A Mirrored Life

by Rabisankar Bal, Arunava Sinha (Translator)

On his way from Tangiers to China, the medieval Moorish traveller Ibn Battuta arrives in Konya, Turkey where the legendary dervish Rumi had lived, danced and died. More than half a century may have passed since his death, but his poetry remains alive, inscribed in every stone and tree and pathway.

Rumi’s followers entrust Ibn Battuta with a manuscript of his life stories to spread word of the mystic on his travels. As Battuta reads and recites these tales, his listeners discover their own lives reflected in these stories—fate has bound them, and perhaps you, to Rumi.

A Mirrored Life reaffirms the magical powers of storytelling, making us find Rumi in each of our hearts.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Indian Literature

217 pages, Paperback

First published November 3, 2013

About the author

রবিশংকর বল পশ্চিমবঙ্গের খ্যাতনামা কথাসাহিত্যিক। জন্ম ১৯৬২ সালে। বিজ্ঞানে স্নাতক। ২০১১ সালে দোজখনামা উপন্যাসের জন্য বঙ্কিম স্মৃতি পুরস্কার পেয়েছেন।

গল্পগ্রন্থ
দারুনিরঞ্জন
রবিশঙ্কর বল এর গল্প
আর্তোর শেষ অভিনয়
জীবন অন্যত্র
ওই মণিময় তার কাহিনী
সেরা ৫০ টি গল্প

উপন্যাস
নীল দরজা লাল ঘর
পোখরান ৯৮
স্মৃতি ও স্বপ্নের বন্দর
পাণ্ডুলিপি করে আয়োজন
মিস্টার ফ্যান্টম
বাসস্টপে একদিন
মিলনের শ্বাসরোধী কথা
নষ্টভ্রষ্ট
এখানে তুষার ঝরে
দোজখনামা
আয়নাজীবন
আঙুরবাগানে খুন
জিরো আওয়ার

কবিতা
ত্রস্ত নীলিমা
ঊনপঞ্চাশ বায়ু

প্রবন্ধ
সংলাপের মধ্যবর্তী এই নীরবতা
কুষ্ঠরোগীদের গুহায় সংগীত
মুখ আর মুখোশ
জীবনানন্দ ও অন্যান্য

সম্পাদিত গ্রন্থ
সাদাত হোসেইন মন্টো রচনাসংগ্রহ

জাহিদ সোহাগ : মানে আমি বলছি এই কারণে যে, আমাদের বাংলাদেশে রবিশংকর বলকে চেনা হচ্ছে দোজখনামা দিয়ে। এটাকে আপনি কীভাবে দেখবেন? মানে এখানেও একটা ট্যাগ আছে।
রবিশংকর বল : এটা বলা কঠিন, তবু যদি বলো তবে আমি বলব, আমার "মধ্যরাত্রির জীবনী" উপন্যাসটা পড়া উচিত, "বাসস্টপে একদিন" উপন্যাসটা পড়া উচিত, "এখানে তুষার ঝরে" উপন্যাসটা পড়া উচিত। "স্মৃতি ও স্বপ্নের বন্দর", "ছায়াপুতুলের খেলা" অবশ্যই। এই কটা লেখা অন্তত। আর "পাণ্ডুলিপি করে আয়োজন" এই লেখাটা।

Reviews

[Shadin Pranto]

দোজখ্নামা' পাঠের অভিজ্ঞতা এখনও পাঠকহৃদয়ে জাগরূক। লেখক হিসেবে রবিশংকর বল অসাধারণদের মধ্যেও সাধারণ নন তা তখনই আবিষ্কার করেছিলাম৷ শুনলাম, রবিশংকর বল মওলানা জালালউদ্দিন রুমিকে নিয়ে উপন্যাস লিখেছেন। ততদিনে এলিফ শাফাকের লেখা 'Forty Rules Of Love' পড়া শেষ। 'মসনবি'ও পড়েছিলাম। বুঝতেই পারছেন রুমিকে নিয়ে ঘোর উন্মাদনার বাইরে আমিও নই৷ কিন্তু কাঁহা গেলে তোমায় পাই? অর্থাৎ 'আয়নাজীবন' তখন খুঁজে-ফিরি। আজিজে নেই, রকমারিতে স্টক শেষ৷ পিডিএফ হয়নি৷ এভাবেই কেটে গেল দুঃখী পাঠকের একটি বছর৷ কিন্তু গতপরশু হঠাৎই হাতে পেলাম 'আয়নাজীবন'! ব্যস, আর কে আমায় আটকায়? একবসায় পড়ে ফেললাম মওলানা জালালউদ্দিন রুমির জীবনীনির্ভর উপন্যাস 'আয়নাজীবন'।

এই উপন্যাসকে রেটিং দিব না৷ কারণ পুরো উপন্যাসের কিছু অংশ আরো কয়েকবার পড়তে হবে, বুঝতে হলে৷ ভাষার মাধুর্য কতটা মোহনীয় হতে পারে তারই দৃষ্টান্ত 'আয়নাজীবন'।

