Title: Rau — The Great Love Story of Bajirao Mastani by N.S. Inamdar
Author: N.S. Inamdar
Translator: Vikrant Pande
Publisher: Pan Macmillan India
Review:
If ‘Bajirao Mastani,’ the movie, was all about forbidden and
failed love with two star crossed lovers acting out their well curated
dialogues, N.S. Inamdar’s ‘Rau’ (the 1972 Marathi book on which Bhansali’s
historical romance is loosely based) is more about how a warrior fights for his
country, all the while trying to keep a different sort of a fight out of his
domestic life. The grandeur of the big screen lacks in the black and white
pages of the book but it’s the story itself that successfully creates a
splendid treat for the book lovers.
Inamdar’s Rau is a much detailed version of the life and
time of Shrimant Bajirao Peshwa. The Maratha ruler’s administration finds more
focus in the book that his romance with his second wife Mastani. He is a
willful and valiant soldier but at the same time he comes across as an
affectionate individual. His character is flawed and there is nothing larger
than life about him. Although he is quick tempered, he fights for what he
believes in. He is equally passionate for his empire and the people that make
up his life.
The novel also provides an insight into the Indian society
during the 18th century. Credited with expanding the Maratha
Empire, especially in the north, he was fabled to have never lost a
single battle in his brief military career of 20 years. Allegedly, possibly the
finest cavalry general ever produced by India. We see the orthodox Hindu
Brahmin society of that time that did not object to the Peshwa’s having a
concubine in addition to a wife but didn’t offer any acceptance to his marrying
her on basis of her caste. Bajirao's brother Chimnaji Appa and
their mother, Radhabai, also never accepted Mastani as one of their own. Many
attempts were made to take her life, presumably by Chimnaji Appa; she survived
with the help of Chhatrapati Shahu. It goes on to show the
workings of the society and its narrow-mindedness.
This being a translation, not much can be gleaned about the
writing style of the author. What I can say is that Vikrant Pande as a
translator has done a good job. Nothing seems to have been lost in translation.
The story has all the ingredients that make for a good reading experience.
There is romance, history, politics, kings, and warriors. What can go wrong
with these combinations? I’d recommend it to all those who enjoy historical
romance.
About the Author:
Born in a village in Maharashtra’s Satara district, N.S.
Inamdar (1923–2002) was one of India’s foremost Marathi novelists, with a
writing career spanning over five decades. He is the author of sixteen
historical novels and an autobiography.
About the Translator:
Vikrant Pande has translated Ranjit Desai’s Raja Ravi Varma,
Milind Bokil’s Shala and N.S. Inamdar’s Shahenshah. He has worked for over
twenty-five years with various multinational companies and is currently heading
TeamLease Skills University at Vadodara.
Buy Link:
* I received a review copy
from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
** Picture courtesy:
Amazon.in
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