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The Mendicant Prince
A lively retelling of the Bhawal sannyasi case ... a real-life mystery that continues to intrigue to this day' AMITAV GHOSH
In the winter of 1909, Ramendranarayan Roy, the ailing second prince of the Bhawal zamindari, proceeds to Darjeeling with his wife Bibhavati, brother-in-law Satyendranath and a retinue of officials and servants, after being advised a change of air by his physicians. Three weeks later, a telegram from Satyendranath arrives at the Bhawal estate, carrying news of the prince’s demise and subsequent cremation.
Soon peculiar rumours start circulating around Bhawal and the surrounding town. Some say that the prince was poisoned, while others suspect that his body was taken to the burning ghat but not actually cremated. There are also whispers about an incestuous relationship between Bibhavati and her brother. The story takes a bewildering turn when, twelve years later, a mendicant comes to Bhawal, claiming to be the long-lost prince and the heir to the estate.
With no resolution in sight, matters reach the court, where the so-called prince and some family members face off against Bibhavati and her brother, aided by the British Court of Wards who are keen on maintaining ownership of the zamindari. The breathless legal drama that ensues will culminate in an incredible series of events, permanently altering the course of the estate’s history.
Inspired by the legendary Bhawal sannyasi case and evocative in its recreation of pre-Partition Bengal, The Mendicant Prince is an intriguing tale of dual identity and the inexplicable quirks of fate.
In the winter of 1909, Ramendranarayan Roy, the ailing second prince of the Bhawal zamindari, proceeds to Darjeeling with his wife Bibhavati, brother-in-law Satyendranath and a retinue of officials and servants, after being advised a change of air by his physicians. Three weeks later, a telegram from Satyendranath arrives at the Bhawal estate, carrying news of the prince’s demise and subsequent cremation.
Soon peculiar rumours start circulating around Bhawal and the surrounding town. Some say that the prince was poisoned, while others suspect that his body was taken to the burning ghat but not actually cremated. There are also whispers about an incestuous relationship between Bibhavati and her brother. The story takes a bewildering turn when, twelve years later, a mendicant comes to Bhawal, claiming to be the long-lost prince and the heir to the estate.
With no resolution in sight, matters reach the court, where the so-called prince and some family members face off against Bibhavati and her brother, aided by the British Court of Wards who are keen on maintaining ownership of the zamindari. The breathless legal drama that ensues will culminate in an incredible series of events, permanently altering the course of the estate’s history.
Inspired by the legendary Bhawal sannyasi case and evocative in its recreation of pre-Partition Bengal, The Mendicant Prince is an intriguing tale of dual identity and the inexplicable quirks of fate.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 30, 2022
6 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 11, 2023
interesting way of fictionalizing a real part of indian history that I wasn't aware of.
writing - good.
characters - interesting.
pacing - decent. only thing is that i got a little bored during the drawn out court proceedings. but it still wasn't bad.
writing - good.
characters - interesting.
pacing - decent. only thing is that i got a little bored during the drawn out court proceedings. but it still wasn't bad.
August 23, 2022
Here's an amazing retelling of the very famous and tragic Bhawal Sannyasi case. I found it to be very well-researched, super intriguing, and simply unputdownable!
This mysterious case took place in pre-Partition Bengal and even though the case was fought in three different courts, there were still people who weren't convinced with the declared result.
In 1921, a sannyasi who was believed to be the Mejo Kumar, the second prince of the Bhawal estate, was found roaming on the estate. It not only shocked the royals but also the colonial government. This was because as per the information received by the royals, Mejo Kumar had succumbed to death twelve years ago.
Was he really the royal prince or an impostor?
The book begins with a brief history of the Bhawal estate and gives a glimpse of the politics that led to its rising. It then introduces us to Mejo Kumar, his sisters, his brothers, and his wife, Bibhavati. The same wife who later believed the sannyasi to be an impostor. And so did the British government.
There is a family drama, courtroom drama, and lots of politics. We get to view this case from the point of view of the Prince's sisters, sister-in-law, and his wife. I enjoyed reading the multiple POVs! They made this story all the more enjoyable!
This is truly a gripping read! I enjoyed reading all the rumors and conspiracies. I hated Satya, Bibha's elder brother, with all my heart. He was always at the center of every conspiracy. You'll have to read this book to know whether he was the key conspirator.
