Bamonn

by Na D'Souza, S.M. Pejathaya (Translator)

Konkani Roman Catholic Christians were converted from other groups by Goan Missionaries long back, keeping the caste system tradition to a large extent in layers such as the Bamonn, the Charodi, the Gawdi, the Nendar, the Shudra, etc. At the time of marriages and other social gatherings they continue to consider caste system norms and customs in the community. Caste system in Indian Christians is vividly described in the novel Bamonn. Christopher Pai of Kalyanpura hails from a Bamonn family and takes great pride in his ancestry. He believes in the stories about his Konkani Roman Catholic ancestors from his elders and about their being true Christians, holding on to their faith despite tremendous pressure to convert to Islam during Tipu Sultan's regime. He also believes Bamonns are superior to other Christians in the community. After retiring from his job of a Headmaster, he refuels his obsession to retrace his roots and find out the truth about his ancestors. In his journey of self-assurance and faith, will he succeed in his mission to convince his family, his children and the community at large of his glorious ancestry and in still pride in the next generation? . . .

Paperback

Published April 1, 2017

About the author

Na D'Souza was a novelist and writer in Kannada language. He was the President of 80th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held in Madikeri in the year 2014.

Reviews

[Surabhi Chatrapathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Indian history is extremely layered and complex. Each region and it's community of people trace their story to different incidents of historical importance.
The British colonization of India often over shadows the problematic legacy of other colonizers. Along with that, the story of kings and conquerors too are distorted and the versions vary region to region.
The Portuguese as part of their expansion scheme sought cruel and manipulative methods to covert locals into Christianity, this hasty and confusing conversion led local Hindus to carry into their new religion, the problematic caste system.
While people from the lowers castes were lured into Christianity with the promise of being equals, the upper class that converted to curry favour and make money wanted to remain upper class and ensured the same.
Bamonn, meaning Brahmin in Konkani, is the story of Konkani Roman Catholics.

When Tipu Sultan was forcing converted people of Goa to convert once again into Islam, they chose to flee Goa and reached the costal region of Karnataka. Bamonn is a small gist into this community of Konkani Roman Catholics.

Bamonn (Brahmin) is a novel that revolves around Christopher Pai. A proud Catholic who is equally proud of his Brahmin ancestry. He wishes to unearth the story of his family, for he has been told that they endured the cruelty of Tipu Sultan and refused to convert to Islam. Having survived extreme torture, they returned after Sultan's death to continue to live as Christians.

While he looks through the annals of history to verify this story, his life unfolds and at every step of the way he wishes to establish that he is a Christian of Bamonn inheritance, hence blessed with superiority by birth.

[Rohan Rodrigues · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good story but very poorly translated

[Anusha Nayak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average book. The translation is poor and was not engaging.