Yuganta

Yuganta

  - Iravati Karwe

Yuganta is not an interpretation or a retelling of Mahabharata – it is more of a critical analysis. It makes a systematic and scientific study of the earliest version of the epic available today, and the knowledge of the cultural history, and attempts to isolate the facts (as presented in the original version of the book) from the interpolations added later through the centuries. Through these facts she proposes Mahabharata as a creditable history of events that took place almost 3000 years ago - a story of mortals devoid of any magical or divine influences.

The book includes nine thought provoking essays, each of these a study of one (or more) of the key characters of the epic. The basic story is outlined to provide the context; the author then proceeds to make a rational analysis of the facts to examine their actions and understand their motives. She logically separates the myth, and challenges the mind to question what is familiar (because these myths are so deeply entrenched into the lore that they are inherently accepted?). Her query is critical but balanced, appreciating their positive qualities and identifying their faults without restraint. She presents several points that make one pause and think and wonder about things that we have always accepted – for me, it certainly prompted several new thoughts and questions.

The first, and my most favorite essay, is about Bhishma. The author raises several questions on the (widely accepted) facts about his life and actions, his purpose and destiny, and the appropriateness as well as effectiveness of his actions. For example, how many of us have ever wondered how, from his escalated position, Bhishma wronged several of the women characters - from Amba, Ambika and Ambalika, to Gandhari, Kunti and Madri, and Draupadi? One of the most poignant thought here was if we are justified in doing (selflessly) for others, something which would be criticized if we did it for ourselves?

I liked most of the other studies too, especially the one about Kunti, Draupadi, Karna and Krishna

I have never read much about Gandhari. The author clarifies that there is not much information about her in the epic, and reconstructs one chapter about her from the little information that we can get. However, most of it is speculative fiction, and though I would have been curious to know more about her, this was somehow my least favorite chapter in the book

She also makes a wonderful commentary about the social structure prevalent at the time - the class system and struggles, the societal norms with respect to peers and families, and the cultural habits. She has put forward facts and her theory of how the Indian society has evolved in these millennia. Also interesting to see is how the epic Mahabharata itself has evolved from the original book called Jaya

I would mark this as a must-read for all Mahabharata aficionados, as well for people interested in Indian history and culture.

Karna's Wife - The Outcast's Queen

Karna's Wife - The Outcast's Queen

  - Kavita Kane

It was a wonderful idea, to have a closer look at the most noble and tragic hero of Mahabharat, through the eyes of someone close to him, so as to have a deeper insight into his thoughts and emotions. At first I was surprised to learn that Karna had a wife named Uruvi, since what I had known was that his wife was Vrushali. Then I realized from the author's note that she created the fictional character of Uruvi. It was an excellent device, since Uruvi, due to her close connection to the royalty, and her own learning, could present a greater perspective on the events that unfold, than the simple Vrushali ever could. Her interaction with other women, who had a significant role to play in the epic - Kunti, Bhanumati, Draupadi - brings in a richness in this story.

It, however, is an idea, which isn't executed as well as it could have been. One of the most disappointing factors is that this seems to be highly inspired by some of the other popular retelling's, especially 'The Palace of Illusions'. Another jarring aspect is the language - rather too modern for the period, and a little incoherent at times. Yet another was the conflict in the view the author wanted to present, on several things, specially her take on some of the key characters. She has portrayed Duryodhan in a softer shade than most of the retellings do (which works fine for me), but I felt that she fluctuated between depicting him as an inherently evil man, and a soft, misguided soul manipulated by his evil uncle throughout his life. I found Karna's character lacking too. Amongst the incidents that rankled, there is this particular one that takes place at the end of the war - when Pandavas learn that Karna was their elder brother, they want to give him his due - so they go to Uruvi and ask her to come along with them to Hastinapur, and her son to be appointed the heir. At this point, I had to ask - why only Uruvi, and not Vrushali as well - as Karna's wife, didn't she deserve the same respect?

Bhima - Lone Warrior

Bhima - Lone Warrior

  - M T Vasudevan Nair

I became interested in picking this book because of the great feedback I read about the author, and particularly about this book.

