Kolkata-based author Debasree 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
That night, Omkari couldn’t close her eyes at all. The presence of a bright star in the sky, the birth of Jesus, everything felt incredibly shrouded in mist. Perhaps all the answers lie with Auro. She began to wait in the dark for the light of dawn to appear, turning off the lights in the room.
It wasn’t long before she had to wait; around four in the morning, she heard a strange male voice singing from the garden of the house. Omkari got out of bed and went to the garden, where she saw Auro watering the plants. Upon seeing Omkari, Auro said, “I know you couldn’t sleep all night; I was waiting for you.”
“Auro, did Jesus’s birth really occur on December 25th? And what is the mystery of that bright star in the sky? I truly can’t comprehend anything! All these questions are swirling in my mind, and I can’t think clearly.”
“Omkari, everything we are shown about his life is a lie. He has been trapped by a group of savage, opportunistic people for thousands of years. The biggest point is, his name has been changed. The title “Christ” was not used during Jesus’s time. The word “Christ” comes from the Greek word “kristos,” which means savior. Back then, in all the regions around Jerusalem, Judea, or the Sea of Galilee, it was not customary to use titles. A person would be known by their father’s name or the name of their village. For example, “Jisus bar Joseph” or “Jesus of Nazareth.” This way, he was identified as Joseph’s son Jesus or Jesus of Nazareth. The title ‘Christ’ was added to Jesus’s name to connect it to the event of his crucifixion and murder. This too is a conspiracy, and herein lies the deep fog and darkness. His birth and death are shrouded in mystery.”
“Something keeps poking at my mind, and that is, his birth was not on December 25th.”
“No, he was not born on December 25th. The bright star described at the moment of his birth did not rise in the sky during the month of December. The people of his time and subsequent generations referred to the star of Bethlehem, which was observed in the sky of Bethlehem around May, either 7 years or 12 years before or after the year of 1 A.D. Therefore, December 25th can never be the date of the beginning of the Christian era’s first year. A rare cosmic event occurred in Bethlehem’s sky in 7th B.C., which contemporary and later people have come to recognize as the star of Bethlehem.”
“During that time, in summer, at some point in May, Jupiter and Saturn could be seen converging in the eastern sky of Bethlehem just before sunrise, at a height of 21 degrees above the horizon, with very little separation between the two planets over a few days. This conjunction of these two planets may have been perceived by Jesus’s followers, as well as contemporary people, and the three wise men, or Magi, as the birth and rise of a new star indicating the arrival of a savior or the son of God.”
“On the other hand, some researchers argue differently, stating that Jesus was born not seven years before the start of the Christian era, but twelve years prior, during the same period, that is, in the summer of 12th B.C.E., when Halley’s Comet appeared in the sky of his birthplace, and that the Magi mistakenly thought this comet was a new star.”
“However, this theory seems entirely unacceptable to me because even though a comet appears in a very bright form in the eastern sky before the sun rises, it has a very distinct tail. Therefore, even if they could not foresee it, the ancient people had no particular reason to mistake the comet for a new star. Halley’s comet is also an extremely rare cosmic event that appears in the Earth’s sky every few years. But even for the people of two thousand years ago, its description would not have been unknown. If we accept the earlier information that the planets Jupiter and Saturn were almost completely aligned and were visible at a 21-degree angle in the eastern sky of Jerusalem in May and around that time, as the year of God Jesus’ birth, then we must say that his mortal life on earth lasted only 33 years. I believe that this duration should be 40 years.”
“Omkari, you cannot come to a decision accurately just yet. The reason is that during his birth, the regions of Jerusalem, Jericho, Bethany, Sophoris, Nazareth, and others that made up the Judean state, which were under the Roman rule of Emperor Augustus Caesar, had an appointed king or tetrarch known as Herod the Great at that time. He was a notoriously tyrannical ruler. This Herod, shortly before his demise, ordered the murder of all children from newborns to two years old in the village of Bethlehem. According to this order, his Roman soldiers searched through every house in Bethlehem and snatched children from their mothers’ arms and slaughtered them.”
“Auro, think for a moment, during that time, it was indeed possible to predict a child’s future based on the position of the stars before his arrival. Perhaps someone made such a prophecy based on astrology before the birth of Jesus, similar to how the night’s sleep of Kansa was disturbed before Krishna’s birth.”
“Indeed, when death was nearly at his doorstep, his trusted astrologer calculated according to his directions and informed him that a child had been born in Bethlehem, destined by God, who would be born in Bethlehem and, later, would claim the throne of all the Jews, freeing them from all kinds of bondage and misery. Herod was also informed that this child’s birth was from the lineage of King David and that one day, upon growing up, he would claim the kingdom and throne of his ancestors. Such a belief existed among almost all the Jews of Israel, that one day a divine figure sent by God would appear among them, who would become the king of the Jews and restore the kingdom of the merciful and heroic King David, freeing them from the misery of their bondage.”
“Also, why did Herod order the slaughter of infants under two years old in Bethlehem and its vicinity? Could the astrologer not tell him the exact time of the child’s birth? Still, why all children up to two years old?”
“Omkari, this is a deep mystery, the exact answers to which are not obtainable. To find answers, one must discuss another piece of information regarding his birth. According to that source, three wise men or Magi traveled a long distance from the East to reach Bethlehem and presumably first met Herod. Perhaps, at that time, there was a custom or law in Herod’s reign that any foreigner entering his kingdom would initially be taken to the “Tetrarch,” or they would graciously meet the king appointed by the Roman emperor. The Magi would have naturally presented themselves before Herod first. Quite understandably, those three wise individuals would inform Herod of their purpose for coming to Bethlehem. The king then inquired and learned that the news of the child’s birth reached the Magi approximately two years before.”
“In the light of a new bright star in the sky, it took them two years to reach that specific place to end their journey. At that moment, Herod asked the Magi questions about the child’s divine appearance and some other relevant information. Since the Magi did not know exactly where the child was at that moment, Herod instructed them to inform him of that location before they returned. However, the Magi did not heed that directive and returned to their respective lands in the East. After waiting for some time and still not encountering the Magi again, Herod ordered the killing of children for two years. Herod the Great died in the 4th century B.C. History, however, is not shrouded in fog regarding this. Therefore, Jesus’ age at that time would be 6th B.C., not 7th B.C. or 12th B.C.”
“At this moment, I feel like saying, “The wise one seeks knowledge.” But where is that infallible wise one, who is in search of the correct calculation? Perhaps for two thousand years, the fog and ambiguity surrounding God Jesus still remain intact.”
“Soon, Ali will come with a car. He will take you to someone who might help clarify some of the fog in your mind.”
Auro handed Omkari a piece of paper, on which a rooster was drawn. Auro said, “Today, you will go to Hidar and hand this paper to him.” (Continues)
Click here for Part-1, Part 2, Part-3, Part-4, Part-5, Part-6,
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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.
