A Junoon, at the time of Revolt...

By: DESPRADO | Jan 18, 2008 04:15 PM

Any war or revolution or events like that give birth to lot of stories. This is one such story based around the period of Revolt of 1857 in INDIA. This one is different among most of Ruskin Bonds books, though I have not yet read all of his work. Most of his stories are either based on his own lifes experiences, involve nature in one way or the other, and are concerned mostly with normal people and their normal lives and thats what makes them very realistic. This one is like a chapter from the history of our country, INDIA. STORY: The story starts with the capture of Shahjahanpur, a small town village in U. P., from english army by Indian Freedom fighters. With that starts killing and looting of english people settled over there with burning out their houses and capturing and imprisioning of their women, if there were any. Ruth, her mother (Mariam) and rest of her family , all women, were one such group. First they take refugee in the house Lala Ramjimal, a friend of her father, but soon people around find out that there is group of english womens hiding in his house. Then a Pathan named Javed Khan, one of the man of then Nawab of that area, takes them to his house. He puts the proposal of marrying Ruth before her mother, though he can have her forcibly, but he wants to do so with the will of the girl. Well, its hard to know he loves her not, but surely he like her very much and is kaayal of her beauty. Mariam being a captive under Javed didnt have much options but somehow manages ot save her daughter for the Pathan using one excuse or th other. In the backdrop of this story the events of the Revolt of 1857 is presented beautifully in bits and pieces. Finally story ends with english army once again taking over the city almost after an year in 1858. The story is narrated by the lead character Ruth. There are two main characters leaving Ruth. Javed Khan and Mariam, her mother. The character of Mariam is the one which is most impactful and strong, so much so that it makes you admire her. A strong willed women with a great presence of mind. Way she saves her daughter from Javed is very impressive. Then Javed Khan a strong and powerful Pathan who can possess the girl any time he want, but he waits for the agreement of Mariam. You like him somehow, like Ruth, though its a negative character. The story is a real one told to Ruskin by his father and and to him by someone.. This novel has been made into a T. V. serial called "JUNOON" though I am not able to remember if I have seen it or not. The book is readable, atleast for one time, though not a very happy reading, it is interesting surely and humurous too at times. Consists of 120 pages with very simple words.I read it from the Collected Fiction book of Ruskin Bond, so cost I dont know. MY PICK : Havnt found any lines to pick, as its lengthy passages which I liked but when they are together. S hard to choose some lines... So I have picekd up a small passage this time..It goes like this.. "Ive only one request to make" said Javed unusually shifitng his weight from one foot to the other. "yes, what is it?" asked Mother. "I know that time has passed when I could speak of marrying your daughter", he said "Its too late now to do anything about it. But will you permit me to see her once more, before I leave." "What good will that do?", began mother, but impelled by someodd impulse, Istepped forward into the light and stood before Javed khan.

He gazed at me about a minute, and for the first time I didnt take my eyes away from his; then without a smile or word, he turned away and mouted his horse and rode away into the night. This lines as such may not seem very interesting but in the story they come at a very interesting point and so, get settled somewhere in your mind and you like them. So, all in all a good read.. All Ruskin bond fans will find something different here. Now that you have read it , do me a favour, rate this review too, and comment ... Ur wish.. :)