উপন্যাসের কথক পরিব্রাজক ইবনে বতুতা। তিনি রুমির মৃত্যুর ৫০ কিংবা ৬০ বছর পর পৌঁছান মওলানার লীলাক্ষেত্র কোনিয়াতে৷ ততদিনে মওলানা জালালউদ্দিন রুমি এবং তাঁর জীবনসূর্য শামসে তাবরিজকে ঘিরে কতশত ঘটনা,রটনা ডালপালা গজিয়ে মহীরুহ আকার ধারণ করেছে৷ সেই ঘটনাই একেধারে শুনে চলছেন ইবনে বতুতা আর তার সফরসঙ্গী হিসেবে আছি আমরা পাঠকেরা৷

এই বই নিয়ে দীর্ঘ আলোচনার ইচ্ছে থাকছে। কিন্তু কিছু বিষয় আমি ঠিক বুঝিনি৷ যেমনঃ মওলানা রুমির সাথে তার স্ত্রী কেরা বেগমের সঙ্গমের বর্ণনা কতখানি দরকার ছিল তা বোধগম্য নয়৷উপন্যাসের কাহিনির সাথেও এই ঘটনা মানানসই নয়। তেমনি একটি খাপছাড়া প্রসঙ্গ হলোঃ একঘরে ৪০ দিন মওলানা রুমি ও শামসে তাবরেজের অবস্থানকে 'সমকামিতার' দিকটি সামনে এনেছেন৷এও তো ছিল নিষ্প্রয়োজন।

মওলানা জালালউদ্দিন বলখি ওরফে রুমি এবং শামসে তাবরিজই এই 'আয়নাজীবন'-এর জীবনকথা আবদ্ধ নয়, বরং কেসসার পর কেসসায় সাজানো জীবনই হলো রবিশংকর বলের 'আয়নাজীবন'।

[Harun Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

৩.৫/৫
"আমরা উৎস থেকে নির্বাসিত। আমরা কথা বলি,লিখি।সবই ঘরে ফেরার তাড়না।"

মওলানা রুমি-কে নিয়ে লেখা অনবদ্য উপাখ্যান "আয়নাজীবন।" একে বলা যায় এলিফ শাফাকের "দ্য ফরটি রুলস অভ লাভ" এর সহচর উপন্যাস।রবিশংকর বলের জাদুকরী ভাষায় লেখা এ উপন্যাস পড়া শুরু করলে থামার উপায় নেই।সবই ভালো লাগলো কিন্তু উপন্যাসটা আয়তনে খুব ছোট।এ বিষয় নিয়ে আরো বিস্তৃত পরিসরে লেখা হলে তৃপ্তি পেতাম।রবিশংকর বলের অনবদ্য গদ্যশৈলীর জন্য আরেকবার এ উপন্যাস পড়ার ইচ্ছা রইলো।

[Ashik · Rating 4 out of 5]

নাহ, এসব বইয়ের রিভিউ দেওয়া সম্ভব না। এমনিতেই রবিশংকরের লেখার প্রতি আমি বায়াজড, আর যাকে নিয়ে লেখা সেই জালালুদ্দিন রুমির প্রতিও মুগ্ধতা আর কৌতূহলের সীমা নেই আমার।
দোষের মধ্যে একটাই দোষ, একটু বেশিই ছোট পরিসরে লেখা। এরচেয়ে দ্বিগুণ, তিনগুণ লিখলেও বিন্দুমাত্র খারাপ লাগতো না।

[Akash Saha]

রুমিকে নিয়ে আরো জানার আগ্রহ হয়েছিল 'Forty rules of love ' পড়ে। 'আয়নাজীবন' জানার তৃষ্ণা আরও বাড়িয়ে দিল।

লেখনি সুন্দর, কিন্তু আরেকটু বড় ও বিশদ হলে আরও ভালো লাগত

[সালমান হক · Rating 4 out of 5]

বেশ ভালো লাগলো। প্রথমবারে অনেক কিছুই পরিষ্কার হয়নি বিধায় ইবনে বতুতা, শামস আর মাওলনা রুমি সম্পর্কে আরেকটু জেনেশুনে দ্বিতীয় দফা পড়েছি। ভাষার কারুকাজ অসাধারণ বললেও কম। তবে দীর্ঘ ব্যবহারে ঘোলাটে হয়ে আসা আয়নার মত কিছু ঘোলা অংশও ছিল, যেগুলো আরো পঠনে পরিষ্কার হবে হয়তো, কিংবা ইচ্ছে করেই ঘোলাটে ভাব রাখা হয়েছে।

[Ayesha Khalid · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't believe I was so excited about this book but this was utter disappointment. No book, no author before has pissed me off but gee, gotta say there's always a first time. -.-

The story's confusing. Narration technique's confusing. And then you manipulate the story. Oh and of COURSE, we HAD to talk about Rumi's sexuality, didn't we? Coz we know him so well. We know what happened behind closed doors during the chilla between Rumi and Shams. The heck!

In Persian Sufi poetry, the word "lover" means 'ashiq' i.e. a lover of God, alright? -.- The 21st century concept of ashiq is very different from that of those times. Urgh! I'm so frikkin pissed off! How do people have the audacity to say filthy things about such pious beings! (Even if he was mentioning what other people had said about these two men, I'm still annoyed)

If I've understood this book wrong then please do help me see it the way it really is. Coz right now I'm blinded by hate and biasness towards this author. Also, Rabisankar bro, you were trying too hard. -.-

There were things in this book that did impress me but they had nothing to do with the writer; it was about Rumi's own words or a qissa.