It was interesting to read about the way legal cases were handled by the British government. If you too enjoy reading retellings of real-life mysteries and courtroom dramas, then do pick this up. It's amazing! 😊
This mysterious case took place in pre-Partition Bengal and even though the case was fought in three different courts, there were still people who weren't convinced with the declared result.
In 1921, a sannyasi who was believed to be the Mejo Kumar, the second prince of the Bhawal estate, was found roaming on the estate. It not only shocked the royals but also the colonial government. This was because as per the information received by the royals, Mejo Kumar had succumbed to death twelve years ago.
Was he really the royal prince or an impostor?
The book begins with a brief history of the Bhawal estate and gives a glimpse of the politics that led to its rising. It then introduces us to Mejo Kumar, his sisters, his brothers, and his wife, Bibhavati. The same wife who later believed the sannyasi to be an impostor. And so did the British government.
There is a family drama, courtroom drama, and lots of politics. We get to view this case from the point of view of the Prince's sisters, sister-in-law, and his wife. I enjoyed reading the multiple POVs! They made this story all the more enjoyable!
This is truly a gripping read! I enjoyed reading all the rumors and conspiracies. I hated Satya, Bibha's elder brother, with all my heart. He was always at the center of every conspiracy. You'll have to read this book to know whether he was the key conspirator.
It was interesting to read about the way legal cases were handled by the British government. If you too enjoy reading retellings of real-life mysteries and courtroom dramas, then do pick this up. It's amazing! 😊
August 29, 2022
In May 1909, a twenty-five year old man named Ramendranarayan Roy died in Darjeeling, where he had come at his doctor's advice for a change of air. With him were his wife Bibhabavati and her brother Satyendranath, along with a young doctor and a large retinue of servants. Ramendranarayan Roy, after all, was no ordinary commoner: he was a prince, the second of the three ruling princes of the large and wealthy Bhawal estate, in what is now Bangladesh. Syphilis had led to the ill health of the 'mejo kumar', the 'middle prince', as he was referred to, though, when he died in Darjeeling, the immediate cause of his death lay elsewhere: possibly gallstones.
News of his death and subsequent cremation was sent to the estate in Bhawal, and Ramendranarayan Roy was duly mourned. Soon, however, rumours began drifting about, pointing to some uncertainty about the mejo kumar's death and cremation. These were eventually brushed aside, and the royal family of Bhawal went back to life as usual, though now fraught with strain: Ramendranarayan's brothers, the elder prince and the younger, died without heirs, and their widows moved out of the palace. Meanwhile, Bibhavati too left to live in the home of her brother Satyendranath.
In 1921, twelve years after the death of Ramendranarayan Roy, a fair-skinned, dreadlocked mendicant named Sundardas turned up in Bhawal. His resemblance to Ramendranarayan Roy was remarked upon, and eventually several members of his family, including his sisters, identified the sanyasi as the mejo kumar. This led, over the years, to a case being filed (by none other than Bibhavati), contesting the sanyasi’s claim: a case which grew to mammoth proportions, stretching on for sixteen years, all the way from 1930 to 1946. It was heard at the District Court in Dhaka; the High Court in Calcutta; and finally, the Privy Council in London.
The Bhawal Sanyasi Case is the stuff of legend, written and discussed repeatedly in the decades since it ended. The arguments of both sides have been dissected, the judgements scrutinized. Even a quick search online, and you can find the verdicts, detailed analyses of the case, and modern forensic insights that might have thrown a different light on the case if they had been available back then.
Aruna Chakravarti’s version of it, The Mendicant Prince, however, takes a somewhat unorthodox route: she fictionalizes the story, presenting it as a combination of known fact and conjecture.
The novel is structured as a series of first-person narratives from the point of view of some of the key characters in the case: Bibhavati; Ramendranarayan’s sisters Jyotirmayi, Indumayi and Tarinmayi; his sisters-in law; Pannalal Basu (the judge of the Dhaka District Court), Roy’s mistress Elokeshi, and so on. Woven into these are excerpts from letters, reports, and other official documents, as well as the occasional third person narrative. Beginning from when Ramendranarayan Roy, feeling ill in February 1909, went to his doctor, and right up to the final verdict in 1946, Chakravarti tells the story her own way.
In the acknowledgements at the end of the book, Chakravarti thanks Partha Chatterjee, whose book A Princely Imposter? is generally regarded as the definitive work on the Bhawal Sanyasi Case. Chatterjee’s book is a purely factual one, presenting the facts as they were put forward, occasionally conjecturing on motivations, as it should be.
