Mastaan by Vineet Bajpai

"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.

The siege of Krishnapur by J. G. Farrel

"The siege of Krishnapur" by J. G. Farrel. Farrel won Booker prize for this book in 1973.

This is the story of Krishnapur, a fictitious small principality, in Bengal presidency; in, East India Company ruled, India during the uprising of 1857. Although this is a fiction the author has used a number of real incidents from the uprising, from diaries and letters of those present at that time, in this story. The sepoys have started uprising and collector of Krishnapur has ordered all whites, Eurasians and loyal native servants to take refuge in his fortified residency. Interestingly this book is written only as seen  from the eyes of the English population. So you do not know what's happening on the other side.

There are a number of interesting characters: the collector, a doctor, his beautiful daughter looking for a suitable suitor, a magistrate, a padre, young officers, a visiting young Englishman, his widow sister, the maharaja, prince and prime minister. Each looks at the crises from his point of view but all are concerned about their well-being and safety.

What fate awaits the occupants of residency? Will they be able to defend till rescue arrives? Can they remain united? Will the sepoys win?

The story is very short on events and action. Hence author has spent a lot of space on the surroundings, furniture, showpieces in the residency, philosophy and theology. Not much happens even if you miss 8-10 pages.

As the siege continues the rations dwindle, men keep dying, hygiene deteriorates, gloom prevails, fights break out for minor things. But human nature tries to find joy, even in such dire circumstances, in small things like tea party or child birth. Love kindles, people get philosophical, opinions change, perspectives alter. There is an undercurrent of dread in the book.

Author has successfully captured the absurdities of the discrimination within the society, without sounding supremacist. The pecking order within the residency with elite whites at top followed by other whites then the Eurasians and finally loyal natives remains even during the crisis.

Since this book is written only from the point of view of English populace, there was a danger of this book becoming biased. Author has successfully avoided this trap. The key to the success of this book is being impartial and unbiased.

It's a slow story. An OK read. One can read It for a change.