Book Review: Wisdom of the White Mountain

Book: Wisdom of the White Mountain

Author: Kandathil Sebastian

Publisher: Leadstart Publishing

Price: 145 INR

Pages: 183

Genre: Fiction/ Self-discovery

Blurb: Some powerful men-including performers of black magic, underworld gangsters, sleuths, extremist zealots, and sellers of spirituality-chased a powerless, low caste man from a Kerala village through Mumbai, Karachi and Delhi till he finally escaped into the mountain ranges of Himalayas. All of them wanted to capture this man alive and keep him with them! 

However, none of these men could catch and keep this elusive man, as he always found his way to freedom. In the process of working out his escapes this man also unearthed some important mysteries of human life! Why did some powerful men continuously chase a low caste man? How did the man always find his way to freedom? What are the riddles he solved while he was trying to escape from his captors?

 Wisdom of the White Mountain is a suspenseful and adventurous story told in the cultural, spiritual and philosophical context of the South Asia. It is also about Karma, Kama and Jihad! It ultimately unravels greed and selfishness of powerful men who mix religion and politics to manipulate common people for advancing personal interests. 

My Rating: 4/5

My Review: 

There are some books that compel you to go on a journey with the protagonist and experience every victory and defeat of the protagonist deeply. You embark on an adventure with the protagonist and your mind constantly wanders with him even when you are taking breaks during reading the book. One such book is "Wisdom of the White Mountain". When the protagonist finally found freedom, I literally could taste that feeling of liberation.

The story begins with Thomas who is a low caste boy, always abandoned by people in his village and used by the powerful people for their own benefits. Being born to a schizophrenic mother and considered as an illegitimate child, his childhood was full of difficulties and drudgeries. He never received love or respect from anyone and he could realize at every juncture of his life that he was not a free man. He was captivated and enslaved for a lifetime.

His belief intensified when the rich Shivaraman Nair who was his real father tried to use him as an offering for the Tantric Puja. When he managed to escape there with his best friend Balu, he was captivated by a local goon. His journey continued from one bondage to another with several masters trying to use him as per their requirements. Though he was a Christian, he was converted to Muslim and later he was trained to be a mujahidin in Karachi to sacrifice his life in the Republic Day parade in Delhi. Despite plenty of masters trying to use and captivate him, he managed to escape every single time. Despite not being a free man and being totally powerless, a higher Power always guided him.

That Higher Power took him to The Himalayas where he gained the true wisdom of life. He understood the riddles and mysteries of life there. He became a saint and then a Godman when a Swamiji was highly impressed by his profound understanding for life. However, even after becoming a Godman, he found that he was being enslaved again.

The protagonist lived plenty of lives with plenty of names and embarked on countless journeys but he got the real freedom when he dared to walk the journey that he chose, not the journeys that other people chose for him. 

In the words of the protagonist: "To be myself in a world which constantly tried to make me something else is indeed my greatest achievement."

"Wisdom of the White Mountain" is a beautiful journey to freedom, to self-discovery and to hear that inner calling that beckons us constantly. The narration is beautifully embellished with excellent language and smooth flow. The author has done a commendable job in his second book.

Recommended to people who likes to read good literature and who loves books on self-discovery.

You can buy the book here