Chakravarti uses those same facts, without distortion, but building a story around them. Where Chatterjee’s book focused on the facts and the testimonies from the court proceedings, Chakravarti’s book uses those facts as a basis to guess at people’s motivations. Through her words, one begins to understand something of what might have made Bibhavati refuse to recognize as her husband the man who claimed to be Ramendranarayan Roy. Or why Bibhavati might have let her brother dominate her so; or why one of the mejo kumar’s sisters may have switched sides in the legal battle over his identity. Chakravarti is careful not to get too fanciful; she uses what is obviously a good knowledge of human nature, and of the ethos of Bengal in the early 20th century, to weave her story.
What emerges is a fascinating, absorbing story. There’s mystery here, and the suspense of a court case where the opposing parties had two radically different stances (and often, it appeared, equally iron-clad evidence in support of their stance). By imagining the intricacies of the relationships and the emotions involved, Chakravarti also works into it heartbreak, betrayal, familial loyalty, and more.
Especially praiseworthy is the restraint Chakravarti shows when it comes to getting into the minds of her characters. This, for a less accomplished writer, might have been a chance to take a stand of their own and decide on a truth for themselves. Chakravarti does not do this; she indicates what happened according in line with what emerged during the case, and follows that line. She does not try to solve the mystery, she does not put her own spin what might have happened. It is telling that she does not write a single chapter from the point of view of the man himself: that would be tantamount to making assumptions, and Chakravarti steers clear.
Just a century after the Bhawal sanyasi made his appearance, it is still not quite certain if he really was the mejo kumar, or a carefully tutored imposter. And, even if he was the prince, what was the truth behind his ‘death’? Chakravarti’s novel examines, with feeling and compassion, what that period might have been like for those involved.
(From my review for Scroll: https://scroll.in/article/1031078/the...)
News of his death and subsequent cremation was sent to the estate in Bhawal, and Ramendranarayan Roy was duly mourned. Soon, however, rumours began drifting about, pointing to some uncertainty about the mejo kumar's death and cremation. These were eventually brushed aside, and the royal family of Bhawal went back to life as usual, though now fraught with strain: Ramendranarayan's brothers, the elder prince and the younger, died without heirs, and their widows moved out of the palace. Meanwhile, Bibhavati too left to live in the home of her brother Satyendranath.
In 1921, twelve years after the death of Ramendranarayan Roy, a fair-skinned, dreadlocked mendicant named Sundardas turned up in Bhawal. His resemblance to Ramendranarayan Roy was remarked upon, and eventually several members of his family, including his sisters, identified the sanyasi as the mejo kumar. This led, over the years, to a case being filed (by none other than Bibhavati), contesting the sanyasi’s claim: a case which grew to mammoth proportions, stretching on for sixteen years, all the way from 1930 to 1946. It was heard at the District Court in Dhaka; the High Court in Calcutta; and finally, the Privy Council in London.
The Bhawal Sanyasi Case is the stuff of legend, written and discussed repeatedly in the decades since it ended. The arguments of both sides have been dissected, the judgements scrutinized. Even a quick search online, and you can find the verdicts, detailed analyses of the case, and modern forensic insights that might have thrown a different light on the case if they had been available back then.
Aruna Chakravarti’s version of it, The Mendicant Prince, however, takes a somewhat unorthodox route: she fictionalizes the story, presenting it as a combination of known fact and conjecture.
The novel is structured as a series of first-person narratives from the point of view of some of the key characters in the case: Bibhavati; Ramendranarayan’s sisters Jyotirmayi, Indumayi and Tarinmayi; his sisters-in law; Pannalal Basu (the judge of the Dhaka District Court), Roy’s mistress Elokeshi, and so on. Woven into these are excerpts from letters, reports, and other official documents, as well as the occasional third person narrative. Beginning from when Ramendranarayan Roy, feeling ill in February 1909, went to his doctor, and right up to the final verdict in 1946, Chakravarti tells the story her own way.
In the acknowledgements at the end of the book, Chakravarti thanks Partha Chatterjee, whose book A Princely Imposter? is generally regarded as the definitive work on the Bhawal Sanyasi Case. Chatterjee’s book is a purely factual one, presenting the facts as they were put forward, occasionally conjecturing on motivations, as it should be.
