Siddhartha (English, Paperback, HERMAN HESSE)

Siddhartha is a profound book that follows the journey of Siddhartha on his path to spiritualization and self discovery, during the time of Buddha.

Summary Of The Book

Based in ancient India, the book introduces us to the protagonist, the son of a Brahmin named Siddhartha. Albeit having led a prosperous and blessed life, Siddhartha remains dissatisfied with life and decides to leave his home one day in search for true nirvana, or spiritual enlightenment. He begins this journey alongside his closest friend, Govinda, and becomes an austere member of the Samanas.

Siddhartha learns to meditate, renounce food and other worldly possessions and eventually meets with Gautam Buddha. Govinda is so taken in by Buddha's supreme wisdom that he joins his order, but Siddhartha remains unconvinced. He sets off alone and crosses the river with the help of a benevolent ferryman, who prophesies that Siddhartha would repay him in some way, some day. Siddhartha then meets Kamala, a concubine. She helps him find a job and he soons works his way up and leads a luxurious life. Devoid of meditation and free of his spiritual quests, Siddhartha falls prey to materialistic possessions and lowly habits, and one day realizes that the life he has built is a sham.

He leaves without informing anyone, and meets the same ferryman besides a river. The ferryman is named Vasudeva, and he offers to teach the distraught and desolate Siddhartha how to learn from observing the river. After many years, Siddhartha discovers he has an eleven year old son with Kamala, and inspite of repeated attempts to create a bond with him, the young boy escapes and returns to the city.

Siddhartha was published first in 1922. The book was adapted into a film starring Shashi Kapoor, and was released in 1972.

About Hermann Hesse

Hermann Hesse, born in 1877, was a German author, poet, and painter.

He has authored novels like Hermann Lauscher, Beneath the Wheel, Three Tales from the Life of Knulp, Journey to the East and The Glass Bead Game.

Born in Württemberg in Germany, Hesse was encouraged passionately to read by his grandfather. He completed his schooling from Switzerland and landed a job in a small bookshop in Tübingen in 1895. He published his first poetry collection titled Romantic Songs and his first prose collection, One Hour After Midnight in 1898. He has won several awards for his written works, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1946 and the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in 1955. He died in 1962 at the age of 85.