Basang’s Sea
A novel by the Mongolian author Helgna
Review by Maria Teresa De Donato
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“Sometimes, to see the mountain peak, one must sweep away the clouds.”
(Helgna, p. 11, 2025 – Italian Edition)
While reading this splendid novel titled Il Mare di Basang (= Basang’s
Sea) —written by the Mongolian author Helgna and translated by Sinologist,
author, and publisher Fiori Picco (Fiori D’Asia Editrice, 2025)—I allowed this
sentence, spoken by a shaman, to serve as a lamp illuminating my path: the path
toward understanding the profound, metaphorical meaning I sensed this literary
work held.
The novel begins by describing a rather unusual and arduous car journey undertaken to reach a destination initially agreed upon by a “corpse transporter” (p. 7). Accompanied by the deceased’s close friend, this transporter travels hundreds of kilometers in an attempt to bring the body “to the native village for burial” (p. 7).
This proves not merely a physical journey but also—and above all—an
introspective one, traversing time, memories, and deep reflection.
The shaman’s words, quoted by Huder (the close friend of the late Basang), serve—regardless of the many themes emerging from reading and analyzing this work—as a key to identifying and understanding various realities concerning psychological and sociological aspects of which we human beings are not always aware. The need to “sweep away the clouds” in order to see “the mountain peak” is inextricably linked to another phrase spoken by Huder himself: “...before that evening, I had never observed closely...”
Such statements point to a fundamental aspect of human existence: the fact
that, paradoxically, the reality right before our eyes very often eludes us.
We do not ‘see’ it, we pay it no heed, and consequently, we fail to grasp
its full significance, its importance, and the lesson inherent within it—a
lesson that could otherwise help us advance and progress on our ‘spiritual’
journey, our path of personal growth and development, and, above all, our
journey toward greater awareness.
A second aspect emerging from the novel—one I wish to highlight—concerns not merely disability itself, but rather how it is viewed, perceived, and consequently approached by those who are not ‘disabled’ (at least by traditional standards).
We often—and quite wrongly—equate people with their disabilities. This
limitation clouds our view of reality and of the individual in question. As a
result, the ideas we form and any subsequent analysis are flawed from the
outset, failing to align with the objective reality we claim to be seeking.
Basang’s entire life—the daily challenges he faces and the bullying he endures
at the hands of others who mock and boast about his limitations—vividly
illustrates both the ills of our society and the relentless struggle a disabled
person must wage every day simply to survive. This struggle for survival is not
merely physical but also emotional and mental; it is driven by a world in which
diversity—and specifically that which is, or is perceived as, disability—is not
understood but rather mocked, ridiculed, and abused.
Another particularly interesting—and, in my view, absolutely dominant—aspect, beyond the audacity, courage, and determination to achieve one’s goals while overcoming the limitations imposed by disability, is Love.
When the subject of love arises, the vast majority of people tend to picture romantic love—sentimental and erotic in nature. The novel *Il mare di Basang* also depicts this type of bond—such as the one between Basang and Alima (Huder’s sister)—characterized by sincere affection, innocence, mutual understanding, shared glances, songs, and embraces, as well as a common vision of Life and the World; it is the connection of two souls that, upon recognizing one another, resonate at the same frequency, even though this love is never ‘consummated’ in the physical sense.
However, the love radiating from every page of this novel—born of the description of Basang’s life and experiences—is a different kind of love: infinite, boundless, and limitless. It is not fueled by the physical, but transcends the boundaries of ordinary human experience. It is a pure, universal, and empathetic love that embraces everyone unconditionally; a love willing to make any sacrifice or renunciation, and to undertake any courageous, unpredictable action to help the defenseless and the needy.
The sea—which Basang, a humble shepherd born and raised on the Mongolian grasslands, falls in love with and long dreams of seeing—thus represents the adversities of life he must confront. He battles these challenges, striving to overcome them with courage and determination despite his personal limitations.
Basang’s Sea is not only a literary work of great value—especially today—but also, and above all in its deepest essence, a profoundly moving, "poetic" work (albeit not written in verse) that will gladden the reader's heart while offering ample food for deep reflection.
It is a captivating and deeply touching novel suitable for all readers, and one I highly recommend as a literary text for schools at every level.