Debut novel, Ba’az of the Bengal Lancers written by Uttiyo Bhattacharya has been set on the premise of the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.
Bayazuddin Ali Khan aka ‘Ba’az the Bungalee’ served as a scribe for the British and reported to Captain Hodson. Around the same time Bahadur Shah Zafar is taken captive by British and his sons are shot dead by Captain Hodson. Ba’az becomes the sole guardian of a priceless treasure which he intends to share with his three close friends- Akbar, Abdullah and Iqbal. As the events unfold Ba’az loses his friends. Unsure of what to do with the treasure he leaves behind clues for Iqbal to unearth the hidden treasure kept for him.
After many decades a bored student of architecture (narrator of the novel) gets to know about the story of a hidden treasure and Ba’az from the grandfather of his friend Jami at a small village called Haider Kalan. Discovering some clues to the hidden treasure Jami and the narrator embarks on an adventure to discover the treasure with the help of his other friend Nira.
The plot thickens and with every discovery there is a new twist which keeps the reader hooked to the novel till the end. This is an excellent piece of work with a great blend of history and mystery with a gripping storyline which makes it a brilliant thriller.
The style of writing is simple and effortless which makes the journey of the narrator more relatable making it a page turner.
The story spans from Haider Kalan to Delhi, Udaipur and finally Delhi, which has been interweaved in a maze like plot. While feeding on the remnants of history, the adventure turns out to be a labyrinth of wordplay, complicated ciphers and artfully placed clues. It is a well-researched book with vivid descriptions from the past which makes the historical events so realistic. While reading I felt as if I was witnessing it from a distance wide-eyed.
All the characters have been crafted brilliantly. Each of them has evolved with unique personalities which add to the drama of this historical saga and make it more enriching. I especially liked the portrayal of Ba’az later as Lalan Fakir bearing resemblance with the famous Bengali mystic song writer Fakir Lalon Shah.
Ba’az of the Bengal Lancers is indeed an exciting read which keeps you glued to the book till the last page when the mystery is decoded. The blood–gushing excitement of whether the narrator will discover the treasure keeps the reader at the edge. Readers who love history with a good blend of mystery will love this book.
While I took some time to process the entire story and get back to reality, I will eagerly wait to hear about Uttiyo’s next adventure.
To grab your own copy visit : https://www.amazon.in/Baaz-Bengal-Lancers-Uttiyo-Bhattacharya/dp/9353450268/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3JMR2WH5S14BE&keywords=baaz+of+the+bengal+lancers&qid=1563437443&s=gateway&sprefix=Baaz+of+the+%2Caps%2C278&sr=8-1
Publisher : Juggernaut
Rating : 4.5 out of 5
Hey Sri, you have penned down the review with simplicity that I look forward in Uttiyo’s writing. Keep appraising !!
Hey Sri, you have penned down the review with simplicity that I look forward in Uttiyo’s writing. Keep appraising !!
Thank you so much for being such an inspiration.
Hii Sri, your review is really simple but intricate enough to encourage and us to go through the book. It unfolds in such a way that we get a total synopsis of the book. Keep up the good work.
Hi Sri, As u know I love the way you express yourself with simplicity using apt words. You have written the review so well that anybody who reads it would definitely want to read the book. My good wishes with you for all your future ventures.
Thank you so much.