Bani basu's 'maitraya jatak': Interpretation of buddhism

Abstract

As 'MAITREYA JATAK' is a well known novel by Bani Basu the novelist wants to represent the character 'Goutam Buddha' as a person who till now is contemporary with his philosophy. Life is a journey towards 'Nirvana' through honest work, honest ambition and honest thinking. But now in socio -political and religious conflict the soul of human being is also corrupted by politics, social rituals and religion. He remains silent about the theory of God. With 'Dhyanyoga' he goes towards nothingness but suppressed to all his followers. Whether the world is eternal or not, the soul is existed or not -these are vague questions. After death what will being about is not required to be known. The novel starts with the character 'Chanak', a graduate of 'Takshashila. In 566 B.C. Goutam Buddha was born. Another graduate of 'Takshashila" Panchal Tishya is also a friend of Chanak. Both of them want to accumulate the Jumbudwip against the attack of the outside enimies, but they could not. Buddha could not make the society as he wanted. As the Buddhists were killed by their sons or friends, 'Buddhism' became valueless. As Buddha was 'Shakyas', Shakyas were killed by Birurak. We can say Buddha could not succeed to achieve his goal. Finally, lying at the death-bed he foresaw that his another Maitreya. i.e. the reformer will come after 5000 years. The work will get started by Chanak with Shabar Ragga. What he is and what he is to do, he almost forget. But his thinking is flowing towards next 5000 years. Now we are to be waiting for the reformed society when all men will be beyond politics, social conflict and self consciousness. Although he was a spiritual person,he related with the kings and the 'Banik's i.e. (businessmen).c