"Mastaan" by Vineet Bajpai - A 1857 fiction!
This book is published by Treeshade books in 2019 and has 290 pages. It's a historical fiction.
Mastaan is raised by a noble British officer after Mastaan's father sacrifices his life for that officer in battle. Mastaan grows to become one of the most fearsome fighter of East India Company (Company Bahadur). Come 1857, Mastaan is not convinced by the sipoy unrest about cartridges laced with Cow and Pig fat and talk of mutiny. He also has someone to protect.
Will Mastaan oppose the revolution? Will his loyalty to Company Bahadur waver? Is there a connection to Mangal Pandey? Is there a love angle? Did one man really change the course of history's greatest war for freedom? How is Tipu Sultan's treasure connected to all this? What did the Badshah promise to the half faced dervish?
Mastaan is described as boisterous, flamboyant, loud mouthed and magnificent. He is the best marksman of Company Bahadur and the speed with which he can reload and fire is unmatched. He is a single man army. With 1857 uprising, he finds himself in the crisis of his life. On one side is his loyalty to Company Bahadur and on another side is his country. On one side is religion and other side duty. On one side love of someone close, on other side a loss of someone close.
Author has set the story in 1857 (obviously). Mastaan appears to be a confused character. If he was shown as a rational and neutral who chooses one side over other, then his character would not appear confused. But he is shown as patriot and lovelorn. He has to choose a side knowing that he would inflict irreparable damage to other side, it would change the course of history. And he chooses his side. Sujata's story and Mangal Pandey connection also appear to be an afterthought, rather than integral part of the story, inserted to justify actions.
The story is delivered in bits and pieces. It lacks continuity. So readers won't sit late night to read the book. It's not a page turner. The book ends with implication of Mastaan's death. Author has opened up two stories that he doesn't conclude. One of the pact between Badshah and half faced dervish and another of Tipu's treasure. Readers might have guessed, by now, that there is a sequel or sequels. In fact these open ends make the readers wait for the sequel.
Readers come to know that this is not a one-off book at the end of the book. The book cover does not say that it's a series. I believe it's moral responsibility of author and publisher to clearly state that this is a sequel so that readers have a choice to buy the book or not. I had made same comment in my review of author's first book Harappa, that turned out to be a trilogy.
Character of Mastaan loses the grandeur it was supposed to have. Probably author will try to repair the damage in sequel by showing how he saved India.
Why did I read this book? Author.
What I didn't like? Unexciting story.
What did I like? Setting of 1857.
Read if you plan to read the sequel too.
