The Adventure
The Jijamata Express
Journey to Bombay:
Professor Gaitonde travels from Pune to Bombay on the Jijamata Express, noticing its slower pace and engaging with Khan Sahib, who highlights British control over the region.
Arrival in Bombay
- At Victoria Terminus, he is struck by its cleanliness and British-run staff.
- Shocked to find the East India House still functioning, Gaitonde realizes history has diverged from what he knows.
Exploring Bombay
- The city resembles a British high street, with no Indian handloom stores.
- At the Forbes building, he finds no record of his son, Vinay, increasing his unease.
Focus on History
- Gaitonde visits the Asiatic Society’s library to unravel the mystery of this alternate history.
Key Themes:
- Historical Divergence: The East India Company’s continued existence suggests an altered past.
- Identity Crisis: Gaitonde grapples with his and his son’s existence in this reality.
- Search for Knowledge: He prioritizes understanding this new world despite personal shocks.
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The Town Hall Library
Gangadharpant’s Search for Answers:
- At the Town Hall Library, Professor Gaitonde (Gangadharpant) examines history books, including his own.
- While the first four volumes match his knowledge, the fifth reveals a drastically altered history.
The Altered History of the Maratha Empire:
- In this alternate timeline, the Marathas decisively defeated Abdali at the Battle of Panipat.
- Under Vishwasrao and Madhavrao, the Marathas expanded across India, reducing the East India Company to small outposts.
- The Marathas maintained a puppet Mughal regime while fostering self-sufficiency in science and technology.
India’s Political Evolution:
- India remained sovereign, gradually transitioning to democracy.
- A treaty in 1908 allowed the British to retain Bombay commercially, but only until 2001.
- Gangadharpant admires the self-respect and strength of this alternate India but seeks details on the Maratha victory at Panipat.
Key Discovery
- Gangadharpant finds a clue in the Bhausahebanchi Bakhar, which describes how Vishwasrao narrowly escaped death at Panipat, a pivotal moment in the Maratha triumph.
Conclusion:
As the library closes, Gangadharpant accidentally takes the Bakhar with him, eager to continue his research.
Key Themes:
- Historical Divergence: The Maratha victory at Panipat shapes an alternate, independent India.
- India’s Strength: This India contrasts sharply with colonial history, showcasing resilience and self-sufficiency.
- Quest for Knowledge: Gangadharpant’s determination drives his exploration of this altered reality.
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The Lecture at Azad Maidan
Professor Gaitonde’s Encounter with the Lecture:
- After dinner, Professor Gaitonde visits Azad Maidan and notices a crowd at a pandal where a lecture is in progress.
- Drawn by curiosity, he enters and sees an unoccupied presidential chair, which deeply unsettles him.
The Unoccupied Chair and Confrontation:
- Unable to resist, Gaitonde approaches the chair and takes the seat, despite the audience’s objections.
- The crowd explains that the unchaired lecture is a deliberate choice, rejecting traditional formalities.
- Gaitonde insists on speaking, comparing the empty chair to "Hamlet without its protagonist," and begins addressing the audience.
Audience Hostility and Chaos:
- The audience reacts angrily, rejecting Gaitonde’s views on tradition.
- His persistence escalates tensions, resulting in objects like tomatoes and eggs being thrown at him.
- The crowd eventually rushes the stage and ejects Gaitonde, who mysteriously vanishes amid the chaos.
Key Themes:
- Tradition vs. Change: The conflict between traditional customs (like having a chairperson) and the rejection of formalities reflects societal shifts.
- Defiance and Persistence: Gaitonde’s determination to uphold tradition highlights his deep-rooted beliefs, even in the face of rejection.
- Public Hostility: The aggressive reaction underscores the challenges of imposing outdated norms on a society embracing change.
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The Torn Page of Evidence
Professor Gaitonde’s Story:
- After waking up in his familiar world, Professor Gaitonde recounts his strange experience to Rajendra, questioning where he was during the two missing days.
Rajendra’s Inquiry
- Rajendra probes Gaitonde about his thoughts before the truck collision. Gaitonde mentions pondering catastrophe theory, which examines how small events can lead to significant historical changes.
The Torn Page
- Gaitonde reveals a torn page from the Bhausahebanchi Bakhar, accidentally taken from the library, describing how Vishwasrao narrowly avoided death in the Battle of Panipat.
- This differs from his own copy, where Vishwasrao dies, highlighting an alternate history.
Rajendra’s Realization
- Initially skeptical, Rajendra begins to take Gaitonde’s story seriously after seeing the material evidence, admitting that truth can sometimes surpass fiction in strangeness.
Key Themes:
- Reality vs. Fantasy: Gaitonde’s experience blurs the line between imagination and reality, supported by the torn page.
- Historical Divergence: The alternate account of Vishwasrao’s survival suggests a pivotal historical shift.
- Unexpected Revelations: The narrative emphasizes how evidence can challenge perceptions of truth.
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Theories and Realities
Gangadharpant’s Story
- Professor Gaitonde describes his experience of entering an alternate reality after a truck collision. He presents a torn page from the Bhausahebanchi Bakhar, showing how Vishwasrao’s survival reshaped history, leading to a Maratha victory at Panipat.
Rajendra’s Catastrophe Theory
