Experience teaches through tests and it does not take a sage to warn you of a possible test in your own life. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts is one such book that reflects on the examining tendencies of experience and if you are living the life you claim to be, then this book is one which you must pick up right away.
Having picked up the book on the advice of a much respected friend, I initially had no clue of what to expect. The title suggested a book derived from sub-continent sources, yet nothing prepared me for the actual material worded in this 900 page–worth every blink of the eye–novel.
Based on a real event in a person’s life, Shantaram is a novel which deserves the respect of all those people who value experience. Gregory David Roberts, a convicted drug addict, escaped a prison cell in Australia whilst serving his sentence, ultimately transporting himself illegally to India. In a bid to stay alive and keep up with life he finds himself involved in a variety of activities and it is this journey to his current position as a writer which gives this book its unique flavor.
Through the novel we are made to relive his experiences and in the process we realize the lessons he learned in the toughest ways possible. Life in India, particular for a foreigner, can be conceived of in a variety of ways–yet when the author finds himself living in a dilapidated slum in the suburbs of Mumbai, you soon come to realize that this is one foreigner who was thrust into an extremely alien system. The novel generates excitement from the very onset and the adventures of a foreigner in a land many of us know quite well, simply teases imagination and gets you reading for more.
The entire novel sees the author sharing his experience with us; his experience is such that it opens the mind and heart to reality. The power of the book lies fundamentally in this experience and the charm comes from the fact that the author borrows from nothing imaginary. Instead, the novel can be seen as one fellow human being simply narrating his experiences on earth. Yet the experience is so unique and turbulent that it necessarily warrants attention: the exciting experience the novel refers to gives this book a vibe of its own.
The novel runs through culture and society ultimately making it easier to relate to. To me the book feels close to home and the lessons to be derived from the author’s experience can productively facilitate dialogue and contemplation. For the reader there lies a perfect combination of adventure, travel, mystery and horror, coupled with lessons in philosophy which cleverly disguise the morale of the story. The author shows a clever writing ethic and more than anything the author exemplifies the power of experience on the human mind.
The novel shall soon be converted into a film and I advise any active mind to arrange for a one-to-one meet with Shantaram.
Author: Ali Abbas
