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Mansur
A beguiling tapestry of art and intrigue at a Mughal atelier.
Saturday, the 27th of February, 1627. The master artist Mansur, who works under the patronage of Mughal emperor Jahangir, must finish his painting of a dodo and prepare for an imminent journey to Kashmir when he is interrupted by a younger colleague, Bichitr. An innocuous remark from this visitor – first to Mansur and a little later to the portraitist Abu’l Hasan – has dire consequences as more characters at the imperial atelier, the library and the Women’s Quarter are drawn into a web of secrets, half-truths and petty rivalries.
At the heart of the story is a jewel-like verse book whose pages Mansur has illuminated and filled with lifelike butterflies. On reaching Verinag, the royal summer retreat in Kashmir, the painter must present the book to its author, the empress Nur Jahan, who had commissioned it as a keepsake for her husband, the emperor Jahangir.
A delay in the book reaching Mansur from the bindery adds to his apprehensions that its very existence is no longer a secret, coupled with dread that so precious an artefact might fall into the wrong hands. What must the painter confront before his masterwork is conveyed safely to Verinag?
Saturday, the 27th of February, 1627. The master artist Mansur, who works under the patronage of Mughal emperor Jahangir, must finish his painting of a dodo and prepare for an imminent journey to Kashmir when he is interrupted by a younger colleague, Bichitr. An innocuous remark from this visitor – first to Mansur and a little later to the portraitist Abu’l Hasan – has dire consequences as more characters at the imperial atelier, the library and the Women’s Quarter are drawn into a web of secrets, half-truths and petty rivalries.
At the heart of the story is a jewel-like verse book whose pages Mansur has illuminated and filled with lifelike butterflies. On reaching Verinag, the royal summer retreat in Kashmir, the painter must present the book to its author, the empress Nur Jahan, who had commissioned it as a keepsake for her husband, the emperor Jahangir.
A delay in the book reaching Mansur from the bindery adds to his apprehensions that its very existence is no longer a secret, coupled with dread that so precious an artefact might fall into the wrong hands. What must the painter confront before his masterwork is conveyed safely to Verinag?
Hardcover
Published January 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 4, 2023
Sardi ki dhoop... Alas dopher or ghazal...
Did you ever come across any book that felt like a ghazal? This book, Mansur by Vikramjit Ram feels like a ghazal.
I spent 3 days with this book, roaming in the Mughal courtyard, it was Jahangir's era. Literally I heard that murmur of their muslins, their footsteps, and felt the cool breeze. Some books are meant to feel it..
Mughal emperor Jahangir was a renowned patronage of art and his atelier was bejeweled by artisans such as Abu'l Hasan, Mansur, Bichitr and many others.
The protagonist of this novel is Mansur ( Rarity of the present). Under royal patronage Ustad Mansur created some magnificent art works on nature and he made some portraits of Jahangir.
The story begins as Mansur is busy painting Dodo bird's eyes. He had to finish it soon and then he went off to Verinag. Verinag is the royal summer retreat in Kashmir. And he is also working on the decoration of a Book. ..
This is a story of a painter and painting. The narrative of the book is velvety, the softness of the prose, the elegance of the storytelling style wouldn't let you put down this book. Vikramjit used a few Urdu words here and there that were like embellishments on this velvety narration.
Did you ever come across any book that felt like a ghazal? This book, Mansur by Vikramjit Ram feels like a ghazal.
I spent 3 days with this book, roaming in the Mughal courtyard, it was Jahangir's era. Literally I heard that murmur of their muslins, their footsteps, and felt the cool breeze. Some books are meant to feel it..
Mughal emperor Jahangir was a renowned patronage of art and his atelier was bejeweled by artisans such as Abu'l Hasan, Mansur, Bichitr and many others.
The protagonist of this novel is Mansur ( Rarity of the present). Under royal patronage Ustad Mansur created some magnificent art works on nature and he made some portraits of Jahangir.
The story begins as Mansur is busy painting Dodo bird's eyes. He had to finish it soon and then he went off to Verinag. Verinag is the royal summer retreat in Kashmir. And he is also working on the decoration of a Book. ..
This is a story of a painter and painting. The narrative of the book is velvety, the softness of the prose, the elegance of the storytelling style wouldn't let you put down this book. Vikramjit used a few Urdu words here and there that were like embellishments on this velvety narration.
October 31, 2023
Mansur, written by Vikramjit Ram, is one of the 2023 JCB Prize for Literature longlist titles and also the book of the month pick from my local independent bookstore's book club - Pagdandi.
The latter was the only reason I bought and read this book. With my previous track record, I find books which win literary awards or are shortlisted for literary awards are not my cup of tea. They're usually very sad and the writing is too flowery for my liking. That's not to say theyre not great books.
This short book is a historic fiction story set in Jahangir's Mughal era. The story revolves around a keepsake book that Nur Jahan has secretly asked Mansur (the Artist of the present) to create for her, which she would like to present to Jahangir, who is an admirer of great art. There are multiple actors involved in the secrecy of this book and its creation - and even though the book is supposed to be only for the eyes of Jahangir, it actually isnt so.
There are a lot of beautiful descriptions about how paintings were made in those days and the details that went into making even one piece of art. I really enjoyed reading that part of the book since it brought a new appreciation in the process of creating art before the age of AI or mass market.
However, I felt like the book ended abruptly and more could have been written about the actual fate of the book and some of the other actors involved.
The latter was the only reason I bought and read this book. With my previous track record, I find books which win literary awards or are shortlisted for literary awards are not my cup of tea. They're usually very sad and the writing is too flowery for my liking. That's not to say theyre not great books.
This short book is a historic fiction story set in Jahangir's Mughal era. The story revolves around a keepsake book that Nur Jahan has secretly asked Mansur (the Artist of the present) to create for her, which she would like to present to Jahangir, who is an admirer of great art. There are multiple actors involved in the secrecy of this book and its creation - and even though the book is supposed to be only for the eyes of Jahangir, it actually isnt so.
There are a lot of beautiful descriptions about how paintings were made in those days and the details that went into making even one piece of art. I really enjoyed reading that part of the book since it brought a new appreciation in the process of creating art before the age of AI or mass market.
However, I felt like the book ended abruptly and more could have been written about the actual fate of the book and some of the other actors involved.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews