"The Princes" by Manohar Malgaokar translated in Marathi by B.D.Kher (भा.द.खेर). This book was first published in 1963.
India was formed by numerous principalities before independence. This is the story of one such fictional principality called Begwad and it's ruling family 'The Bedars'. The princes of these principalities underwent a polar shift from being the most powerful men to becoming a commoner. This novel takes on a roller coaster ride of the transformation on a personal, social and psychological level.
The book shows us the wealth of sansthaniks (संस्थानीक), how they felt closer to British than Congress, how they hunted wild animals, how they partied, how they drank, how they lusted on one hand. On the other the author shows how they ruled, how they ensured justice and how they cared for their subjects.
Down fall of Sansthaniks from ruler to weakened ruler to nominal ruler to a common man and eventually a pariah is shown in this book. The central character Abhayraj eventually comes out as a just person who refuses to show the wealth of Sansthan as his own. However he can not do anything for the Bhilla population in his kingdom who's land goes under the catchment area of the dam.
Although the book has covered one of the most tumultuous time period, it becomes boring often. It could have been more fast paced and interesting or probablya little smaller than its 431 pages. As I read the book I also realized that I had read it when I was in school.
Most of today's readers were not born at the time of independence. So this book gives a good peek in those times.
Not a must read.
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