One - The Story of the Ultimate Myth |Book Review

 Review of Mansoor Khan’s Book – One.

• Title -One - The Story of the Ultimate Myth
• Author – Mansoor Khan
• Year published – August 7, 2023
• Publisher - Harper Collins India
• Pages - 152
• Genre – Fiction
• Format - Paperback

Two strangers meet in a park by chance.

Sonal, formerly a sociology professor and firebrand activist, is battling memory loss and acute depression. Abhay, a once-celebrated genetic engineer, is a paranoid fugitive hiding from an establishment whose scientific paradigm he once challenged.

To the world they both are insane, but the truth is deeper.

Abhay shares his most closely guarded thoughts with Sonal, in the form of a book. It is a radical, paradigm-shifting perspective, and the two misfits discover that they are kindred souls, forced to doubt their own sanity by a deluded culture.

Together, they plan to take their revelation to the world before it's too late. But, as always, reality has other plans...

When I started this book, I wasn't entirely certain about what to anticipate. The blurb projected a work of fiction, yet the fact that it was penned by a filmmaker intrigued me, sparking curiosity about a potentially cinematic narrative. However, the reviews adorning the back cover hinted at philosophical depths and ecological considerations. With an open slate of mind, I embarked on the reading journey.

Within the pages, an unexpected companionship unfolds between two disparate individuals—a former sociology professor named Sonal and a scientist named Abhay. Their initial interaction is nothing more than a fleeting exchange of glances. Yet, as the narrative progresses, their lives intricately interlace, offering insights into their past careers and the personas they embodied years prior.

Amidst this character-driven narrative, author Mansoor Khan adeptly weaves an essential message—highlighting the pervasive contamination of the environment due to the heedless actions of humanity, overshadowing the imperative for benevolent change. From the words of the author, it becomes evident that this book is the culmination of two decades of introspection and a quest for truth. What commenced as a mission to safeguard his land evolved into a relentless exploration of multifaceted quandaries spanning environmental, societal, economic, and even spiritual realms. The revelations spawned by these inquiries gradually revealed the fallibility ingrained within our perception of reality.

The tale centers around two societal misfits whose collaboration sets forth an experiment that defies expectations, ultimately leading to success. Delving deeper, the narrative unveils a multitude of layers incorporating science, technology, logic, philosophy, and the enigmatic pasts of the central protagonists.

Ecological predicaments in the book, ranging from genetically modified crops to the construction of dams—events culminating in the uprooting of communities, disruption of livelihoods, and the degradation of natural habitats. The narrative also dissects themes such as the greed borne of power, ecological disequilibrium, mental health challenges, and the escalating sabotage of our environment. In its essence, the book conveys the profound dictum that 'Life harmonizes when one surrenders to nature.'

Moreover, the narrative casts an unflinching gaze upon the manifold issues afflicting our contemporary society and environment. Through the conduit of Abhay's triumphant experiment, the author potentially presents a remedy for one of these quandaries.

In totality, this book offers a contemplative reading experience, best savored at a leisurely pace to internalize the profound truths it holds. It induces a profound comprehension of reality and interconnectedness, illuminating the urgency to recalibrate human actions to preserve our planet. An intellectually stimulating read that delves into the crux of the global predicament. A 4/5 star recommendation.

 

Mansoor Khan has directed four very successful Bollywood films – Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander, Akele Hum Akele Tum and Josh. In 2003, he moved to Coonoor to pursue his real calling – living on an organic farm, Acres Wild, and making cheese. His present pursuit is critiquing civilization as the single human culture behind the convergent global crisis often erroneously blamed on all humans.

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