[Imran · Rating 4 out of 5]

... 'এই একাকী রাত্রিতে কীভাবে শান্ত থাকি,
এখানে কোথাও আমার প্রেমিকের আলো নেই।'
প্রেম চায়, তার গল্প সবাই শুনুক,
কিন্তু এই সূর্য জাগবে না তোমার হৃদয়ের আয়নায়,
কেন তাকে দেখতে পাই না জানো?
আয়না বড় মলিন হয়েছে, তাকে স্বচ্ছ করে তোলো।

রবিশংকর বলের গদ্যশৈলী সম্পর্কে নতুন করে বলার মতো কিছু নেই। বরাবরের মতোই প্রথম থেকে শেষ পর্যন্ত গল্পের চুম্বক-আকর্ষণ বজায় ছিল। উপন্যাসটি আরেকটু বিস্তৃত হলে বেশি ভালো লাগতো। রুমি হলো বাঁশির সেই সুর, যাকে কাগজ-কলমে আবদ্ধ করে রাখা যায় না—শুধু উপলব্ধি করে যেতে হয় আনমনে—শামানৃত্যের মুদ্রায় নিজের অস্তিত্বকে বিলীন করে দিতে হয় অনন্ত বিস্মরণে!

মস্তিষ্কের জমাটবদ্ধ কুয়াশা দূর করতে আবারও রুমির শামসের শরণাপন্ন হতে হচ্ছে!

[Malvika Jaswal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first I heard of Ibn Battuta was from a popular Bollywood song - who says our movies aren't educational. When I looked him up, I was amazed at the extent of his travels at a time when travelling even short distances must have been a nightmare. Try and imagine a man so driven by the need to explore that no ties, either family or money or women, were able to bind him down; although it is said that he was nudged along this destiny by the words of an Imam in Alexandria who prophesied his journey to Hindustan, Sindh and China. Whether this was the impetus that a wanderer's soul needed to justify leaving behind all that was familiar will forever more remain a mystery, but it makes for a great story nonetheless.

Here, we meet Ibn Battuta in the Turkish city of Konya, where he is treated to anecdotes about Maulana Rumi, the great Sufi saint and scholar, and is then entrusted with a book on his exploits to read from to the people he meets on his travels. Rumi was a scholar and teacher, until he met the mystical dervishes who changed his life completely and transformed him into a preacher. This book is a series of qissas or anecdotes about the Maulana Rumi and about the philosophy of life narrated by the various people that Ibn Battuta meets in Konya as well as those chronicled in the kitab he carries. Sufism presents a view of Islam that seems contrary to all that we believe and see of it today. Sufi saints preached love and were revered by all religions.

The qissas are lovely and beautiful and have great points to ponder, however, much of the beauty of the prose seems to be lost in translation. Do I mean its a bad translation? Not by a long shot! Let me give you an example - Remember the song 'Ajeeb dastan hey ye....'? Its beautiful, soulful and incredibly sad. Now translate it into English and it changes into something as mundane as 'Its a strange tale.......'. Urdu and Persian were the languages of the poets. As I read this book, I could almost glimpse the poetry that the author has tried to bring into the prose again and again as he tries to remain true to the style of the protagonist and his times. It is hardly his fault that he is hindered by a language that contains no hidden depths.

So, would I recommend this book? Absolutely. Although, I would suggest you brush up on your knowledge about the Maulana Rumi and Ibn Battuta from Wikipedia to better understand the beliefs and the times of which these tales bear testimony.

[Suchona Hasnat · Rating 1 out of 5]

বই পড়েছি। বইয়ের নাম আয়নাজীবন। রবিশংকর বল লিখেছেন।

সময় তো আমার নষ্টই, টাকাটাও নষ্ট এই বই কিনে 🥲

কেন নষ্ট সে বলব। আগে কাহিনী সংক্ষেপ। গল্পের কথক ইবনে বতুতা। সে দেশ বিদেশ ঘুরতে বের হয়েছেন। পথেই শুনেছেন মাওলানা জালালুদ্দিন রুমির কথা। তার দেশ দেখার লোভে চলে গেছেন সুদূর তুর্কি। আনাতোলিয়ার, কোনিয়ার পথে পথে ঘুরেছেন আর জমিয়েছেন রুমির গল্প। সত্য মিথ্যা মিলে সে একাকার। মূলত এইটাই প্রেক্ষাপট।

এবার আসি আমার মতামতে।

আমি প্রেমের উপন্যাস, অন্তরঙ্গ মুহুর্তের কথা বইয়ে পড়িনি এমন না। বরং গত দুইবছর তো পড়া ৭০ ভাগই প্রেমের বই ছিল। কিন্তু সেসব পড়ার আগে থেকে আমি জানি এই বইয়ে কি থাকতে পাড়ে! বিশ্বাস করেন রুমি আর আর স্ত্রীর সহবাসের বর্ণণা কিংবা রুমির সমকামীতায় লিপ্ত হবার বর্ণণা বা এক বণিকের বউ কিভাবে ঘোড়ার সাথে সঙ্গমে লিপ্ত হবে এসবের বর্ণণা পাবো এই বইয়ে এইটার জন্য প্রস্তুত ছিলাম না। এমন না কাহিনীর প্রয়োজনে এসব এসেছে। না! অযথা। না লিখলেও হয় সেসব বেহুদা কথায় ভর্তি।

