Transcendental Fiction To be frank I have not heard of Herman Hesse, the Nobel Laureatte. It when I got this book from my Secretary’s table that I learned about it. But when my secretary told me that the book is about Budhism and that it is a translation, I postponed the idea of reading it for long journey*. After reading a Review on MS I chose to read it and finished it in about 4 days.
The book is as much about Budhism as against it. It is a new perspective on Budhism, Teaching, Spiritual wisdom and human nature. *It is not the Story of the Buddha who was Siddartha as we know *but his contemporary (perhaps) fictional character much younger than him.Siddrtha is a Brahmin boy in a Brahmin family and a good learner and inteelectual. For the fear of taking away the suspense from the prospective Iam keeping it short and vague.
The Story is about the intellectual Boy Siddartha who excels in Everything in his Childhood with another boy by name Govinda all admiration for him and treating Him as Guru. The boy, Siddartha takes Sanyas against the Wishes of his father (Govinda the Sishya follows) . Siddartha gradually starts Changing Gears as new Light dawns on him that Budhism cannot be taught with any efficacy even by Budha and Spiritual wisdom can only be learned. After hearing one speech by Buddha , he seeks an appointment and expresses this disagreement and leaves. Around this time his friend Govinda decides to follow Budha.
Then on Siddartha goes through a big circle of Sanyas, Carnality, Avarice, Desire for about 20 years. Kamala the courtesan and Kamaswami the businessman influence him most.
Then he suddenly realizes the folly of carnal living and Goes back to the forest to a life of simplicity and hard work as a ferryman. Here the author introduces the Hindu concept of piety and greatness of a river. He tells about learning from the river, its sounds and colors. He spends perhaps 12-15 years this way and starts growing older.
Sudenly he meets his courtesan Kamala who hands over his own son (born latter) and dies. His son doesnot llike or obey him and finally departs. The co ferryman dies leaving him high and dry. At this juncture he comes across the Acetic and one time friend Govinda and lauds him but doesn’t greave his state.
His simplicity and sinceriy makes Govinda see a Budha in Siddartha towards the end of a long conclusive discussion.
A treasure trove of Spiritual wisdom , it is a rollercoaster ride of human feelings and the use of simple language the power of which is unraveled by the Author (translator Hilda Rosner) in an unprecedented way.
Kudos to the Writer and Translator. First time I thought I should have learnt German.
A must read for every adult Indian knowing English/ German.