When left unattended and forgotten, archaeological ruins become little more than lifeless piles of stones and gutters—silent remnants of history. Over time, myth and folklore envelop them, and when a passer by asks, “What is this?” These ruins become fragments of imagination woven from threads of history and legend. Often, local guides—and now social media influencers—spin popular stories around these relics, blending fact and fiction.
Similarly, about four years ago, I stumbled upon the ruins of a fort in Rajgir. It was said to have belonged to King Ajatashatru, who ruled Magadha during the time of the Buddha. By then, I had read various literature on that legend, and my interest grew.
Ajatashatru is popularly perceived as an eccentric, somewhat tyrannical figure, unlike his father, Bimbisara, whom Ajasatru is said to have killed to claim the throne. Today, the fort is nothing more than a heap of stones in the historically significant town of Rajgir—then known as Rajgriha.
This human connection to the past became part of my journey while writing serial fiction, initially thought to be a short story, then a novella, then a full-length Novel in parts, Marich(মাৰীচ), published in Prakash(প্ৰকাশ), the Assamese monthly.
When I revisited the site two days ago, I gazed upon those stone piles again, rich with stories, myths, and inspiration for my novel.