পরের কথা হলো আমি জানি রুমি আর শামসুদ্দীন তাবরীজী কে নিয়ে বহু বই লেখা হয়েছে। কিন্তু যত এই বই পড়েছি তত বদ্ধমূল হয়েছে ধারনা যে উনি ফরটি রুলস অফ লাভ পড়েছেন। তারপর একটা জগাখিচুরী লিখেছেন এই বইয়ে। ভাবার যথেষ্ট কারণ আছে। খুনী নিয়ে এই বইয়ের তেমন কোনো স্টোরি লাইন নেই। তবুও কোথা থেকে ফরটি রুলস এর এক চ্যাপ্টারের শুরু হয় যেমন এবল আর কেন, ভাই হত্যাকারী দিয়ে, সেই ঘটনা লিখেছে। এর আগে পিছে এই ঘটনার সাথে জড়িত কোনো কিছু নাই। এরকম অজস্র অসংগতি আছে। মনে হয়েছে ফরটি রুলস অফ লাভের ঐ ফিলসফিকাল জিনিসগুলো কোনো মতে এই বইয়ে ঠেসে তুলে দিয়েছে।

লেখার ভাষাতেও সংগতি নাই। কেমন খাপছাড়া। একের পর এক কথা হয়ে যাচ্ছে। রুমি আর শামসের কোনো সুন্দর বর্ণনাই আসেনি। গল্পের মধ্যে গল্প, তার মধ্যে গল্প চলে আসছে। সেগুলো যে সুন্দর করে লেখা তাও না। একটা ব্যাড়াছ্যাড়া অবস্থা যাকে বলে।

এক সপ্তাহ ধরে এই বই পড়লাম। পড়তে পড়তে এর মাঝে আরো একটা বই পড়ে ফেলেছি কারণ এতই হতাশ হচ্ছিলাম। অযথা এই বই কিনে বা পড়ে সময়-অর্থ নষ্ট করবেন না। 🥲

[Shuvo · Rating 3 out of 5]

'দ্য ওয়ে অব লাভ', 'ফোরটি রুলস অব লাভ' এর পর আয়নাজীবন। রুমি-শামসকে নিয়ে আমার পঠিত তৃতীয় উপন্যাস।
এক্সপেক্টেশন একটু বেশি ছিলো, চেনা কাহিনির বাইরে কোনো নতুন দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি বা কিছু একটা আশা করেছিলাম যেটা এখানে পাইনি।

তবুও রবিশংকরের কিস্সা বলার চমৎকার ধরনের জন্য পুরো উপন্যাস পড়ে উঠতে পেরেছি। শেষের দিকটা খুব দ্রুত হয়ে গেছে, আরো ধীরে এবং বিস্তারিতভাবে হওয়া উচিত ছিল।

একটু হতাশ, তবে খারাপ লাগে নি পড়তে :")

[Deepak Singh Rawat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the plot of the book that Ibn batuta narrating the story of Rumi/ Maulana/ Jalaluddin balkhi. This book contains everything that you need to know about Rumi and it must be read before anyone starts to read Rumi's poetry because one needs an understanding about Rumi.
I really enjoyed the small verses involved in between texts. The book is well translated and the book kept me engaged for almost a week. Though the book could have shared more about Ibn as well and I guess then only it would be the masterpiece.

[Amjad Jakhrani · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really disappointing, incomplete narrations, and then there is sexuality – defining the love between Shams and Rumi as that of homosexual. I wonder do people even read Rumi when they pen down. I bought Masnavi-ye-Manavi (Spiritual Verses), the original Persian version along with translation by Qazi Sajjad. I am afraid Mr. Rabisankar would have suffocated of guilt had he read Rumi's poetry.

[Nidhi Mahajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kind of book that you want to start reading again as soon as you finish it.

[Girish · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!

“These letters, and then words, and then sentences, that are written on your manuscript are all answers to questions. Writing is nothing but a long journey of confronting questions. Accomplishment will bring you peace, but will not make a writer of you.”

Earlier this year, Paul Auster's Oracle night suggested that stories often offer an illusion of coherence and how the story changes the storyteller. This book, yet another ode to storytelling however seems to believe the stories exist in isolation with no relation to the storyteller. We have stories echoing through time, layered much like Alif Leila.

At the heart of the novel lies the search for Rumi — not by the poet himself, but by the legendary traveler Ibn Battuta, who gathers fragments of Rumi’s life from storytellers across inns and madrassas. But rather than being transformed by the stories he collects, Ibn Battuta remains curiously untouched. This absence of personal evolution is striking, and perhaps deliberate, but it also distances the reader from the storytellers.