Chakravarti uses those same facts, without distortion, but building a story around them. Where Chatterjee’s book focused on the facts and the testimonies from the court proceedings, Chakravarti’s book uses those facts as a basis to guess at people’s motivations. Through her words, one begins to understand something of what might have made Bibhavati refuse to recognize as her husband the man who claimed to be Ramendranarayan Roy. Or why Bibhavati might have let her brother dominate her so; or why one of the mejo kumar’s sisters may have switched sides in the legal battle over his identity. Chakravarti is careful not to get too fanciful; she uses what is obviously a good knowledge of human nature, and of the ethos of Bengal in the early 20th century, to weave her story.
What emerges is a fascinating, absorbing story. There’s mystery here, and the suspense of a court case where the opposing parties had two radically different stances (and often, it appeared, equally iron-clad evidence in support of their stance). By imagining the intricacies of the relationships and the emotions involved, Chakravarti also works into it heartbreak, betrayal, familial loyalty, and more.
Especially praiseworthy is the restraint Chakravarti shows when it comes to getting into the minds of her characters. This, for a less accomplished writer, might have been a chance to take a stand of their own and decide on a truth for themselves. Chakravarti does not do this; she indicates what happened according in line with what emerged during the case, and follows that line. She does not try to solve the mystery, she does not put her own spin what might have happened. It is telling that she does not write a single chapter from the point of view of the man himself: that would be tantamount to making assumptions, and Chakravarti steers clear.
Just a century after the Bhawal sanyasi made his appearance, it is still not quite certain if he really was the mejo kumar, or a carefully tutored imposter. And, even if he was the prince, what was the truth behind his ‘death’? Chakravarti’s novel examines, with feeling and compassion, what that period might have been like for those involved.
(From my review for Scroll: https://scroll.in/article/1031078/the...)
May 19, 2023
The Mendicant Prince - Aruna Chakravarti
Rating - 3.5/5
Disclaimer - Spoilers ahead!
I had heard about the Bhawal Sanyasi case from many sources and I was way too curious to read about it. This happened during the early 20th century 1909-1919-1946. Aruna Chakravarti has tried to portray as story, the occurances during the 35 year period. The story is about a person who is presumed to be dead and miraculously comes back alive after a good number of years. A legal battle then ensures the story carries ahead for few more years. All this to prove his authenticity, if he is the same person who died or an imposter.
The story is set during the era when India was still under the British rule and the Zamindari system was very much active. The person whom we are interested in happens to be a prince who is in line to inherit lots of wealth and property. Hence there was way too much speculation. If he was a common man, I suppose nobody would be interested in him, nor cared, including myself, let alone the author.
There are many things I wish to write about the book and case/story.
About the book - I felt the writing style was bland, emotionless, expressionless and lacklustre. The book is written very similar to Agatha Christie's book Five Little Pigs, where each character narrates his side of the story for a particular day and time. Here the characters are the relatives of the prince, tenants and doctors who attended to him and few others. Each character has few pages dedicated to spell out their side of the story. It is very hard to find an overlap between the stories of two different people. In simple words, the writing style doesn't induce one to think deep. Overall a very slow read owing to the ordinary writing style.
About the case - I personally feel the people who had gathered to watch the spectacle could have made better use of their time and resources. So much money was spent in legal battle alongside time. I wish there were simple medical tests which could prove authenticity. This was the period of the Indian Freedom Struggle, there is no mention of that in the book nor Bengal Famine and few other things like shifting of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi. The result of the case was very much what I had anticipated. The zamindari system is long gone, I am way too curious to know what the descendants of this sanyasi are upto in the 21st Century.
Cheers,
Rating - 3.5/5
Disclaimer - Spoilers ahead!
I had heard about the Bhawal Sanyasi case from many sources and I was way too curious to read about it. This happened during the early 20th century 1909-1919-1946. Aruna Chakravarti has tried to portray as story, the occurances during the 35 year period. The story is about a person who is presumed to be dead and miraculously comes back alive after a good number of years. A legal battle then ensures the story carries ahead for few more years. All this to prove his authenticity, if he is the same person who died or an imposter.
The story is set during the era when India was still under the British rule and the Zamindari system was very much active. The person whom we are interested in happens to be a prince who is in line to inherit lots of wealth and property. Hence there was way too much speculation. If he was a common man, I suppose nobody would be interested in him, nor cared, including myself, let alone the author.
