चंद्रकांता संतति : Part-5

Chandrakanta Santati #6

by Babu Devakinandan Khatri

Chandrakanta, the first work of prose in the modern Hindi language, is a tale of victory of love over evils such as animosity, envy and hatred. The story became a rage among readers during the 90s. Millions of people had learnt Hindi language to read this masterpiece by Devaki Nandan Khatri. may have significantly contributed to the language's popularity. Chandrakanta is notable for introducing the concepts of "Aiyyar" and "Tilism" to Hindi literature. The novel is a mesmerising odyssey that helps readers take an instant flight to the world of fantasy.

Genres: Fantasy, Indian Literature

448 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

After his earlier education, Devkinandan Khatri moved to Tekari Estate in Gaya. He became an employee of the Raja of Benares. He started a printing press called "Lahari" and started a Hindi monthly, "Sudarshan", in 1898. The various works of Khatri and his son Durga Prasad were republished by Lahari Press in the early 21st century. Lahari Press is still in existence in Ramkatora (Pisnahariya Kuwan)very close to area called Lahurabeer in Varanasi.

Khatri made a strong contribution to the learning of the Hindi language by the people of the times. People were so mesmerised by the works Chandrakanta, Chandrakanta Santati and Bhootnath that they started to learn Hindi just to be able to read the works. Khatri did not write any work at one go and then publish the same. He used to write "bayaans" - chapters - on the run from the British and these were published and distributed widely. People would await the new "bayaans" and congregate around those who could read Hindi to hear the latest exploits in the continuing saga.

Reviews

[Satya Prakash Jha · Rating 5 out of 5]

One amazingly epic roller coaster ride down the adventures of 'aiyaars'. This was a multi-part saga that was hard to put down once you started reading it. It was written more then a hundred years back (1894-1904) and said to have garnered so much popularity that compelled many 'non-hindi' speaking mass to learn Hindi, just to be able to read this and many other works of Babu Devi Nandan Khatri. The Tilisims themselves have not been just put in, the author provides some level of scientific explanation for most of Tilisim (these are not shoved in just as magic) towards the end of the series. This saga picks the thread where 'Chandrkanta' (first novel) ended and soon baffles you with so many plots (and subplots) running in parallel and converging beautifully towards the end. The Hindi used in this books is contemporary of the era it was written and very different then the dialect used today. I thoroughly enjoyed the reading the original 'Hindi' text and would very safely recommend as a must read, find the book in Hindi, I am sure you won't be disappointed.

[Rahul Ranjan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, Awesome, too good, tremendous, mysterious, beautiful, brilliant, hard to part once you read this series. Feels like I was with them in every moment be in tilisam, with aayaars, their marriage, their war everything. Recommended to all and this series is an addiction. The series does not end here. Next is Bhhotnath, then Rohtasmath and then Heeron ki Ghati

[Vinay Gupta]

i think it is very old and detective story.