Maharaj: Skeletons “Reborn”
Title Cover of The Novel-Maharaj
(Author: Saurabh Shah,Publisher : R.R. Sheth & co.,Ahmedabad,October-2013,Price-325 Rs.)
Well, In this hullaballoo of patidar Stirr & Pakistan showing it’s true color on fronts something new is happening in Gujarati journalism & literature. Old skeletons are tumbling out of closet after more than 150 years. A brave heart journo Shri Saurabh Shah has republished his novel “Maharaj”. This novel was first published by him in 1997 in a now defunct Gujarati magazine & steered controversy. Since the very subject is controversial if we just see it from one angle, otherwise from second (and more mature) angle it seems a path breaking endeavor.
As we all know in our country various religious sects, faiths & full time religions are practiced by millions of devotees. In the name of god or to achieve the god devotees are ready to go to any extent. When this happens “Maharaj” is born.
This novel is based on a genius & brave heart journo, social reformer Karsondas Mulji’s die hard attempts to clean up the vises of religious system in which he too believed deeply. The plot of novel is woven around him & all time landmark court judgement called “Maharaj Libel Case”. The novel takes place in milieu of year 1860 Bombay.
Before I move ahead about the novel let’s have a look at its background & it’s real life characters. Since the novel is based on real life incidents & court proceedings. Karsondas Mulji was a journalist, a social reformer, a teacher, in short a versatile genius. He was brought up in English Education. He had bent for social reformation since his early young age. In his early youth he wrote an essay in favor of widow remarriage, a social taboo in his times.
At the age of 28 years he revolutionized Gujarati journalism in particular & Indian journalism in general by writing against the sect he himself followed. By birth he was a Kapol Vaishnav. He wrote assiduously against religious heads of Vaishnav sect revered as “Maharajs”. He criticized them for their unholy practices & debauchery. His constant attacks in his newspaper “Satyaprakash”(which had paltry circulation of 500 copies) annoyed Maharaj Jadunathji. A shrewd Maharaj first tried to make a conspiracy against karsondas through his Bhatia followers (that conspiracy case was known as Bhatia Conspiracy case),but his trap failed so he sued Karsondas in Bombay Supreme Court by filing defamation suit of 50,000 rupees.( In modern currency value it may go to 5 crore rupees).It was a sheer attempt to crush karsondas & Satyaprakash, but Karsondas fought against Jadunathji & his powerful friends. In an epoch making libel suit he defeated mighty Maharaj. He proved Maharaj’s malpractices & debauchery in court, with that he added a golden leaf in Gujarati Journalism. It was his courage & continuous endeavor to reveal the truth that made him immortal in Indian journalism.
To come back to “Maharaj” , since it is based on real life incidents & documents the author didn’t get much freedom to add more colors but he succeeds in making his all characters alive in the mind of reader. Saurabh Shah, a pukka journo has left his imprint on this docu novel. Being a prolific writer he has very well researched his subject.
The canvas of this novel is based on 19th century Gujarat, Saurabh Shah has minutely observed all the social, economical & legal aspects of that era & successfully reflected in his creation.
The novel is wittily chapterised in various ‘Darshans’ of Lord Shreenathji. It starts with Mangala and continues withShrungar,Gwal,Rajbhog,Utthapan,Bhog,Aarti & Shayan. Spreaded in 36 chapters, this novel touches the readers heart & hurts where it should be.
The characterization of protagonist Karsondas Mulji is very powerful, though the writer hardly gives his physical glimpses in the novel, his moral character overpowers everything else. His struggle to achieve high standards of morality & reveal the truth behind murky world of debaucheries of his Gurus is fantastically penned here.
Half of the novel is dominated by court proceedings of famous “Maharaj libel case”. it is an interesting (but quite lengthy) part of this novel. In fact the writer has also admitted the short comings of this compulsory part in the prologue. The reader may not find this novel a ‘court room drama’ or good v/s evil thriller, it may not be a ‘hot material’ since it deals with dark side of human psyche, certainly it is a worthy reading for every mature citizen.
There are two reasons to do so. First it handles the oldest & toughest subject of our society, our religious madness & supreme powers enjoyed( in this case misused) by unholy holymen & second, it is a golden part of Gujarati journalism. So go, get the copy before it disappears from book shelf as the issues of Satyaprakash were disappeared……
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