The book is a fascinating conundrum in translation: Rumi — a Persian poet, shaped by Arabic and Turkish cultural currents — is reimagined in Bengali by Rabisankar Bal, and then rendered back into English by Arunava Sinha. One can’t help but wonder what was diluted or sharpened in this intricate relay of tongues. Compared to The Forty Rules of Love, which orbits similar territory, A Mirrored Life is less interested in the messages of love and compassion and more focused on retelling — or perhaps, re-questioning — the legend of Shams and Rumi with a bolder, even contentious, lens.

There are daring choices here — giving explicit form to the ambiguities of Shams and Rumi’s bond, delving into Rumi’s lesser-known life before his spiritual transformation — that in Bengali may have remained more suggestive, more poetic. In English, Sinha's translation is crisp and revealing, leaving little to the imagination, which may challenge readers’ comfort or reverence for the mystics involved.

This is a book that had probably polarized the readers.

[Sadiq Kazi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rumi! Stories within stories makes this a 'mirrored life'. A book that is easy to read but not so easy to cut through the layered meanings. Probably, like every Sufi thought, needs rereading to unravel the mystic meanings.

[Harman Kaur Dhillon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wonder why this book even exists? Had I been not reading it on my kindle, I would have thrown the book across the room and never pick it up.People who have read The forty rules of Love by Elif Shafak will have the same opinion as i do.

[Abid · Rating 4 out of 5]

কল্পনা করতে ভালো লাগে, একটা অন্ধকার ঘর.. সেখানে একসাথে অনেকে বসে জিকির করছেন, তাদের মাঝে সফেদ সাদা পরিহিত কেউ একজন উঠে দাঁড়িয়ে ঘুরতে আরম্ভ করলেন। তার ঘূর্ণি নৃত্য, ডাফের সাউন্ড, একসাথে সকলের জিকরের ধ্বনি- কেমন হতে পারে সে অনুভূতি? নিশ্চয়ই অপার্থিব কিছু। একবিংশ শতাব্দীর এই ব্যস্ত পৃথিবীতে বসে এসব কল্পনা করাও দুষ্কর। তবু, বই পড়ে চোখ বুঝে তা অনুভব করে নিতে ইচ্ছে করে। মওলানা রুমি আর শামস তাবরিজ সুফি নৃত্যকে দিয়েছিলেন এক অন্যান্য উচ্চতা। সুফি ইতিহাসে এ দুজনেই বরণীয়। যদিও মওলানার কথা যতটা শোনা যায়, শামসের কথা ততটা প্রচলিত নয়। 'ফোরটি রুলস অফ লাভ' পড়বার সময় আমরা পাঠকরা দেখতে পাই রুমির জীবনে শামসের প্রভাব, গুরুত্ব।

রবিশংকরের এই বইটিও সেই একই কাজ করে। এ বইতে রুমির পরিবর্তনের গল্প বলা আছে। তবে তা ইবনে বতুতার জবানিতে। রুমির গল্পে প্রবেশের আগে বইতে একটা বিস্তৃত পটভূমি তৈরী করা হয়েছে, এরপর কেবল রুমি আর শামস।

'ফোরটি রুলস অফ লাভ' পড়া থাকলে এই বইয়ের অনেক গল্পই জানা হয়ে থাকবে। তবু, কিছু ব্যতিক্রম তো আছেই। বইয়ের নেগেটিভ দিক হচ্ছে কিছু বিতর্কিত বিষয়কে নিয়ে আসা। লেখক এসব ক্ষেত্রে এভাবে লিখেছেন, 'শোনা যায়/কেউ কেউ বলে..' অর্থাৎ, খুবই ভাসা ভাসা একটা ভিত্তি। সেসব বইতে নিয়ে আসার সম্ভবত এক্টাই কারণ তা হলো বইটাকে কিছুটা আলোচিত করা। এর প্রয়োজন ছিলোনা। রুমির ভক্তরা এই বই এমনিতে��� পড়বে এবং ভালোবাসবে।

[Sadika]

গভীর নৈঃশব্দ্য এসে আমাকে ঢেকে দেয়,
আর অবাক হয়ে ভাবি,
কেন যে কথার পিছনে দৌড়েছিলাম।

[Ejaz Husseini · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still conquer, after reading this Rumi Novel by Bal, that Elif Shafak's version of Rumi's and Shams's life is the better one amongst others. Maufroy's Rumi's Daughter also depicted the story in a very sufiyana manner, but both of these falls short of Shafak's engaging life story of Rumi.

But it isn't to say that Bal has written a mediocre novel here. He has rather written a very thorough and poetic novel that well narrates the life Rumi. He puts Ibne Batuta as the main protagonist and through his journey to Anatolia, dictates the events of Rumi's life.

In some ways, Bal's version of this famous story is more fulfilled than the other two I mentioned before. Bal succeeds to write the most researched version of Rumi's life where he follows his parents and his childhood too, making a thorough depiction of the story.

Though the story doesn't seem linear in the first part of the book, it does maintain an interest level until Rumi's tale begins. Since it's Ibne Batuta's tale at first, and his narration of Rumi's life throughout, we do have two stories in this book.

Bal doesn't lack in his book the holistic and sufiyana way of literalism as he time and again talks about the weather, Spring and Winter, and about poetry that Rumi is known for. But he also doesn't hesitate to put in sexual contents in his book too.

