About:

About Shankar Kashyap

About

Discover a world of possibilities

Contact us

Welcome to a world of limitless possibilities, where the journey is as exhilarating and where every moment is an opportunity.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Paintings, Books and poetry

Shankar Kashyap is a historian, author, and visual artist based in the United Kingdom. A retired orthopaedic surgeon, he has published widely — from historical fiction inspired by the Harappan civilization and Rigvedic traditions, to poetry collections and true-crime narratives. His work blends rigorous research with narrative depth, offering readers both insight and immersive storytelling. Beyond the written word, Shankar is also a painter, with a body of oil and watercolour works exhibited locally in the UK and online in India. Through both his writing and painting, he explores history, culture, and the human experience, inviting audiences to see the world through a lens of curiosity, reflection, and artistry.

Shankar Kashyap

  • The Song of Fire and Steel: The Rise and Ruin of Kampili

    The fall of the Kampili Kingdom was not merely the end of a small kingdom, but a moment of defiance etched in fire. From the siege of Anegondi to the tragic Jauhar, this story reveals how destruction gave rise to the Vijayanagara Empire.

    Read more →

  • The Rise and Fall of the Vijayanagara Empire

    Where and When Nestled in the heart of the Deccan Plateau, the Vijayanagara Empire stands as a testament to the resilience and cultural vibrancy of medieval South India. Spanning from 1336 to 1646 CE, this Hindu kingdom rose from the ashes of invasions to become a powerhouse of art, architecture, and administration. Everyone has read…

    Read more →

  • Hinduism – a brief history

    Hinduism – a brief history

    The Hindus – a brief history. Summary: This is a brief introduction to my forthcoming book, The Hindus. I have tried to summarise the history fo Hindu religion – birth and development to present day status of the faith or religion. Is it a religion or a faith? I will let the reader decide for…

    Read more →

  • Limerick

    Limerick

    Limerick Limerick is a five-line witty poem with a distinctive rhythm, funny and often rude.  Named after the Irish town of Limerick, the poem allegedly got its name from the town custom of shouting “Will you come up to Limerick?” after a performance of nonsense poetry at social gatherings.   However the actual origin of the…

    Read more →

  • Ballad

    Ballad

    This is an extract from my book – Musings of a Romantic where you can learn everything you wanted to know about poetry.

    Read more →

  • Villanelle

    Villanelle

    The Villanelle   The villanelle has humble origins as a rustic Italian song, but over the past few centuries it has developed into a highly structured form of poetry. Villanelle is derived from the Italian word villano, meaning a peasant.  Originated as a dance song with pastoral themes. A nineteen-line poem divided into five tercets…

    Read more →

  • Couplet

    Couplet

    The name “couplet” originates from the French word meaning riveting or joining two pieces of iron together.   It originated in late 16th century with Sir P Sydney’s Arcadia.  A couplet is a two line verse, which rhymes and forms a unit alone or as part of a poem.   However, not all couplets do…

    Read more →

  • Lays (Lyric)

    Lays (Lyric)

    The Lays or its proper form – Lyric – is derived from the ancient musical instrument Lyre, which was probably one of the most often used instrument in any ensemble in ancient Greece. The term probably owes its origins to Aristotle, who classified three types of poetry – lyric, dramatic and epic. It was used…

    Read more →

  • Idyll

    Idyll

             An Idyll is a short poem written describing the idyllic countryside. Originated in Greece by Theocritus, trying to veer away from Homer’s complex ballads and epics and make them accessible to simple rustic folk. The word Idyll comes from the Greek word Eidyllion or little picture. It pictures a rural scene,…

    Read more →

  • A Ballad

    A Ballad

    Ballad has been there for several centuries (around 13th century) and started off as folk songs, accompanied by musical instruments. Earliest ballads were transmitted orally in song form and mainly dealt with religious and folk lyrics. The ballad’s lyrical rhythm and rhyme owe to the fact that this poetic form is rooted in song telling…

    Read more →