racial prejudice and social scorn, provides the emotional anchor of the book. At 406 pages, the story takes its time to explore the complexities of "gratitude as the memory of the heart." It is a powerful reminder that while we cannot always choose our destiny, we can choose the humanity and compassion with which we face it. Verdict: An evocative and emotional read. If you enjoy stories about cultural heritage, resilience, and the "found family" trope, this book is a must-read. *** You can find more details or purchase the book through Austin Macauley Publishers.
Selvi Viswanathan

The book, ‘The Whirlpool of Destiny’ with a cool snow-peaked mountains, and soft Cover is soothing to the sight. The Holy Man in front of the Whirlpool is inviting. This novel of 400 pages long. The author chose a different format- instead of chapters she made it into three parts calling Book 1, 2 and 3. The main character Vidhi was chosen by Guruji and the story revolves around her life. Vidhi 16 years old married to Vikram so that the two rival families would unite. The families did unite but it failed to unite Vidhi and her husband Vikram who is a resident of London. Within three days, he abandons her cruelly and disappears. Vidhi’s hardships accumulate day by day while waiting for her groom to return home. How she kept her lonely existence away from her family in Haveli was hard for me to assimilate and empathise. Vidhi suffered alone for the safety of the two villages safety. (Book 1) After her Daadiji’s death, Vidhi loses all contact with her family in India. Time moves on, and her younger sister Bindu form the college makes the initial contact with Vidhi. With her husband Sudhir’s support, Bindu visits Vidhi. Their reunion was emotional and touched my heart. Vidhi grew up in Haveli till 16 years until got married. Well-educated, well-travelled Daadhiji becomes Vidhi’s guide and caretaker from her infancy. When Vidhi got married to Vikram who was in London Diaadiji gives a Farewell-gift of Guidance Book. (Book 3). The author who has Master’s degree in Psychology has given detailed suggestions how to handle difficult situations. Book 2 refers to Vidhi’s adventures in new surroundings. Betty plays an important role in Vidhi’s life. Perhaps without Betty, the story wouldn’t move forward. Betty is a remarkable character that shows even in a foreign land one can find a mother. Another character is young Emily. The author introduced young Emily the granddaughter of Betty, who lives across the street. Emily’s efforts to teach English to Vidhi is interesting and amusing. She lays the foundations to Vidhi’s future education venture. And she becomes Vidhi’s best friend and soul mate. The Book Two called The Candle of Her Destiny is duly Lit is an amazing read. Here The readers will go through a very detailed and varied life-styles of two families in two countries. And how The Holy Man words about Vidhi come true. The life in Haveli described by Daadiji opened my eyes. I learnt once a girl is married never will come back to her home where she was born! It was shocking to me. But Vidhi says her sister-in-law visits her mother’s home. Then Daadiji tells her that every family has got their own traditions. It is wise to follow them. This part of the book explains why Vidhi can’t return to Haveli, which would rekindle old wounds between the two villages. I enjoyed knowing about the significance of numbers. Number sixteen is prominent. The story begins with being sixteen. Her solitary life in Vikram’s house is for sixteen days. The chapters in Book 3 are sixteen. I was intrigued by number nine. The author has mentioned its significance in detail. The Holy man chooses Vidhi from the flute she could play that belonged to Vikram’s family. So, in a subtle way the author has chosen music the flute, Lord Krishna plays and is the God Vikram’s Family deity! We see Music plays significant role which is universal in this novel. In Indian Tradition Navarasas: Nava is Nine and Rasa is sentiment, essences is a frame work of nine fundamental human emotions that are central to Indian artists and performing arts such as dance, drama and literature. In Literature, these Navarasas are used to understand and evoke feelings. They serve as a frame work to portray complex characters and to the theme. The author has depicted them tactfully in her novel. They are: Love( Sringara) Joy( Hasya) Sorrow ( Karuna) Anger( Rudra) Heroism ( Valour) Fear (Bhaya) Disgust(Bhibhatsa) Wonder ( Adbutha) and Peace( Shantha) are used creating a profound connection through story-telling and expression. In Literature Navarasas are used to analyze, understand and revoke feelings. These serve as a frame work to portray complex characters and themes adding depth and meaning to literary works. In this novel The Whirlpool of Destiny, the author introduces all the nine emotions tactfully. So, readers might go through all these emotions that are portrayed in the novel. To mention few: Vidhi, the Sixteen-year-old- bride comes to join her husband in London with Sringara rasa but she finds it not. The neighbor Betty, English woman kindness portrays Krupa rasa. We can see Bhayam rasa in the chapter The Priest. I should say Vidhi goes through a lot of emotions like Bhayam, Valour, Joy when she hears from Diaadiji and Bindu. By the time Vidhi swims out of the whirlpool she has endured all rasas. The Whirlpool of Destiny is an amazing story that would engage the reader with intrigue and awe. It deals with philosophy, number significance, depression and views on suicide and other varied emotions. Where there is humanity and kindness no hardships can pull you down.