The Sun Behind the Cloud is a historical-political novel which deals with the colonial conflict between Bhaskararao Bhave of Peshwa dynasty, King of Naragund and the authorities of the East India Company around 1857. In this Indian war of independence, Bhaskararao Bhave fought against the British rulers, especially against the Disarmament Bill and the Doctrine of Lapse introduced by Lord Dalhousie. He killed Manson, the Political Agent of South India and enraged the British Government. But his patriotic fight was nullified as much by the 'divide and rule' policy of the Britishers as by betrayal by his own people. Consequently he lost his kingdom, mother and wife and escaped. Later he was arrested and ordered to be hanged to death. But the strange quirks of his fate compelled him to escape the death-sentence as one of his loyal servants offered himself to be hanged in his place thereby cheating the British authorities. He, then wandered about in disguise, met Nanasaheb Tantya Topi in Nepal and tried in vain to defeat the British rulers. His dream of freedom was never realised. He remained a mute witness to the triumph of the British Raj until his death in Vasai near Mumbai. The novel is easily comparable to those of John Masters, Manohar Malgonkar and Chinua Achebe.
Basavaraj Naikar (1949- ) a native of Naragund, graduated from Karnatak University, Dharwad. He started his research and teaching career at the Post Graduate Centre of Karnatak University at Gulbarga, and is presently a Professor of English at Karnatak University, Dharwad, INDIA. A bilingual writer, he has published many translations and critical works like Paduvana Nadina Premavira, Huchchuhole, Kollada Neralu, Jogibhavi, Govardhanaram, Nigudha Saudha, Kannada Asangata Natakagalu, Beowulf, Samrachanavada and Gilgamesh Mahakavya in Kannada. Likewise he has published translations and critical works like Sarvajna : The Omniscient Poet of Karnataka, Musings of Sarvajna, Critical Articles on Nirad C. Chaudhuri, Shakespeare’s Last Plays : A Study of Epic Affirmation , The Folk-Theatre of North Karnataka and Kanakadasa. He has edited Sparrows, Desert Blooms, Vatsalya and Sandalwood. He has published several research articles and reviews in national and international journals. He regularly reviews Indian books for World Literature Today, U.S.A. He has published his first short story collection entitled The Thief of Nagarahalli and Other Stories from the Writers’ Workshop, Calcutta which was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Fiction Prize for the Best First Book from Eurasia in 2000. The Sun Behind The Cloud is his first historical novel. His second historical novel on the heroic Rani Chennamma of Kittur awaits publication. He has a passion for music, philosophy and literature.