There are many things I wish to write about the book and case/story.
About the book - I felt the writing style was bland, emotionless, expressionless and lacklustre. The book is written very similar to Agatha Christie's book Five Little Pigs, where each character narrates his side of the story for a particular day and time. Here the characters are the relatives of the prince, tenants and doctors who attended to him and few others. Each character has few pages dedicated to spell out their side of the story. It is very hard to find an overlap between the stories of two different people. In simple words, the writing style doesn't induce one to think deep. Overall a very slow read owing to the ordinary writing style.
About the case - I personally feel the people who had gathered to watch the spectacle could have made better use of their time and resources. So much money was spent in legal battle alongside time. I wish there were simple medical tests which could prove authenticity. This was the period of the Indian Freedom Struggle, there is no mention of that in the book nor Bengal Famine and few other things like shifting of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi. The result of the case was very much what I had anticipated. The zamindari system is long gone, I am way too curious to know what the descendants of this sanyasi are upto in the 21st Century.
Cheers,
August 29, 2022
Unputdownable and super engrossing. Must-read if you are into mystery and historical fiction.
November 21, 2022
What a splendid rendition of one of Bengal's as well as India's historical mysteries!
Summary of the case: Bhawal was a zamindari estate in Jaidevpur, now in Bangladesh. The prince who forms the crux of the tale was second of the three brothers. A wayward man and a womaniser, he contracted syphilis and was taken to Darjeeling by his brother in law, wife and a young doctor on the advice of more senior doctors. Here he seemed to recover, until suddenly his condition worsened and he died in the middle of a stormy night. 12 years later a mendicant showed up at Dhaka who bore striking resemblance to the dead prince. By now the Bhawal estate was in shambles and had no male leader, thus under the control of the oppressive British Raj. This mendicant's appearance began a long battle against the British and against his erstwhile wife and brother in law. Supported by his sisters and sister-in-law, the Bhawal prince fought his case first at the court of Dhaka, then at the High Court of Kolkata, and finally at London, winning the case just two days before his death.
Written from the perspective of multiple people involved in the famous Bhawal case, it gives life to the story that has always been impersonal and legal in its essence. With the perspective of the women, who despite having an inequal position in society back then, played some of the most pivotal roles in the case.
The book doesn't say outright if the mendicant was indeed the prince. But it presents in great details facts from the legal battle that spanned years. What Dr. Partha Chattapadhyay does in an academic account, Aruna Chakravarti does in fictionalised accounts of real people. For people like me who often find it tedious to read long non-fictions, such fictionalised narratives are a welcome medium. The best part is, unlike academic writing, the language of the book is easy to understand. With little Bangla exclamations that came with translations, the book felt extremely authentic. At no point does it make moral judgements, which is an important aspect when writing about true historical cases.
What I especially liked about this narrative is how it doesn't simply stick to the battle of families. It extends to explain intrinsically why the Bhawal case is of such high importance, and how the time and political situation of the case massively influenced it. The British occupation of zamindari families and the volatile situation of colonial oppression make this case infinitely more important than just a family squabble. The two brothers of the second prince dying and there being no biological heir to the estate becomes an important issue of content for the case. The question of a wife's duty versus a brother's orders become vital. The contrast between the wayward Bhawal men with the well educated women remind us that it isn't today that women have stood up for a cause much more vehemently that men ever could. Even in a society where women had roles decided for them and their status relegated to the background, it is the women who play the most vital role in the case.
Summary of the case: Bhawal was a zamindari estate in Jaidevpur, now in Bangladesh. The prince who forms the crux of the tale was second of the three brothers. A wayward man and a womaniser, he contracted syphilis and was taken to Darjeeling by his brother in law, wife and a young doctor on the advice of more senior doctors. Here he seemed to recover, until suddenly his condition worsened and he died in the middle of a stormy night. 12 years later a mendicant showed up at Dhaka who bore striking resemblance to the dead prince. By now the Bhawal estate was in shambles and had no male leader, thus under the control of the oppressive British Raj. This mendicant's appearance began a long battle against the British and against his erstwhile wife and brother in law. Supported by his sisters and sister-in-law, the Bhawal prince fought his case first at the court of Dhaka, then at the High Court of Kolkata, and finally at London, winning the case just two days before his death.
