Beneath the Waters Lies a Secret
Announcing Echoes of Muziris—Winner of the Best Manuscript Award at the
JK Paper–Times of India AutHer Awards, 2026
What if the lost city of Muziris was not just buried by history—but was waiting to be discovered?
Readomania is delighted to announce Echoes of Muziris by Saanvi Shabeesh, a gripping historical mystery that takes readers beneath the waters of Kerala and into the secrets of one of India’s most fascinating lost cities.
At the heart of the story is Anju, a young deep-sea diver whose fascination with the ocean leads her to an extraordinary archaeological expedition. When her organisation is invited to participate in the excavation and research of Muziris, believed to lie submerged beneath the waters of Pattanam, Anju expects to uncover fragments of the past. Instead, she finds herself drawn into a mystery that seems to transcend time.
Muziris was once a thriving port city of the Chera dynasty and an important centre of trade between India and Rome. In Saanvi Shabeesh’s imagination, this historical setting becomes the backdrop for an atmospheric tale of underwater exploration, ancient secrets, mythology and danger. As the divers uncover artefacts, inscriptions and remnants of the lost city, Anju begins experiencing disturbing dreams—and discovers that some of what she sees in those dreams may not be dreams at all.
The deeper she ventures into Muziris, the stranger things become. An ancient temple lies beneath the waters. A towering statue of Goddess Bhagavathi watches over its inner sanctum. Friends disappear. Warnings emerge from the past. And Anju is forced to confront a question that has haunted the city for centuries: was Muziris destroyed by human greed, divine wrath or something far more mysterious?
What makes Echoes of Muziris particularly compelling is its blending of Indian history, Kerala mythology, underwater adventure and supernatural suspense. Rather than transporting readers to a familiar fantasy world, the novel finds wonder and mystery in a place rooted in India's own history. The submerged city becomes more than an archaeological site—it becomes a character in its own right, carrying memories, secrets and perhaps a will of its own.
The novel also explores themes of greed, guilt, accountability and the consequences of refusing to let go. Beneath its mystery and adventure lies a deeper question: when a civilisation falls, do we blame fate—or do we confront the choices that brought about its downfall?
The journey of Echoes of Muziris is remarkable in itself. What began as a short story written by Saanvi Shabeesh when she was in Class 7, eventually grew into the manuscript that won the Best Manuscript Award at the prestigious JK Paper–Times of India AutHer Awards, 2026.
The AutHer Awards, instituted by JK Papers in association with the Times of India in 2019, were created with a meaningful purpose—to celebrate and amplify the voices of women writers across India. Over the years, this platform has grown into an inspiring literary movement, receiving more than 12,000 submissions, including nearly 3,000 debut entries this year, recognising both emerging talent and established excellence.
In Season 4, JK Paper introduced a dedicated category—Best Manuscript—for young women between the ages of 14 and 18. This category was envisioned to discover fresh voices, original ideas, and untold stories from the next generation of writers. To take this vision further, JK Paper partnered with Readomania Publishing to bring the winning manuscript to life as a published book each year.
With its cinematic underwater setting, strong female protagonist and distinctly Indian mythology and history, Echoes of Muziris promises an immersive reading experience for those drawn to historical mysteries, adventure, mythology and stories of lost civilisations.
The lost city has resurfaced.
But some secrets were perhaps meant to remain underwater.
JK Paper in association with Readomania are proud to bring Echoes of Muziris by Saanvi Shabeesh to readers. Coming soon!
About the Author
Winner of the Best Manuscript Award at the JK Paper–Times of India AutHer Awards 2026, Saanvi is a high school student and an avid reader who has been collecting stories from a young age. She loves to blend her imagination with emotional depth. Her stories often explore resilience, identity and bonds that shape us.
She is also a classical dancer and has a passion for Indian mythology and understanding the stories that her ancestors have written.
Conversations are a mode of understanding—she thrives on the exchange of ideas, opinions and beliefs, drawing insights from the different perspectives around her. For Saanvi, English is not just a subject—it’s a source of happiness, a mode through which she can connect with others, reflect on stories, and create some of her own.
Whether or not she has her nose in a book or listening to a tale, her mind is always conjuring up stories, sad ones, happy ones, thrilling ones…you name it. Her imagination is boundless and hopes that by writing she gets to inspire other people too, just as she was inspired by reading. She wishes to never limit herself and always have what it takes to write. She is a patient listener, a dreamer, a dancer, a writer, a reader and above all, she is just herself—a girl with endless possibilities.
This book reflects her belief that stories are not just entertainment, but bridges between people, cultures, and dreams.
She lives in Bengaluru with her parents.
Comments