Kolkata-based author Debashree Chakraborty writes a novel about the 19 years of life of Jesus, which, according to some contemporary texts, he spent traveling extensively in the Middle East, Sindhu region and India
[Author’s Note: In the Old Testament of the Bible, there is no information about the life of Jesus for 19 years. There are some contemporary texts where eyewitnesses have stated that he traveled extensively in the Middle East and crossed the Sindhu region to enter India. Through this novel, I have tried to portray the diary of a profound spiritual journey of his life in the initial and final chapters. Foreign powers have tried to erase the history of our continent, Asia. That is why, when Notovitch returned from Hemis in Ladakh and mentioned that ancient text over 2000 years old, Max Müller sent people to Hemis to destroy that ancient manuscript. The mysterious manuscript is also mentioned in the book by Swami Abhedananda about Kashmir and Tibet. What was it that caused Max Müller so much concern over this manuscript? It is noteworthy that love cannot come into the life of the son of God, and he cannot have any children. Even the Gospels attributed to him have been confined to the secret, dark chambers of the Pope’s city, with words implanted into his mouth according to their wishes. In his name, imperialistic aggression is being carried out across the world. His only daughter, Sara, has not been recognized. His entire existence has been imprisoned. There lies an unknown chapter of his life hidden throughout the Middle East, the Sindhu region, and India. I have brought forth this history through this novel. “An Unknown Life” is in no way a novel imitating “Jesus lived in India.” This novel provides detailed descriptions of his presence across the vast land from Israel to India, not just his own, but also the mysterious narratives of many people associated with him. Was Jesus truly the founder of Christianity? If not, why must he still bear the burden of the “Roman Cross”? Is there ever to be a possibility of his release? All answers are coming. Debashree Chakraborty]
An Unknown Life
Omkari never imagined that she would have to return to France like this. Before leaving France the last time, her work had remained unfinished. Perhaps that’s why she had to come back again. On one hand, it’s a relief; as a child, she had heard from her mother that if a task is left incomplete from any birth, one has to return to that place. All work must be completed as soon as possible; otherwise, one has to come back again. This constant returning is truly becoming tiresome. After spending almost a week at Dr. David’s home in Portugal, Ali sets off again towards Egypt. However, it seems that from there, Omkari and Ali’s paths diverge to some extent. On the day of Ali’s midnight flight to Cairo, in the afternoon, Dr. David took Omkari along and set off towards Southern France. That evening, at a particular spot within Portugal’s borders, dusk began to fall. Amidst dense forests and lush nature, an ancient structure stands tall. Professor David stopped the car there and said, “Omkari, I have been waiting for this moment. Come with me, it’s not safe for Ali to carry so much alone. So, I asked you to stay. Come with me.” They got out of the car, and Dr. David started walking toward the ancient structure, with Omkari following him closely. Upon getting closer to the structure, Omkari saw a large star embedded in the stone wall. Dr. David stood in front of the star and said, “The Star of David,” meaning Jesus. After the crucifixion, several groups spread from Israel to various parts of the world. Their task was to protect the next generations of Jesus and to safeguard his philosophy and teachings. They had placed Lady Magdalene in the position of their goddess. They had been protecting their existence very secretly. Along with Southern France, they had formed an empire in these regions. However, when the Crusades began under the leadership of the Church, they started to be eradicated. The place where we are standing now was the secret hideout of this particular community. Now, come with me. Behind the wall where the “Star of David” was drawn, a staircase leads down. As the twilight enveloped the environment, they started descending the stone stairs. At the end of the staircase, there was another star drawn. And that star in the center, four paths extend in different directions. Dr. David stood at the center of the star and said, “These four tunnels lead in different directions; this is where they would meet very secretly. Once they finished their work, they would depart from here. You see this design? There is a mystery hidden within this design, and now I will pass that mystery into your hands. This place is called Quinta da Regaleira. The long, winding staircase you descended has a deep mystery hidden in every notch of these stairs. After coming here, you passed through a vast garden, and in that garden, every corner of the ancient architecture you saw conveys that mystery. The responsibility for preserving that mystery was entrusted to the Knights Templar. Omkari, no one knows how many years ago the Knights Templar built this place. However, my grandfather purchased this land. From then on, he spent the rest of his life here. He used to say we are the heirs of this place. The bloodline of the “Star of David,” which has flowed for two thousand years from the past, is a part of that lineage. Lady Magdalene brought that bloodline here. Mysteriously, my grandfather died in this place in 1920. I never had the chance to marry because I was so busy searching for my family’s existence that I couldn’t establish a household. Therefore, my grandfather’s bloodline ends here.”
