Summary:
New Delhi, Aug 7 (PTI) Inspired by the legendary Bhawal sannyasi case and evocative in its recreation of pre-Partition Bengal, new book "The Mendicant Prince: A Novel" presents an intriguing tale of dual identity and the inexplicable quirks of fate.
The historical novel, published by Pan Macmillan India, is written by award-winning author Aruna Chakravarti.
It is a fictionalised account of the Bhawal sannyasi case -- one of the longest cases ever fought during the British Raj.
The Bhawal court case was a pre-Independence case that revolved around the identity of a sannyasi (or Hindu religious ascetic), rumoured to be the heir of one of the last great zamindari estates in Dhaka (now modern Bangladesh).
"I first heard the Bhawal story when I was only ten.
But, even at that tender age, it made a powerful impact and stayed with me for decades afterwards...
Some friends distantly related to the Bhawal family urged me to write a book on the famous legal case" Chakravarti told PTI.
"It seemed too difficult, too complex a project.
But in the complete silence and isolation in which I was encapsulated during COVID, I was able to find the discipline and concentration needed to undertake the project.
Once I decided to write the book, it literally took over my life.