Written from the perspective of multiple people involved in the famous Bhawal case, it gives life to the story that has always been impersonal and legal in its essence. With the perspective of the women, who despite having an inequal position in society back then, played some of the most pivotal roles in the case.
The book doesn't say outright if the mendicant was indeed the prince. But it presents in great details facts from the legal battle that spanned years. What Dr. Partha Chattapadhyay does in an academic account, Aruna Chakravarti does in fictionalised accounts of real people. For people like me who often find it tedious to read long non-fictions, such fictionalised narratives are a welcome medium. The best part is, unlike academic writing, the language of the book is easy to understand. With little Bangla exclamations that came with translations, the book felt extremely authentic. At no point does it make moral judgements, which is an important aspect when writing about true historical cases.
What I especially liked about this narrative is how it doesn't simply stick to the battle of families. It extends to explain intrinsically why the Bhawal case is of such high importance, and how the time and political situation of the case massively influenced it. The British occupation of zamindari families and the volatile situation of colonial oppression make this case infinitely more important than just a family squabble. The two brothers of the second prince dying and there being no biological heir to the estate becomes an important issue of content for the case. The question of a wife's duty versus a brother's orders become vital. The contrast between the wayward Bhawal men with the well educated women remind us that it isn't today that women have stood up for a cause much more vehemently that men ever could. Even in a society where women had roles decided for them and their status relegated to the background, it is the women who play the most vital role in the case.
August 29, 2022
Retelling of the infamous 'Sanyasi Raja' case of pre-partition Bengal. Simply this is the story of the middle Bhawal Prince. Bhawal was one of the biggest zamindari s of those times. Steeped deep in opulence, grandeur and show casing, the generation of Rani Bilasmoni s sons were given free reigns of their lives - resulting in a threesome of brothers who were more into the pleasures of life then administration. Although married at right ages, all of them were childless and didnot have very charming relationship with their wives.
.
The Mejo Kumar - Ramendranarayan Roy was known for his ways with women of all sorts and even kept his mistress in the palace even after marriage. He was however as known a great connoisseur of entertainment forms, hunting and very generous and friendly with his subjects.
.
In 1909 after a severe bout of diagnosed syphilis he was sent on weather change to Darjeeling for health improvement. His wife, Mejo rani Bibhabhavati, brother-in-law Satyendranath Banerjee and doctor Ashustosh Dasgupta accompanied him. Later in a mysterious turn of events, the Rajbari was informed that mejo kumar had died and cremated the same night. In spite of unclear facts and several rumours the last rites were performed and following this event the two other brothers too died and the land fell into the hands of the british.
.
More than a decade later a mendicant appeared at Jaidevpur, Bhawal, who bore unlikely similarity to the middle prince. Investigations, rumours and probings later, the sadhu finally discloses his identity to his living sisters and the entire state is then thrown into the controversy of his death and reappearance.
This later transforms into one of the most long drawn and well attended court cases ever known.
.
I have seen a couple of film versions of this story but on reading it, especially the way its written here - from character s point of view except that of the man who caused it all. Each incident broken down, the childhood, the marriage, the darjeeling events and then the return followed by court proceedings and finally the second mejo rani Dhara Devi is so well articulated.
.
.
The Mejo Kumar - Ramendranarayan Roy was known for his ways with women of all sorts and even kept his mistress in the palace even after marriage. He was however as known a great connoisseur of entertainment forms, hunting and very generous and friendly with his subjects.
.
In 1909 after a severe bout of diagnosed syphilis he was sent on weather change to Darjeeling for health improvement. His wife, Mejo rani Bibhabhavati, brother-in-law Satyendranath Banerjee and doctor Ashustosh Dasgupta accompanied him. Later in a mysterious turn of events, the Rajbari was informed that mejo kumar had died and cremated the same night. In spite of unclear facts and several rumours the last rites were performed and following this event the two other brothers too died and the land fell into the hands of the british.
.
More than a decade later a mendicant appeared at Jaidevpur, Bhawal, who bore unlikely similarity to the middle prince. Investigations, rumours and probings later, the sadhu finally discloses his identity to his living sisters and the entire state is then thrown into the controversy of his death and reappearance.
This later transforms into one of the most long drawn and well attended court cases ever known.
.
I have seen a couple of film versions of this story but on reading it, especially the way its written here - from character s point of view except that of the man who caused it all. Each incident broken down, the childhood, the marriage, the darjeeling events and then the return followed by court proceedings and finally the second mejo rani Dhara Devi is so well articulated.