“—So you are a descendant of Jesus?”
Dr. David nodded in agreement, and by then, darkness had fallen in nature. The professor said, “Take a good look at this place; you’ve taken some good pictures with your mobile camera. Now, let’s go back upstairs.” As they climbed the stairs, the professor stopped at one point. In the winding path of the stairs, there were several niches in the right wall resembling windows. Suddenly, he reached in and turned something, then started moving again.
They continued up and entered into the garden. It was quite dark around the garden, so the professor lit a torch. As he walked, he began shining the light on various architectural structures. Each structure had a design resembling a pitcher. The professor told Omkari, “These are all symbols of the Holy Grail. The Holy Grail, meaning the womb, which Lady Magdalene brought here.”
As Dr. David continued walking, he stopped in front of a white stone structure. When he shone the torchlight on it, Omkari saw a woman carrying a pitcher on her head. Dr. David said, “This is Lady Magdalene. The pitcher, meaning the Grail, signifies her womb, in which she bore the Holy Blood. An empire was built around here centered on that.”
When the Pope learned that the next generation of Jesus was hidden here, he resorted to the Crusades to eradicate the community of Templars that had been formed to protect that bloodline. Saying this, he inserted something like a key into the white stone structure, then turned it as if unlocking a latch, and from above, a square tray with a fish symbol emerged. Dr. David handed that file to Omkari and said, “I will let you know in due time where this needs to be delivered. Now we must leave; enemies are lurking around.”
That day, Dr. David drove from Portugal to the Var region. They rented two rooms in a hotel in Aix-en-Provence. Dr. David told Omkari that this town is part of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume. In ancient times, it was said that the Knights Templar ruled here. Today, there is a special festival, and people from all over the world come to witness it. In this town, there is a basilica dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene. Within this basilica, the skull of Mary Magdalene is preserved. Today is July 22nd, and on this day, supporters of Lady Magdalene will ride through the town dressed in colorful outfits, playing flutes, drums, and carrying rifles. Dr. David and Omkari enjoyed the strange beauty of the festival for the entire day, sitting by the window of their hotel. They stayed there for two days because the professor had some work to attend to. On the third day, they witnessed another procession, during which the skull of Lady Magdalene was carried. The skull was wrapped in a casing made of metal and glass as it was paraded through the streets.
After spending nearly three days there, Dr. David and Omkari departed for a place where Lady Magdalene spent the last thirty years of her life. This location is about twenty-five kilometers away from Saint-Maximin in Aix-en-Provence and is extremely remote. The area is surrounded by dense forest, and it is not possible to drive a vehicle over the mountainous terrain. Therefore, they left the car at a distance and began their ascent into the mountains through the deep forest. There is a profound mystery hidden within this environment. Every stone, plant, and creature on this mountain seems to guard a special moment in history that spans thousands of years. The fallen leaves and bird feathers on the rocky path are like letters and a moving tableau chronicling history.
They continued onward, struggling to climb the rocky path. They had to watch their steps very carefully. As they walked, Dr. David said, “After coming from Israel, Lady Magdalene lived in the caves of this forested Saint Baume Mountain. If Mary had been caught, she might have been killed. Now, this area seems like this, but just imagine what it was like two thousand years ago. There would have been even deeper forests all around. So, in such an environment, Mary was the safest in the caves. Giving birth to her child, raising him, and establishing the Merovingian dynasty against the Roman Empire was not an easy task. Here we are; we’ve arrived.”
In the wilderness, there stands a temple known to the locals as the Sanctuary of Mary Magdalene. “Omkari, the trees you see around this temple are several thousand years old. This temple is situated atop a high cliff named Mountain Cliff. For a long time, this cave was somewhat neglected. However, those who believe in Mary Magdalene and know her true identity were the only ones who used to come here for pilgrimage. Then, in 1295, Dominican monks came to this place for pilgrimage and took responsibility for the region.
Now, this staircase begins. There are a total of 150 steps, and by climbing these, we will reach the cave.”
They began to climb, determined, and eventually reached the entrance of the sacred cave. At the entrance, there is a wooden door, which seems to signal the existence of two different times. The characters of the present want to connect with the past. Upon entering, they saw a statue of Lady Magdalene. Beneath this statue, drops of water were coming from the ceiling of the cave into a small pool. Just above this water, beneath the statue of Mary Magdalene, there was a glass box containing some bones. They stood there for a while before exiting the cave.