The book was indeed very well written, and brought a unique perspective - the perspective of Bheem, who is usually ridiculed for his gluttony and lack of intelligence, known (and used) only for his physical strength. He is often ignored or slighted, but frequently called on for help, specially when the circumstances appear dangerous. 

Most of the other literature and adaptations do not portray him as a person who could have finer feelings - which is one reason why this book is a refreshing change. In this adaptation, Bheem is a sensitive individual, who doesn't quite speak a lot, and his reserved speech that perhaps arises from shyness or inability to express himself well, is misconstrued as stupidity. He is hurt by lack of understanding shown to him by those dear to him, but he is reluctant or unable to display it. His emotions are depicted realistically and wonderfully, his disappointments, frustrations, and regret at abandoning his wives and children.

The other reason I found it interesting was that the story is presented as a story of mortals (perhaps with some special skills), but without divine manifestations, and with some very interesting interpretations.

What I disliked most about it was the portrayal of Draupadi - insensitive and manipulative to the extreme, specially with regards to Bheema (well, since it is his from his viewpoint). As in almost all other interpretations, she is regarded as one of the main reasons for the Mahabharata war, while Kunti is the sacrificing, suffering mother - both of which I am inclined to disagree with.

I have never been convinced that Yudhisthir was justified to have the title of 'dharmraja', or even fit to be the king, and this story reaffirmed my opinion further.

The Palace of Illusions

The Palace of Illusions - Chitra Banerjee Divakurni

... and some random musings on Mahabharat ....

Mahabharat is a huge treasure trove of interesting stories, stories which are intriguing in themselves, and further, present a great possibility of interpreting them in many ways, postulating about the thoughts and emotions of the myriad characters. I, as many of my compatriots, have grown up on the tales from the epic, and it still holds a great fascination for me. 

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In childhood, I read many Amar Chitra Katha volumes about different characters from Mahabharat, and a couple of condensed versions of the complete story. And then, of course, there was the epic serial ( ... who can forget that deep voice starting each episode with "Main samay hoon" ...) which we religiously watched (I still remember how, at the air time of the serial, our colony wore a completely deserted look).

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Though I have not yet had an opportunity to read the complete, original version, I have read quite a few renditions from the perspective of different characters - Mrityunjnay by Shivaji Samant (from the viewpoint of Karna, and a few other major characters), Yajnaseni by Pratibha Ray (the story of Draupadi) and Bheema - Lone Warrior by M. T. Vasudevan Nair (the story of Bheema). Although I know (I think, most of it) the story, it is intriguing to see what the people might have thought and felt, what motivated them in their actions, to know more about the lesser-known aspects of their lives.

“The Palace of Illusions” by Chitra Banerjee Divakurni - a retelling of Mahabharat in the words of Draupadi - had been highly recommended by multiple sources - a blog I follow (by a couple of very voracious readers), Goodreads, and many of my own friends. I had been looking forward to read it for a long time, considered it buying several times and finally bought it a few months back (at a ~40% discount from flipkart – thank god for small mercies!). To quickly sum up - it left me deeply disappointed, more so because of all the accolades assigned to it. As a story, it is an interesting read alright (or is it difficult to get it wrong with Mahabharat?), but considering it the story of one of the most important ladies of the saga, it was rather a let-down.

One of the reasons cited as the purpose of this book, and in the acclaim it received, is that all of the versions of Mahabharat that we have grown up with, and the many interpretations that have been put forth in the last few years, have been written by men, and present their perspective (this is not entirely true though). The voice of women, even an extraordinary one like Draupadi, has been suppressed, and this book aims to fill that void. CBD’s Draupadi is very intelligent, and raises quite a few pertinent questions and irrefutable points. Over time, in the course of events, she becomes bitter (who wouldn’t be?). However, she comes across as materialistic, haughty, manipulative and selfish – which is no different from her portrayal in other “male-centric” versions of the epic – and this is my greatest issue with this book. She is completely enamored of “her” palace (the palace of illusions), and it is the palace that is important to her more than anything or anyone else. I feel that a story from her perspective should have added more strength and depth and meaning to her character. I did not feel particularly (actually, at all) sympathetic to Draupadi’s character in this book. [For me, this is where Pratibha Ray’s Yajnaseni scored much higher – also an account of Draupadi’s life in her words – but one where Draupadi is strong, yet spiritual, kind and considerate of others.]