.
October 4, 2022
I quite liked this book based on the the real life historical mystery of the Second Kumar of Bhawal. I had previously read Partha Chatterjee's non-fiction book on the same case, the Princely Impostor, and this novel provides a really interesting perspective of the different people involved with the case.
Essentially, in 1909 the second son of the royal family in Bhawal ends up dying suddenly during a retreat in Darjeeling. He's accompanied by his wife, her brother, and a young doctor. He dies on a stormy night and is immediately taken to be cremated. Wife, brother, and doctor return to Bhawal and the family has some questions, but want to avoid scandal so they just move on. The royal family hits harder times in the years that follow and there is no legitimate heir to the throne. Fast forward to 1921 and a wandering sannyasi who looks remarkably like the Second Kumar is seen in the area. Some members of the family recognize him and claim him as their own, while others deny it. They might be sincere, they might have their own reasons for supporting him or not, or it could be a combination of both. The story covers this time frame through three court cases and an eventual final legal decision in 1946. I found it to be a fascinating story when I read Chatterjee's wonderful book and presented in this novel, it was equally fascinating but with the addition of so many individual human elements for the cast of characters involved. The author's style really allows the reader to imagine the feelings, perspectives, and motivations of the different family members and I think allows us to empathize with many of them.
I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to others, with the caveat that there are a lot of characters and it can be a little hard to keep track of who everyone is. I definitely needed to refer back to the cast of characters at the beginning of the book. Also while it is interesting to view so many different perspectives (individual characters, records, etc.), it can also make it a little confusing to follow the story. Because of this, it did take me a a couple of weeks to get passed the first like 20% or so of the book, but once I was hooked, I didn't stop reading until I had finished it. Lastly, I really wanted more from Bibhavati, who just felt elusive to me throughout. Maybe that is intentional, but I found her to be such a sad and confusing character. Again, highly recommended and I plan to check out some of the author's other works. (I also recommend Chatterjee's book...it's been a few years for me, but I plan to revisit it now as I'm interested all over again.)
Essentially, in 1909 the second son of the royal family in Bhawal ends up dying suddenly during a retreat in Darjeeling. He's accompanied by his wife, her brother, and a young doctor. He dies on a stormy night and is immediately taken to be cremated. Wife, brother, and doctor return to Bhawal and the family has some questions, but want to avoid scandal so they just move on. The royal family hits harder times in the years that follow and there is no legitimate heir to the throne. Fast forward to 1921 and a wandering sannyasi who looks remarkably like the Second Kumar is seen in the area. Some members of the family recognize him and claim him as their own, while others deny it. They might be sincere, they might have their own reasons for supporting him or not, or it could be a combination of both. The story covers this time frame through three court cases and an eventual final legal decision in 1946. I found it to be a fascinating story when I read Chatterjee's wonderful book and presented in this novel, it was equally fascinating but with the addition of so many individual human elements for the cast of characters involved. The author's style really allows the reader to imagine the feelings, perspectives, and motivations of the different family members and I think allows us to empathize with many of them.
I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to others, with the caveat that there are a lot of characters and it can be a little hard to keep track of who everyone is. I definitely needed to refer back to the cast of characters at the beginning of the book. Also while it is interesting to view so many different perspectives (individual characters, records, etc.), it can also make it a little confusing to follow the story. Because of this, it did take me a a couple of weeks to get passed the first like 20% or so of the book, but once I was hooked, I didn't stop reading until I had finished it. Lastly, I really wanted more from Bibhavati, who just felt elusive to me throughout. Maybe that is intentional, but I found her to be such a sad and confusing character. Again, highly recommended and I plan to check out some of the author's other works. (I also recommend Chatterjee's book...it's been a few years for me, but I plan to revisit it now as I'm interested all over again.)
January 21, 2023
The Mendicant Prince has been classified as a work of fiction by the publisher, Picador India.
Yes, this is a creative work. But one that has woven historical facts with rich imagination of an accomplished novelist.
Aruna Chakravarti’s oeuvre is truly impressive. Her translation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s Srikanta has won her a Sahitya Akademi award. Her original novels, Jorasanko and Daughters of Jorasanko are delight to read. And her translation of the first two books of Sunil Gangopadhyay’s classic Time trilogy, Sei Samay and Protham Alo has, deservedly, brought her wide acclaim.