More than once, did I feel uneasy reading this book, when the homosexuality or sexual contents were talked about very openly; it would show that Bal isn't shy of such topics nor afraid about what his reader's might think about such openly discussed matters. It was bold and uncomfortable at the same time.

However, the theme is the same here: mystical knowledge and wisdom spread throughout, which most of the times is hard to understand or take in. Madness is appreciated, while wisdom is disregarded; dance and music is thought necessary as the means of reaching Him; love is declared as the most important thing in one's life, while being cooked, or dying before death, are listed as the pre-requisite for love. Whether it's another flow of mystic thoughts, or something we can't comprehend, still remains a mystery for me.


An Excerpt:
Forgetting makes life bearable.

All in all, it's another depiction of the famous Rumi and Shams tale which is written very amusingly for the Rumi fans. For any person in love with sufism, poetry or Rumi or Shams, this book would prove to be a good read. Otherwise, it's really hard to recommend to a general audience. Shafak's book, Forty Rules of Love, I believe, still has the most reader-friendly story for an introduction to Rumi's and Shams of Tabriz's tale.

My praise for the novel:
a mirroed life: The Rumi Novel, is, as the name suggests, a novel for all the Rumi lovers out there;
Thorough and comprehensively written.

[ALOP - A Lot of Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Link to the Book Review at ALOP

In the words of Nimue, "I am so lucky I got to read this book that questions the answers and answers new questions. It was a difficult book to finish within a short time and I am guilty of avoiding reading more than few pages every now and then."

RATING: 5 Stars

[Umar Khan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Might be tempting for those who are very much embedded in Rumi. Way too many allusions to his work.

[Aamna Jamil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This master piece is by a Bengali writer Rabisankar Bal. I found his writing style quite different from others in the way he describes stories from the past. At first it is difficult to understand the concept of book but once you get it, you will be amazed by the beauty of it. This book has a story within a story, within a story and all in a very charismatic way of writing. Story is about the life of Rumi and his love for Shams who made Rumi what he is to us now. A very well researched novel and well written, and definitely not leaves readers to bore. In fact, the stories are quite interesting to read especially if someone is interested in the poetry of Rumi and his message of spiritualty. So this is a very through and poetic novel. The main theme of this book is selfless love and union with the ultimate beloved God. You become so touched and mystified while reading this.

The story started when Ibn Battuta was sharing his travel stories to the readers and yes he is the one to narrate the whole stories in this novel. When he was on his way from Tangiers to China, he reached a place called Konya in Turkey where this legendary dervish Rumi was born and lived. This was also the place where the famous “whirling dance” was originated. While Ibn Battuta stayed there, he came to know about different stories about the life of Rumi and his spiritual guide Shams and he was very intrigued to know after a half a century of Rumi’s death why he has such a huge number of people respecting his life and why his poetry is still evergreen. He explored the city more and met a person call Al Mustasimi who was working on the manuscript of Rumi. While he worked on one of the copies of manuscript, he enlightened about Rumi’s life to Ibn Battuta and promised to give the copy to spread it wherever he goes. Then comes the life story of Maulana Rumi and of course his story is incomplete without Shamsuddin Tabrizi (Shams). Shams was considered as a lunatic or mad divine soul at that time since a person not known to spirituality would not understand him. But Rumi knew he was destined to meet Shams and then we explore their relationship and Rumi’s journey from being a Maulana to a whirling dervish.

Rumi and Shams were quite the talk of town in their times because of their platonic relationship and Shams taught him not to be bothered by what people say about him. When Shams left, Rumi felt a void in his life which seemed to be growing bigger with time but the distress was over when they reunited. This made Rumi whirl with rapture and was the most astonishing part of story. Shams proved to be his spiritual mentor, a friend and lover. He taught him that this life is our separation with our love, God and death will unite us to Him. Then the stories of Rumi’s famous disciples Hussam and Sultan Wahad and their terms with Rumi are shared in the novel. Then it explained how Shams groomed Rumi, how the Masnavi, Rumi’s greatest work, came into existence. Battuta also met a young man whose name was one of the 99 names of Allah and he was not aware of that and Battuta asked him to recite Namaz in a middle voice for him. Then he tells the man that the middle path is the one best to adopt in life and is loved by God.

So before digging into Rumi’s poetry, one should read this book as it is a very well researched version of his life along with other books like “The Forty Rules of Love” or “Rumi’s daughter”. Writer used a very bold description of the relationship between Rumi and Shams and made sure you live the era and experience it with your full imagination. He encapsulate layers and layers of knowledge about spirituality narrated by Rumi or Ibn Battuta himself. It is one of those books which will force you to read between the lines and try to find hidden meaning in each story. This novel demands patience to read it but once completed, it’ll be worth it. I would recommend everyone to read it, the messages in it are for everyone to lead a meaningful life.

My favorite quote from this book was “The day our childhood leaves us is the day we will die.“
Let me know yours ❤

[Abdul Qadeer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently completed reading "A Mirrored Life: The Rumi Novel" by Bengali author Rabisankar Bal. Translated by Arunava Sinha, it is just as captivating as their first book, "Dozaknama", filled with an abundance of interesting stories.

