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Les aventures de Kamrup
144 pages
Published January 9, 2025
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September 26, 2025
There's something odd about this little book. According to the blurb it's an Indian fairy tale, written in 1756 by a certain Tahsin al-Din in one of the largest languages in the Indian subcontinent, namely Urdu. This is a French translation by Joseph Garcin de Tassy, a French orientalist in the early 19th century. The strange thing is that I can't find any trace of this Tahsin al-Din, or of the book itself, online, except for Garcin's own old edition, which has recently been republished in French.
Apparently, there's also an English version, "The Loves of Camarupa and Camalata," translated by a British vicar and Indian traveler, William Franklin, in the late 18th century, who based his work on a Persian manuscript. The conclusion, then, might be that several versions of this story circulated, in various languages and cultures in the Middle East and Asia, which were (temporarily or otherwise) under Islamic control.
That becomes more obvious, as the story itself is very reminiscent of episodes from 1001 Nights. The version I read is set in the land of the Maharajas and uses both Islamic and Hindu elements. It's a typical combination of a love story, a quest and an adventure novel (a prince searching for his beloved via many detours), with passages that remind us – Westerners – strongly of the Odyssey and Gulliver's Travels. Much repetition, many improbable plot twists, many magical elements as well, but of course a happy ending with a glorious wedding celebration. So, it's not surprising that the central message can be summarized as: "What fate has destined will happen, but love conquers all." Nice, sure, but a bit messy, and - as indicated - it has a rather mysterious origin and background.
Apparently, there's also an English version, "The Loves of Camarupa and Camalata," translated by a British vicar and Indian traveler, William Franklin, in the late 18th century, who based his work on a Persian manuscript. The conclusion, then, might be that several versions of this story circulated, in various languages and cultures in the Middle East and Asia, which were (temporarily or otherwise) under Islamic control.
That becomes more obvious, as the story itself is very reminiscent of episodes from 1001 Nights. The version I read is set in the land of the Maharajas and uses both Islamic and Hindu elements. It's a typical combination of a love story, a quest and an adventure novel (a prince searching for his beloved via many detours), with passages that remind us – Westerners – strongly of the Odyssey and Gulliver's Travels. Much repetition, many improbable plot twists, many magical elements as well, but of course a happy ending with a glorious wedding celebration. So, it's not surprising that the central message can be summarized as: "What fate has destined will happen, but love conquers all." Nice, sure, but a bit messy, and - as indicated - it has a rather mysterious origin and background.
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