That Thou Art: Tattvamasi

Book Details

• Publisher: Sahitya Akademi

• Author: Dhruv Bhatt

• Translator: Anjani Naravane

• Language: English

• Pages: 240

• Cover: Paperback

• Size: 21.5 cm × 14 cm

• Weight: 330 gm

• Edition: 2008

• ISBN: 9788126024346

Description

Tattvamasi is the English translation of the Sahitya Akademi Award–winning Gujarati novel by Dhruv Bhatt, a work deeply rooted in India’s cultural, spiritual, and philosophical landscape. Set largely along the forests and tribal regions on the banks of the sacred river Narmada, the novel explores the journey of a young Indian university student raised abroad, who is sent to India to live among tribal communities as part of an academic project.

Initially reluctant, the protagonist gradually becomes immersed in the simple yet profound lives of the tribal people. Through his experiences, encounters, and inner conflicts, the novel raises timeless questions about religion, rituals, spirituality, creativity, and the essence of Indian civilization. His interactions with Supriya, an educated young woman running a Tribal Welfare Centre, further deepen his quest for truth and self-understanding.

Drawing from real-life conversations with parikramavāsīs, villagers, temple dwellers, and tribal communities, Dhruv Bhatt blends imagination with lived experience to create a narrative that is reflective, humane, and thought-provoking. The novel highlights the shared spiritual values that bind India’s diverse population beyond differences of language, religion, and custom.

Translated into English by Anjani Naravane, an acclaimed Marathi writer and translator, this edition makes Tattvamasi accessible to a wider readership. The translation retains the lyrical depth, philosophical insight, and emotional sensitivity of the original Gujarati text.

This book is highly recommended for readers interested in Indian literature, spirituality, cultural studies, and reflective fiction that explores the deeper meanings of life and human connection.