Book Review | February 21 | Bhairawnath Wakale
(Book Review) On August 14, 2021, I received a message from Kumud Singh. She was searching for ‘History of Mithila and the Maithil Dynasty’, a book written in Marathi by the author Gangabai and published in Darbhanga, Bihar. She wanted the book in any format. At that time, she only had a Xerox copy of the cover page but had not found the complete book.
(Book Review) Kumud Singh is not only an important member of the Darbhanga royal family but also a bold journalist of her time. She was born on July 11, 1981, in Shankarpur Estate and resides in Patna, the capital of Bihar. Her father, Babu Nandeshwar Singh, did not provide her with formal journalism education, but from childhood, she had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a unique perspective. After her marriage, her husband, Ashish Jha, supported her passion, and she emerged as a strong journalist despite being raised in a royal household. Kumud Singh, known for her open and fearless writing, is a soft-spoken and friendly person in daily life. She is also the editor of Bihar’s first online newspaper, Esamad.com, which is run by her colleagues. The same team established Esamad Publications, which has published several important books in multiple languages.
(Book Review) We began searching for the book. We had only the title and the author’s name ‘Gangabai’ but no surname, which made the search challenging. Yet, we persisted. Kumud Singh’s words, “The book exists in Marathi; I am sure you will find it,” added to my responsibility. I searched libraries, explored online sources, and consulted historians, but neither references nor the book itself could be found.
On April 24, 2022, she messaged again: “I have found a copy. Once I receive it, I will send it to you for translation.”
Then, nearly two years later, on April 1, 2024, another message came: “We have the book now. It needs to be republished in Marathi.” On May 1, 2024, she formally assigned me the task: “You will edit it.”
I responded with enthusiasm: “Yes Didi, I will do it. I would love to.” On May 22, 2024, she informed me, “I will send you the PDF.” The next day, on May 23, Ashish Jha sent the full PDF via WhatsApp.
On November 3, at 9:25 p.m., while visiting Dattatray Wagh, my in-laws at Pimpalgaon Baswant, Nashik, I began editing. By November 4, most of the 76-page book was edited, except for pages 15, 39, and 49, which were missing. Ashish promptly sent them. By evening, the editing was complete. Some words were difficult to understand, but Ashish helped clarify their meanings, including the term makhana. Finally, at 11:34 p.m., the book was ready.
I messaged Ashish Jha and Kumud Singh: “I truly enjoyed working on this. It felt like I traveled through Mithila. Later, I even explored Mithila on Google Maps. It was an amazing experience.”
During our discussions, Ashish Jha revealed that the author’s full name was Gangabai Ramnath Bhalley. When we tried to trace her descendants in Darbhanga, Ashish informed us that her nephew had sold their ancestral home and moved to Varanasi.
Working on Esamad’s first Marathi book was a fulfilling experience. It raised questions: Who were the Marathi readers in Darbhanga for whom Gangabai wrote in Marathi? Who was she? Could we find her photograph or more details?
Ashish Jha provided more insights. Gangabai was a Marathi teacher from Pune, invited to the Darbhanga royal court to teach English to three of the Maharajas’ queens. My colleague, Sushant, added that History of Mithila and the Maithil Dynasty was originally published in Marathi in 1938. Gangabai was the tutor of Maharani Kam Sundari, the third wife of Maharaja Kameshwar Singh of Darbhanga.
It was fascinating that a Marathi teacher wrote about the history of Mithila in Marathi. She had traveled from Pune to Darbhanga due to a lack of English teachers in the region. However, many questions remain unanswered—where was she originally from? Which institution in Pune was she affiliated with? Is there any surviving photograph of her? Who were the intended Marathi readers of her book?
The search for Gangabai’s history is not over. We will bring her story to light.
The book’s journey, which began on August 14, 2021, will conclude in January 2025, with its publication. This month, the Marathi Kindle and Google Ebook versions will be released, followed by a paperback edition. This book represents the deep historical connection between Maharashtra and Mithila—the land where Sita and Ram walked.
A Hindi translation is also in progress, led by Maryam Sayyed. Esamad Publications is committed to making it accessible to Hindi readers, who will surely appreciate it as well.
Special thanks to Kumud Singh, Ashish Jha, Bhavanathji Jha, Sushantji, Dr. Kumar Amit, Sunil Kumar Bhanu, and the Esamad team for their dedication in republishing this historically significant book and entrusting me with its editing.
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