Prabuddha by Abhijit Chaudhuri [Hardcover]

In Buddhist thought, many Buddhas manifested long before Gautama Buddha. Before Gautama's arrival, his name was Kashyapa. After his departure, the responsibility of leading the Sangha was taken up by Ananda, who would gradually be known as Mahakasyapa, and in many ways, he too became a shadow of Shakyamuni. In this narrative, Gautama Buddha often appears to be uncertain, referring to himself as "Prabuddha" (one who is awakened). The death of any inquiry happens when the scope of seeing and knowing life in new ways shrinks. Therefore, the meditation and contemplation did not vanish but remained alive in the pain of Prabuddha's self-examination. While the novel follows the familiar path of history, it also seeks to give birth to a self-enlightenment, where even the wise reader is subtly led into their own quest for awakening.

Abhijit Choudhury is primarily a novelist, with several novels to his name. Though he also writes short stories, his passion lies more in long-form narratives. He holds a postgraduate degree in English literature and a PG Diploma in Business Management. Formerly an executive in the West Bengal Civil Service, he is now serving as an Executive Officer in a municipal corporation after his recent retirement. He spent his childhood in College Street, Kolkata, and due to his career, frequently relocated, engaging with various rural communities, which enriched his writing with a vivid historical and social consciousness. His writing is marked by exploration—both of the world around him and of his own philosophical inquiries. He has been honored with several awards for his literary work.