A little lower down from there is a resort that has been established by two sisters. Pilgrims spend a night here before continuing their journey. Dr. David and Omkari stayed at this resort, taking two adjoining rooms in the forest. After the long journey, both of them felt extremely tired and quickly fell asleep. Omkari woke up, and the clock read nine o’clock at night. Dinner is served in a room surrounded by glass. There’s a special joy in eating in this room because of the dense forest surrounding it. At this time, they were the only ones in the entire resort; no one else was there.
Once they finished dinner, they sat facing each other in the dimly lit atmosphere of the resort. Through the glass, the outdoor nature was visible. A cold and gusty wind was blowing at night. The trees seemed to be engaged in a battle with one another. The environment felt incredibly silent, and despite the cold outside, a room heater was running inside the resort, creating a comfortable atmosphere. A beautiful fragrance was emanating from a room freshener in the corner. This scent provided a strange sense of security. Time seemed to have stood still all around; only the two of them were awake, and there were many secret matters to discuss in this moment. If this time passes, it would not be possible to have such discussions again.
Dr. David said, “Tonight, I will hand you a document. Omkari, you have been observed for a long time, and then our organization…”
“You have been chosen. You possess the mental capacity and intelligence that are necessary for this task, which cannot be accomplished without them. Previously, you worked on the disappearance of Mahaprabhu Shree Chaitanya, where the members of our organization became acquainted with your intellectual abilities. You know very well how to maintain composure and control a situation even in the face of life’s terrifying circumstances. Unknowingly, you have embraced a forgotten moment in history that you must convey to its rightful heir.
Omkari knows very well that this is not the time for speaking; it is a time for listening attentively. The more questions asked of the speaker, the more the continuity of their thoughts will get disrupted. So let this flow continue.”
Dr. David said, “Mary Magdalene first arrived in Egypt from Israel. She took refuge in the city of Alexandria, where she gave birth to a daughter named Sara. The father of this child was Isha (Jesus). She stayed in Alexandria for a long time, and you would be surprised to know that during this period, she maintained regular contact with Isha. This connection was not severed. Within a few years of giving birth to Sara, she became pregnant again. This child was also Isha’s. However, at that time, the Roman rulers learned of Mary Magdalene’s presence in Egypt, and thus danger loomed. Mary was pregnant at this time, and Sara was still very young; she had to be kept safe at all costs, along with the child in her womb.
During this time, a group from our organization hid Sara in an unknown location, while another group set out with Mary towards Europe. On European soil, she gave birth to her second child and took refuge in this cave for her lifetime. There has been some debate about whether she actually resided here or not. According to the information in my possession, she came to Renes-le-Chateau and was buried there. However, when the Crusades began, the Knights Templar took parts of her body and hid them here. Later, her skull was taken, and a church was established. Thus, the body was divided into two parts. We are the branch of her second child, but another “bloodline” from the daughter of Isha, Sara, still runs in Egypt today. You must present this valuable evidence to the current generation of that branch, as it needs to be safeguarded for the future.
In our branch, besides Robert and me, the rest are gone. I do not know if anyone else from my side is still alive. Therefore, Omkari, it is now your responsibility to protect the assets of Sara’s heirs.”
It felt as if the sky had collapsed on Omkari’s head. She said, “Robert? His bloodline flows within him? He never mentioned this.”
“No, this is not something to be told to anyone. Because once it becomes known, it is all over. When documents of the crucifixion arrived in our family, published by our own publishing house, one member after another was killed following its release. Robert’s grandfather went into hiding on one side, while my grandfather remained in hiding in Portugal. Because of this land, we have a deep connection. I do not know how long we can remain out of their sight. Nowadays, I fear death at every moment.”
Finishing his words, he handed a leather-bound document to Omkari.
She accepted it and said, “But I don’t know Sara’s heir.”
“It is your job to take this. When you reach Alexandria, you will be taken to him. Then you will recognize him.” (Continues)
Click here for Part-1, Part 2, Part-3, Part-4, Part-5, Part-6, Part-7, Part-8, Part-9, Part-10, Part-11, Part-12, Part-13, Part-14, Part-15, Part-16, Part-17, Part-18, Part-19, Part-20, Part-21, Part-22, Part-23, Part-24, Part-25,
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Debasree Chakraborti is a renowned novel writer of Bengali language. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, she has done Master’s in Modern History from the Kolkata University, and authored some thirty books, mostly the novels, with historical perspective and themes. Her novel is ‘Maharaja Dahir’ that covers the history of Sindh from 662, the year of first attack on Sindh by the Arab armies till date, was published last year and translated by Nasir Aijaz into Sindhi language.
