Personal Learnings from The Immortals of Meluha by Amish

Introduction

The Immortals of Meluha by Amish Tripathi was one of those books that had been long pending on my bucket list. Recently, I visited the Book Fair in 2025 at Delhi's Bharat Mandapam, where my eye caught the book, and without any doubt, I picked up the same. I picked it up out of curiosity, but it ended up giving me a lot more than just a story. I’ve always heard about the Shiva Trilogy, and people kept telling me it’s not just mythology—it’s a blend of philosophy, imagination, and life lessons. So I finally decided to read it, not expecting much.

But as I went deeper into Meluha—the discipline, the beliefs, the people, and Shiva himself—I realised the book speaks to you in unexpected ways. It’s not just about gods and legends; it’s about choices, fear, leadership, and the grey areas of good and evil.

This article isn’t a typical review. It’s simply my personal experience with the book—what I felt, what I learned, and the moments that stayed with me long after I closed the last page.

Quick Summary

The Immortals of Meluha is the first book in the Shiva Trilogy, set in an alternate-history version of ancient India.I won't give you any spoilers, but the book offers a fascinating glimpse into Shiva’s arrival in the almost perfectly designed, disciplined, and “immortal” kingdom of Meluha. It shows how an ordinary man walks into a land that believes in legends — and how that belief slowly begins to shape his own journey.

Shiva, completely unaware of his destiny, suddenly finds himself pulled into a world of responsibilities, moral dilemmas, and unexpected challenges. The story follows his transformation as he steps into the role of the Neelkanth, not because he was born extraordinary, but because circumstances and choices push him to evolve.

The book beautifully mixes mythology with human emotion, making Shiva’s rise feel real, relatable, and powerful.

Personal Learning #1: Greatness Is a Choice, Not a Birthright

One thing that stood out to me immediately was how Amish portrays Shiva. He is not born divine or perfect. He starts as an ordinary human, with flaws, doubts, and frustrations—just like any of us. What makes him different is not where he comes from but the choices he makes when life throws challenges at him.

This hit me personally because it reminded me that greatness isn’t reserved for the gifted or the lucky. It really does come from discipline, taking responsibility, and choosing the harder path when needed. We become who we are by the way we deal with our problems, not by the privileges we’re born with.

The book also shows an interesting Meluhan system where every child can choose their profession, regardless of the family they’re born into. That idea reinforced the message that growth is self-made. Your background doesn’t trap you. Your choices build your destiny.

Personal Learning #2: Good vs. Evil Is Not Absolute

One of Amish’s strongest messages is that “evil is just good taken too far.”It sounds simple at first, but the more you think about it, the deeper it gets.

It made me look at people and situations in my own life differently. Sometimes someone isn’t truly wrong—they may just be following a principle so strictly that it stops making sense. Or they’re acting out of fear, hurt, or misunderstanding. It taught me to pause before judging, to understand context, and to see the grey areas instead of labelling everything as black or white.

This perspective makes life more empathetic. The book reminded me that intentions matter, and every story has another side.

Personal Learning #3: The Power of Belief

One thing Meluha is built on is belief—especially their belief that a saviour, the Neelkanth, will come. The moment Shiva arrives, they see him through the lens of that belief. And this belief changes everything: how they treat him, how they organise their missions, and how they fight their battles.

This idea made me reflect on the power of belief in real life, too. When you believe in yourself, or when people believe in you, it can transform your confidence and direction. Belief gives energy to effort. It can turn an ordinary person into someone capable of extraordinary things. Whether it's belief in a goal, a team, a relationship, or a mission, belief shapes outcomes.

Personal Learning #4: Inner Fear and Courage

Shiva’s journey is not just about battles and politics. A lot of it is internal. He constantly wrestles with self-doubt, guilt, and the pressure of expectations. And yet, he chooses courage each time—even when he is afraid.

This connected with me personally because fear is something we all deal with, whether it's fear of failing, fear of judgment, or fear of the unknown. Shiva’s struggles showed that courage isn’t the absence of fear — it’s moving forward despite fear. It reminded me that the moments I grew the most in my life were also the moments I was uncomfortable or scared, but still took the step anyway.

Critique (Optional & Personal)

What I liked most about the book is how Amish blends mythology with logic. He makes divine characters human, relatable, and emotionally real. The world-building of Meluha — its discipline, fairness, and systems — was fascinating to imagine.

What I didn’t fully agree with was how perfect Meluha sometimes felt. At times, it almost felt too ideal, like a society without flaws. Some parts also felt stretched, especially the overly detailed descriptions. But none of this ruined the experience — it just made me wish for more balance in the portrayal.

Overall, the book kept me hooked and made me think deeply at the same time, which is rare.

Conclusion

Reading The Immortals of Meluha felt less like reading a fantasy novel and more like going on a journey with Shiva—watching him grow, struggle, doubt, and rise. It gave me lessons about choice, belief, fear, leadership, and how to see the world with more empathy.

It’s one of those books that stays with you even after you finish it. And yes, it definitely made me excited to jump into Book 2, The Secret of the Nagas, to see how Shiva’s transformation continues.