‘The Second Book of Prophets’: Benyamin’s novel is a radical yet tender reimagining of Jesus Christ

In The Second Book of Prophets, Malayalam writer Benyamin employs his formidable storytelling to explore one of history’s most mythologised figures: Jesus Christ. What sets it apart from other hagiographic retellings is that Benyamin doesn’t deconstruct just for the sake of it – he offers a thoughtful, bold and tender reimagining of Jesus as a man shaped by faith, fear, and courage, far from the gilded certainty of religious iconography.

The novel narrates how, for centuries the Jewish people have suffered under Roman rule, holding onto the hope that a liberator from the tribe of David will arise to lead them to freedom. Jesus of Nazareth is not eager to claim this role. But after the execution of John the Baptist by Roman forces, he reluctantly steps into the void, carrying with him the weight of prophecy and the yearning of the people plagued by conflict, hopelessness and mistrust. What follows is not a linear tale but a chorus of fractured testimonies.

As the novel progresses, we learn about Jesus’s rise, which does not go unchallenged. The tribe of Benjamin, wary of Davidic influence in Jerusalem, sees his growing presence as a threat. Instead of rallying behind him, they align themselves with Roman authorities in a...

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