Bani Basu is a Bengali Indian author, essayist, critic and poet. She was educated at the well-known Scottish Church College and at the University of Calcutta.
She began her career as a novelist with the publication of Janmabhoomi Matribhoomi. A prolific writer, her novels have been regularly published in Desh, the premier literary journal of Bengal. Her major works include Swet Patharer Thaala (The Marble Salver), Ekushe Paa (twenty One Steps), Maitreya Jataka (published as The Birth of the Maitreya by Stree), Gandharvi, Pancham Purush (The Fifth Man, or Fifth Generation?) and Ashtam Garbha (The Eighth Pregnancy). She was awarded the Tarashankar Award for Antarghaat (Treason), and the Ananda Purashkar for Maitreya Jataka. She is also the recipient of the Sushila Devi Birla Award and the Sahitya Setu Puraskar. She translates extensively into Bangla and writes essays, short stories and poetry.
Bani Basu has been conferred upon Sahitya Academy Award 2010, one of India's highest literary awards, for her contribution to Bengali literature.
A supremely well-written and well-researched historical novel set in the times of Gautam Buddha and king Bimbisara. Every character, major and minor, are well etched and with a proper arc. Women and their struggles are vividly portrayed. The religion and politics of the time are well covered and most of the philosophy is timeless. Feeling very enriched to know more about this period of Indian history. Thanks very very much to the writer.
Evocative imagining of E India at the time of the Buddha, where elites had to deal with very 'modern' problems: regional difference, the role of women, the rights of 'tribals,' a desire for peace and friendship. An opportunity to think about a very different India and very different Indians, perhaps drawn as an overly romanticized realm of freedom, but one that dares to be imagined. Social realism meets Buddhist mythology/historiography -- I'm amazed that such a book exists.
A deep research for the rise, success and short falling of Buddha at that social and political atmosphere was needed...and this book reveals the untold secrets of that spiritual revolution which swept the whole world up its feet.
Don't get scared by the "Sadhu bhasha". Give it a try otherwise you will miss an amazing creative well researched fiction.A must read for anyone who can read Bangla. Beautifully blended history with fiction.