Smt Chakravarti returns with aplomb to yet another historical fiction.
The second prince of the Bhawal, a very rich zamindari spread over 1500 sq kms in Dhaka district, dies in Darjeeling while on a convalescence trip to the hills. It was 1909. But suspicions about the veracity of the claim of death never completely died down. Twelve years later a mysterious sadhu appeared in Bhawal. And thus began one of the longest and most intriguing legal battles in India. A battle that had all the elements of a taut suspense thriller.
The “Bhawal sannyasi” case had held Bengal in thrall in the pre-Partition decades.
Aruna Chakravarti has recreated those times and events with consummate skill.
Her command over English is wonderful and her portrayal of a rural eastern Bengal zamindari and Calcutta of those days is evocative. Occasional use of Bengali words has given the narrative a charm of its own.
The Mendicant Prince is a highly readable novel.
A small complain. As the events took place in the second, third and fourth decades of the last century, Calcutta and Dacca would have gelled more seamlessly with the narrative than the twenty-first century Kolkata and Dhaka.
Smt Chakravarti has acknowledged her debt to Partha Chatterjee’s A Princely Imposter? The Strange and Universal History of the Kumar of Bhawal. I was deciding to read that book. But something put cold water on my enthusiasm. The paperback edition of the book is priced at Rs 5,200/- in Amazon!!! Tch.Tch.Tch.
A quick Google search reveals that Smt Aruna Chakravarti is aged 84 years (b.1939). May God grant her a long creative life so that she can regale us with her stories for years to come.
[PS: I regret not having watched the 1975 Uttam Kumar-Supriya Devi movie, Sannyasi Raja. This time I’ll not miss. Time to tap open YouTube in my Android!]
Yes, this is a creative work. But one that has woven historical facts with rich imagination of an accomplished novelist.
Aruna Chakravarti’s oeuvre is truly impressive. Her translation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s Srikanta has won her a Sahitya Akademi award. Her original novels, Jorasanko and Daughters of Jorasanko are delight to read. And her translation of the first two books of Sunil Gangopadhyay’s classic Time trilogy, Sei Samay and Protham Alo has, deservedly, brought her wide acclaim.
Smt Chakravarti returns with aplomb to yet another historical fiction.
The second prince of the Bhawal, a very rich zamindari spread over 1500 sq kms in Dhaka district, dies in Darjeeling while on a convalescence trip to the hills. It was 1909. But suspicions about the veracity of the claim of death never completely died down. Twelve years later a mysterious sadhu appeared in Bhawal. And thus began one of the longest and most intriguing legal battles in India. A battle that had all the elements of a taut suspense thriller.
The “Bhawal sannyasi” case had held Bengal in thrall in the pre-Partition decades.
Aruna Chakravarti has recreated those times and events with consummate skill.
Her command over English is wonderful and her portrayal of a rural eastern Bengal zamindari and Calcutta of those days is evocative. Occasional use of Bengali words has given the narrative a charm of its own.
The Mendicant Prince is a highly readable novel.
A small complain. As the events took place in the second, third and fourth decades of the last century, Calcutta and Dacca would have gelled more seamlessly with the narrative than the twenty-first century Kolkata and Dhaka.
Smt Chakravarti has acknowledged her debt to Partha Chatterjee’s A Princely Imposter? The Strange and Universal History of the Kumar of Bhawal. I was deciding to read that book. But something put cold water on my enthusiasm. The paperback edition of the book is priced at Rs 5,200/- in Amazon!!! Tch.Tch.Tch.
A quick Google search reveals that Smt Aruna Chakravarti is aged 84 years (b.1939). May God grant her a long creative life so that she can regale us with her stories for years to come.
[PS: I regret not having watched the 1975 Uttam Kumar-Supriya Devi movie, Sannyasi Raja. This time I’ll not miss. Time to tap open YouTube in my Android!]
November 14, 2024
What a book! Aruna chakravarti truly has a way of bringing the Bengal of the last century to life! Each of her books is better than the last. This book, based on a real life court case managed to bring all the characters to life and had me immersed in it's world from page 1 to the denouement.
September 20, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed the book.
February 16, 2023
Lovely book! Familiar story, retold!
January 27, 2024
The Bhawal case is an interesting study in the history of legal system and psychology of people back in British India. However, just like the case, the read was long drawn-out too.
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