Most of the stories in this collection are set in present-day Northern Andhra Pradesh, known historically as Kalinga-Andhra. It was also the site of the Srikakulam armed struggle of the 1960s. My childhood and formative years were spent in this region. As my parents were both teachers, I had access to books and magazines from an early age. Further, the public library in the small town called Tekkali in Srikakulam district, where I went to school was a window to the world. Looking back. The translations of some of the books that I had read in the library perhaps led to my gravitating toward marine engineering and to the merchant navy as my career choice. Titles such as Physics for Entertainment by Yakov Perelman, Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues under the Sea and Thor Heyerdahl's Kon-tiki Expedition come to my mind. During summer vacations in our grandparents' place in Visakhapatnam, the sight of ships entering and leaving the harbour, the tugs fussing over them, and the blowing of their horns is etched in my memory.

My years at sea and visits to ports across the world deepened my interest in maritime history. The early colonial period of daring navigators, shrewd conquerors and the heroic resistance of the 'natives' fascinated me. Some of my experiences and interests find their echo in these stories.

The stories in this collection span a thousand years in the history of a long-neglected region. They explore and illuminate the struggles waged by men and women of the land--over religious faith, under the colonial yoke, and against repression and violence by the state. The journeys of these 'underdogs' as they valiantly attempt to alter the tides of history are described with narrative flair and uncommon sensitivity, making them vivid and memorable.-Kalyan Raman, Translator.

The stories in this collection are rooted deeply in our ancient philosophy and the core values that cherish questioning and value learning. They invite and involve the reader to take part in these pursuits. -Volga, Writer.

Why did Buddhism disappear from India, the land of its birth?" The title story East Wind answers this question - it captures the tensions between faith at an individual level and the state assuming the role of religious leadership and the political power that goes with it. -G. Haragopal, Political Scientist