The author-translator duo provides a captivating insight into Rumi's life through a series of stories, referred to as qisas, that contain a touch of exaggeration, but that's what we refer to as fiction. Isn't it? The author reveal Rumi's life chapter by chapter, providing a historical context and exploring the different aspects of his life and teachings, ensuring that the reader is getting a well-rounded view of Rumi's life.

What makes this book stand out is Bal's enchanting storytelling skills. He has the power to make historical figures come alive through his words. His writing is so poetic and flowing, it reads like a beautiful poem in prose form.
The book is full of wonderful stories, tales within tales. Each story will capture your attention and take you on a journey through the lives of its characters.

In the words of the author, A qissa can tell more than a thousand words of philosophy. Philosophies come and go, but a story lives on for thousands of years, in different lands, in different forms.

As the preface states,“My learned readers, you know that there are stories even before there are stories, but some stories are bound by fate"

A book with such a captivating beginning is surely a treasure waiting to be discovered, wouldn't you agree?

Ibn Battuta, a legendary Moroccan traveler, is the narrator of this fictionalized account. Perhaps you recognize this name from your early years of studying social studies in primary school? If not then surely from a popular Bollywood song. Anyways, While traveling Ibn Battuta hears about Maulana during a stopover, fueled by his interest in the life and teachings of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi, he sets out on a journey to Konya, the city where Rumi lived. During his stay in Konya, Ibn Battuta is deeply impacted by Rumi's teachings and mystique, leading him to seek out Rumi's manuscript, the Masnavi.

While exploring the city, Ibn Battuta meet Al Mustasimi, a renowned book-maker and calligraphist. During his visit, Al Mustasimi is composing a manuscript on Maulana and shares stories of love inspired by Rumi's teachings with Ibn Battuta. As a gesture of generosity, Al Mustasimi makes a copy of the manuscript for Ibn Battuta to bring with him on his travels.

As the pages of the book are turned, the reader is taken on a transformative journey that follows the evolution of Maulana Jalaluddin Muhammad Balkhi into Rumi, Maulana Rumi.

The heart of the book revolves around Rumi's closest companion, a elderly dervish named Shaikh Shamsuddin, fondly referred to as "Shams." Well, if I were to reveal all the details, then what would be left for you to read, other than the acknowledgements, dedications, and perhaps a few blank pages?

To maintain the thrill of exploration, I will not reveal any further information about the Shams and other important characters that I have purposely left out, such as Rumi's family, Al Mustasimi's daughter Kimia, Azad Bhakt and the four dervishes.

If you are still reading the review, chances are you will read the book too. So, I won't spoil the story for you and let you experience it on your own.

My Verdict:

As far as prose is concerned, the qissas are beautifully written, although there are instances of unrealistic exaggeration. However, when it comes to poetry, the beauty of Rumi's poetry is lost in translation. English translations do not entirely reflect the essence of the original poems. Despite this challenge, the author has attempted to bring the poetry to life by staying true to the protagonist's style and period, but the limitations of the English language make it difficult to fully capture the original's beauty.

In short, This book is a perfect fit for those who enjoy storytelling, poetry, and spirituality. However, if these topics do not interest you, the book may not hold your attention.

[Chahat Batool]

Rabisankar Bal, he is the Bengali author,novelist and short-story writer credited with over fifteen novels, five short story collections, one volume of poetry and one volume of literary essays. Born in 1962 he has been writing for thirty years, predominantly in Bengali. He lives in Kolkata and pursues journalism, apart from being a writer. He zealously follows literature, painting, and also world cinema. He is called the author of Dozakhnama, his all works are in Bengali, but two most famous works are translated into English by Arunava Sinha. He translated A mirrored Life in English. An enthralling book with the Story of Moorish Traveller Ibne Battuta who explored the mystical journey and reached Anatolia in the city of Konya where he started to explore the stories of Mualana Jalaluddin Rumi, who loved, danced and died there. Maulana Jalaluddin Muhammad Balkhi was born in 1207 in Hijri to Sheikh Bahauddin Walad, who himself was a holy soul and a revered figure among religious scholars. More than half of the century has passed since his death, but his poetry remains alive inscribed in every stone and tree and pathway.
My learned readers you know there are some stories even before there are some stories, but some stories are bound by fate. So it's the Story within story you would find multiple stories of many spiritual people, who had lived very different lives. Ibne Battuta tells the stories of Maulana and Rumi's followers feel that all the stories are reflecting their lives. A mirrored life is the reflection of Rumi's life. It tells how was Rumi how Jalaluddin transformed into saint Rumi. How he cooked. Rumi was waiting for to be cooked. He died many times before death in order to be cooked better. Rumi was the light of Konya he was called Maulana but something was missed in his life. That was Sun Of Tabrizi Shamsuddin who brought the complete light in his life and cooked him well to experience the tastes of life.
A mirrored life articulates the relations of Rumi, His wife Kimya, Sultan Walad, Hussam, Kira and off course Shams.
So many qissaz are available about the first meeting of Shams and Rumi but without Shams Rumi's discourse is impossible. RUMI was made Rumi by Shams. He had become completed, and learnt to dance and poetry in love of Shams. Dance, now that you have been torn apart…Dance, now that you have ripped the bandage off…Dance, in the middle of the battle…Dance, within your blood…Dance, now that you’re a free soul.
Rumi becomes a free soul after meeting with Shams Tabrizi. The book explores the sufi saint’s relationship of Maulana with each of these characters and the journey which entails his transformation from a religious scholar to a mystifying Sufi saint.
There is really good disruption of Rumi not like 40 rules of love or Rumi's Daughter but it tells another story of Rumi and Shams , it's not very derailed but it makes you dance in their spiritual love. The author is very obsessed with stories it teaches the value of stories that all stories are very important they always leave impacts on the listeners. By reading this book you would know the people of 13th century. Their incredible stories and Rumi was one the most enthralling figure of his century who had taught the best lesson and techniques to live life meaningfully. All stories are beautiful bevause the entire world and even whatever lies outside it, is a story. The Lord has written all our stories with his own quill. Therefore read, listen and speak every story of the world coz this world of ours is made by weaving stories togather.