Another complaint I had with this book was the writing style. Many stories move back and forth in time with an effortless ease, or refer to past events or foreboding of future ones, subtly; but this is not one of them. Not only does Vyasa foretell her future, nearly all chapters end in a paragraph or sentence which says, “We were not to know then that such-and-such would happen” – explicit pointers that kind of take away the joy of discovery along the story. For someone who doesn’t know the story, this is a big spoiler; for someone who does, it becomes a monotonous irritant. And this borders on ridiculous – the way the events that simply couldn’t have taken place in Draupadi’s presence, nor related to her by someone close to her, are brought to her awareness – she sees them in her dreams!! 

*Major Spoiler* (stop here if you are yet to the read the book for yourself)

Another major issue I have with this book is Draupadi's obsession with Karna. The idea of an attraction between Draupadi and Karna is not a novel one, as seems to be the impression. It has been hinted at before – mild references were there both in Mrityunjay and Yajnaseni (and, I believe, in some other versions that I have not read). However, PoI doesn’t allude to an attraction – it portrays a great infatuation on the part of both – so much so that all of Draupadi’s reflections and actions are punctuated by thoughts of Karna. Her feelings towards Karna are much stronger than even Arjun (she doesn’t seem to have a particular affection for Arjun, only envious of his tenderness towards his other wives). I think PoI should not have been a book about Karna; it should have been a book about draupadi. Instead it comes across as a big unrequited love affair between these two.

My problem with this idea is just not that it is too radical, but that I felt this might have been just a means to create sensation or controversy. A couple of reasons – if she was as impulsive and strong as she is supposed to be, she could have chosen to marry Karna if she really wished to. And also, she could have found a better way to protect her brother from Karna’s arrow, other than insulting him for his parentage. Why, then does she marry the Pandava(s) [oh, fate!!], and humiliates Karna, intentionally or unintentionally, time and again.

Unlike others before it, this book gave up all subtlety in this aspect and made it explicit and stron, even though there is no basis for this assumption in the original Mahabharata. In Yuganta, the author Irwawati Karve clarifies that Vyasa's Mahabharata indicates at no such possibility, and the reason it was not logical. [That is the only book I know of, which has analysed Mahabharata from a historical and anthropological perspective, and I strongly recommend it to anyone with an interest in the epic.]

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Though I didn’t appreciate it as Draupadi’s story per se (as I didn’t find much redeemable in her character), I would agree that it is an absorbing read. I also found a few interesting ideas, some of which I would mention. During the disrobing in the Kuarava sabha, at first Draupadi is ashamed and embarrassed. However, later she remembers Krishna and tells herself that the shame is not hers, it is that of those present – the perpetrators and the silent observers. Infuriating and endearing at the same time, is her refusal to believe in Krishna’s divinity, until at the end. Another interesting concept was Vyasa’s gift of divine vision of the battlefield of Kurukshetra to Draupadi, just as he had done to Sanjay. And this is perhaps the only version I have read, where Draupadi actually appreciates Bheem’s concern and attention towards her.

I have been reading quite a lot in last few months (thanks to my JustBooks membership), but with all the other things I have to or want to do with my spare time (very little of which is there anyway), reviewing the books I read has taken a backseat. There was something about this one though, which compelled me to write this note, even though it took quite a long time to put it together. In fact I would like to compare ‘The Palace of Illusions’ with ‘Yajnaseni’ in detail, but it has been a few years since I read the latter. Though from what I do remember, ‘Yajnaseni’ left a deeper impression on me, and created a positive image (a fact that was endorsed by another friend to whom I lent it) of the woman who changed the course of history.