The Allegorical Expedition by P Satyadeep: Book Review

“This is why Dhyana is so important, it allows you to know who you are as a person, and what you are capable of and what’s the right thing for you to do.”

Now, believe me, I wasn’t at all hoping to have a chance to read a novel which lets me explore my inner self so passionately like this novel The Allegorical Expedition (a quest for truth) by P Satyadeep has done. It talks about many things which we often consider and look to enquire. A break-away novel in this modern era of cheap-fame trick in literature, P Satyadeep has created a landscape which is far from the land of elites and usual cityscape. In a nutshell, if I might say so, The Allegorical Expedition sets the readers too on a journey to find solace and seek truth away from the daily life that we lead. Your curiosity as a reader also accelerates as the character SJ progresses further in his conversations with Pandit ji, the pivotal figure of the novel. I remember to have asked the author why he has selected the theme and what’s his point of view on revisiting the mythology of Hindu religion in his novel. Yes, this novel lets you revisit the mythological instances that we find in our ancient scriptures. There are many elements in the novel which set it apart from ‘the lot’ of today and surely, you will enjoy reading those segments as well as the novel as a whole.

To cut the story short, SJ (Satyajit) is a well-known movie director who has enough of things to live a comfortable life. However, he decides to do something which serves a true purpose. Thus, he decides to set out on a journey that takes its course through various places. He meets different people and learns many kinds of new experiences that one cannot have sitting home and living the life as it is. As a twist and also leaving the chances open for a sequel, the novelist P Satyadeep has left the end open-ended.

Commenting upon the revisiting of historical and mythological facts, I would like to especially highlight the chapter Real or Rational. This chapter, in the form of conversation, describes the scriptures very well. A reader can find interesting facts about Lord Vishnu, the asuras (Ravana etc) and also to an extent, the nature of creation. Like this one, there are many other chapters in which the author has tried to simplify the ancient scripture’s nuance which, most of the times, remain oblivious in our day to day life. And I must submit that this a brave attempt by P Satyadeep to bring these things out through his book The Allegorical Expedition!

What more I would like to highlight about the book is its quality chapter-titles. The titles are so metaphorical that you will be curious enough to read those – Taming The Monkey Mind, Mind is Reborn, Lost in Wilderness, The Blissful Soul, A True Revelation and so on… Truly, this novel becomes an Allegory that the author has intended to make out of it. No doubt if you find yourself concomitant with the protagonist and you also start seeking the purpose of your life. You can spend some time with this book and find out what other things it has for you in the pages… Happy Reading!