[Tara Bhatnagar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ambitious novel is, as stated on the cover, the Rumi novel. It tells the story of his search for and ultimate union with Shamz of Tabrizi, the man responsible for making Rumi, Rumi. The book delves into the concepts of selfless love and union with the ultimate beloved: God.
Rumi often repeats, “Die before you die”, the essence of true love which involves shedding your expectations one by one as you go along the path of life. How the Lord puts you through varying degrees of suffering, cooking you in his kitchen till you are ready to be savoured, readying you for ultimate nirvana and then death.
I would need to read this one again, in a few years, because I’m not cooked enough to appreciate the book in it’s fullest glory.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

How beautiful is the world we enter through stories. I can see Rumi and Shams dancing together as Ibn Battuta recounts this beautiful story of love, longing and life.

An amalgamation of poetry and stories, this book takes us back to the time when Shams entered Rumi’s life and thus began the journey of Jalaluddin Muhammad to become Rumi.

His Sun of Tabriz, also known as Shams gave him the light needed for a Maulana to become a Lover. Nothing ever remain same after Shams entered in Rumi’s life and nothing stayed same after he left.

Rumi and Shams complete the love we all have ever known.

[Apoorva · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Mirrored life by Rabisankar Bal, translated by Arunava Sinha

The chronicles of the journey of Ibn Batuta and meeting the legendary Rumi. This is definitely not a straight story, each chapter having its levels of people narrating their own stories. Often in the beginning, I got frustrated as I could not find any links between chapters or continuity between characters.
Also, I tried to read this book in one go, which did not work. Each chapter has its inner essence buried deep and you really need to dig deep and focus.. some stories are snippets of life and some magical and ostentatious.. There could many perspectives to a single story..

Towards the end, the characters became clearer, the struggles became relatable, the stories and philosophy of Rumi, his homosexual relationship and his roots become highlighted. It felt the journey undertaken is twisted with no stops or rests but often stories revolving around themes of love , passion and pride. I have read books about Rumi's quotes and he seemed like a noble poet. This book is much more real and down to earth. Going into a trance with the dervishes and Sufi's music has much more peace..

What we seek and what we know is often the tip of the iceberg.. A unconventional read.. with a lot of material definitely to be savored chapter by chapter..

“These letters, and then words, and then sentences, that are written on your manuscript are all answers to questions. Writing is nothing but a long journey of confronting questions. Accomplishment will bring you peace, but will not make a writer of you.”

[Asad · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A mirrored Life" was a random pick at a book store probably due to the blurb on the back of the book saying " My learned readers, you know that there are stories even before there are stories, but some stories are bound by fate."

Though I am not a follower of Rumi's work but the actual reason I chose to read this book was that it is a fictional account of the medieval Moorish traveler Ibn Battuta while his stay at Konya during his pilgrimage of the world. In this city Ibn Battuta meets alot of followers of Rumi and is then entrusted with a book about Rumi's life stories to spread word of the mystic during his travels.

The book contains alot of stories about Rumi's life which revile alot of information about the relationship he shared with his wife, his sons and the people of Konya. Most importantly it shares information about the relationship between Rumi and Shams. Although there is nothing new to know about Rumi for those who have read "Forty Rules of Love" except some useless and unnecessary details about Rumi being a homosexual.

Well I would recommend it because it's a short book and would not take alot of your time. It will surely increase your knowledge about Rumi's life and the people of Konya in 13th Century. But for me being introduced to Ibn Battuta was of most importance.

[Dripta · Rating 4 out of 5]

উপমহাদেশীয় স্বকীয় কায়দায় বইটি লেখা, হয়ত রুমি পড়া না থাকলে একটু অসুবিধা হতে পারে, কিছু কিছু অংশ কারোর অস্বস্তি উদ্রেক করতে পারে, আমার ব্যক্তিগতভাবে এলিফ শাফাকের বইটির চেয়ে এইটা ভাল লেগেছে - বিশেষ করে যেভাবে কিসসার মধ্যে কিসসার প্রক্ষেপ হয়েছে আর ইবন বতুতাকে কথক হিসেবে উপনীত করা হয়েছে, সেইটি বেশ লেগেছে।

[Faheem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely well written, this book is a must read for anyone who claims to love Rumi's poetry.
The book is written in a way that just drags you inside and makes the era alive. You can feel the sights and smells of the middle age Persia and that experience in itself is worth reading this book.