Author: Partha Chatterjee
Publisher: Permanent Black
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 429
ISBN/UPC (if available): 817824084X
Description
Now in paperback edition, this extraordinary book represents an immensely valuable addition to the literature on South Asia. Richly documented, absorbingly developed, and beautifully written, this is narrative of the highest order.
In 1921, a half-naked sannyasi appears in Dhaka and is identified as a hunting-shooting-womanising zamindar-the Second Kumar of Bhawal-who was believed to have died in Darjeeling twelve years earlier. This fakir is persuaded to visit his estate, where he is interrogated. He is disowned as an impostor by his widow, but his sisters swear he is their long-lost brother.
Now begins a legal battle in which the sannyasi seeks to prove his identity while others seek to destroy his claims. Soon the whole of British India is divided on the identity of the sannyasi, and indeed on what constitutes identity-specially in relation to a man back from the dead.
This book tells the incredible story of the prince as pauper, of pauper as resurrected prince. Chatterjee’s retelling of the notorious Bhawal Sannyasi Case-one of India’s best-known and most historic legal battles-is joint winner of the Rabindra Purushkar.
REVIEWS
This extraordinary book represents an immensely valuable addition to the literature on South Asia. It will have great influence both within and outside of the academy and will soon be regarded as a classic.
-Amitav Ghose
Richly documented, absorbingly developed, and beautifully written, this is narrative of the highest order.
-Supriya Chaudhuri in The Hindu
One of those rare recent books of Indian history which holds the reader’s attention from start to finish.
-Sanjay Subrahmanyam in Outlook
Around this real life story…Chatterjee has woven a fabulous narrative.
-Sumanta Banerjee in Indian Express
Contents
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PREFACE
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
CHAPTER ONE
The Facts of the Matter
CHAPTER TWO
An Estate Called Bhawal
CHAPTER THREE
On Hunting and Other Sports
CHAPTER FOUR
What Happened in Darjeeling?
CHAPTER FIVE
First Brush with the Law
CHAPTER SIX
The House on Lansdowne Road
CHAPTER SEVEN
A Fondness for Miracles
CHAPTER EIGHT
The Identity Puzzle
CHAPTER NINE
The Trial Begins
CHAPTER TEN
Darjeeling: The Plaintiff’s Case
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Experts on Recognition
CHAPTER TWELVE
For the Defense
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The Climax
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Reasonings
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The Judgment
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The Appeal
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Razor’s Edge
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The Decision
CHAPTER NINETEEN
To London and Back
Notes
Bibliography
Index