Moitreya Jatak by Bani Basu [Hardcover]

Renowned storyteller Bani Basu has sought to vividly and authentically recreate the time of Gautama Buddha's life, which marks a significant period in Indian history, in this vast, dynamic, and colorful two-part novel. The setting of the story touches upon the central region—today's Bihar and parts of Uttar Pradesh—while simultaneously delving into the eternal and complex human psyche. In this dual backdrop, the intricate layers of this ambitious novel gradually unfold.

At times, the story is set in the political realm, where the center of power shifts from the northwest to the east, with Gandhar, Madra, Kuru, and Panchala giving way to Kosala, Vaishali, and Magadha. The clash of old imperial ideologies with new ideas of cooperation is at the heart of the narrative. In the center of this clash stand the renowned Gautama Buddha, the first historical emperor of India, Bimbisara, King Prasenjit of Kosala, and various astute royal figures. Alongside them, there is the learned youth Chanakya from Taxila, the intelligent dancer Jitsoma from Gandhara, and the royal prince Kumaratishya from Saket.

The story also unfolds on the economic front, where the power structure is reshaped through class stratification. Wealth becomes the true source of power. As trade expands, the competition between the scholarly and martial classes gives way to the rise of merchants and the wealthy. Socially, around these figures, we see the broader lives of farmers, artisans, landholding citizens, small traders, poets, dancers, and slaves, whose lives follow the timeless routines of society, yet are subtly marked by the changes of the time.

In this backdrop, the Buddha's teachings enter the collective consciousness in various forms, sometimes influencing the masses positively, sometimes evoking a backlash. Amidst all these dynamics flow the personal joys and sorrows, hopes and desires, triumphs and failures, fractures and reconfigurations of relationships. The psychological layers of this world are deftly captured.

Through this multi-layered depiction, the novel offers a fresh interpretation of legendary events and situations, providing a nuanced portrayal of ancient life. It unravels the myth of the apparent simplicity of ancient times, presenting a complex emotional and intellectual landscape filled with love, hate, consciousness, and unconsciousness, both at the individual and collective levels. The language and approach are apt, making it a modern retelling of ancient life’s intricate web. The novel has been honored with the Anand Puraskar.