The Mahabharata or the palace of illusions

 Dear Reader

Some questions bother us over and over again, have you noticed? To a point, where we begin to doubt if we have become senile or are so stupid we have not found an answer!! At such times, we seek the suggestions of our family, friends and well-wishers--basically, people who love us unconditionally. Most of the time, when we are stuck with a situation, it is because of our own stock responses, pressing the same dead bell buttons and for this, what we need is a knock on the head 😀and a different perspective to deal with the situation 😎. And, you will agree, it helps! 

  And this is exactly the experience of reading literature. If it is a story retold by another character from the story, the perspectives are refreshingly fresh and newly enlightening. So, be it a fairy tale turned into a cinema--Cinderella, Frozen or Into the Woods, adaptations of Macbeth as The Throne of Blood by Akira Kurosawa, Maqbool by Vishal Bharadwaj, or Peter Brooks' Mahabharata or the Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, what one gets is a new perspective to old or similar situations. 

      However, this post is a book review of the novel The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Published in 2008, the story of Mahabharata is narrated by Draupadi. The novelist has retained the story and the key incidents; then you, dear reader, may wonder what is new and why, if you haven't already read this, should you read it?  We all know how a woman's point of view makes a world of difference!! You may not agree with the perspective; like so many other things we don't agree with but which exists, this is also a perspective that exists. Although I am putting this in a very matter-of-fact manner, believe me, it is not so. There are some interesting new people whom you meet, some new facet to a character that is not part of the traditional telling of the epic and of course, all characters are rendered human dimensions. 

      I would like to share some interesting dimensions the novel has introduced: 

   The changed dynamics of the brother-sister duo Dhrishatdyumna and Draupadi is admirable. It is very modern but very acceptable and endearing. Panchaali always calls him Dhri. They come out of the fire holding hands and stand by and for each other. That sibling relationship beautifully resonates with readers.    

   Dhai Ma is another interesting character in the novel. She is earthy, realistic and very human. Like for example, she says "There was such absolute silence that even if a fly farted, it could be heard"😂or her absolutely no-nonsense with a princess like Draupadi brings the epic to everyday life realities and not an unrealistic, imaginative epic worthy of its philosophy. 

    There's an interesting situation she draws when immediately after the Swayamvara, Panchali follows Arujna to his humble home as they are still in disguise. Arjuna, new to this relationship, walks at his usual pace and Panchali, the princess, walking barefoot, struggling to catch up with him, tired, sits down to rest. Arjuna just keeps walking without realising this. And when he does, he realises his folly, washers her feet, gets water for her to drink and then suits her pace when they begin to walk again to reach their home.  

    Of course, there is this unmissable side that Chitra Banerjee draws--yes, the MIL-DIL power struggles between Draupadi and Kunti. The clarity of their power dynamics is interesting; of course, this is not the reason to pick up this book. It certainly provides an insight into how Panchali acquires her queenliness. 

    Krishna is as elusive a character as He is in every story. He is enigmatic, humane, loving and compassionate like no one else is or can be. 

    The novel is bold to the extent that it acknowledges, not in great detail but in tracing it to the bitter end of the death of Panchali, the love she experiences for Karna. One wonders, I did too, how is it that Draupadi, married to five unique men, loves Karna!! Perhaps, only perhaps, Karna understands unconditional love like only Krishna does and Panchali responds to that because Pandavas, understandably, are so knit together by Kunti, that even if she wants, they can't be separated and are conditioned by their commitment to survivance.   

    And, my personal favourite is the way the novelist has presented Kunti, Panchali and Gandhari after the Pandavas take over as kings. The women, along with the young Uttara, form a committee to help war widows. When they come to know of the women who need help, they decide to convert their royal jewellery into a public fund. We always talk about how empathy in situations of war is important and offer suggestions to overcome PTSD. The initiative by women is not a personal magnanimity; it is a step toward creating a healthy society, which is inclusive, of course, of personal healing as well.   

   Sociologists and literary critics have long observed that the two epics could be read as sociological documents of relationships, society and morals/ethical ideas. The Palace of Illusions in introducing many such situations offer what's missing in today's world.       

  But, the best takeaway from the novel, as with the epic, is the larger reality of the 'aloneness' of life and relationships. And, when Draupadi narrates, wondering if the war could have been avoided, if she was responsible, I wonder if it is so? Because, today, as it was then, have not women been considered bound to serve everyone and her happiness is bound to her husband, parents and children and her happiness or sorrow or anger cannot be for her self?! I wonder, why, even when we fulfil our responsibilities to the best of our abilities, is it that we become such villains when we ask for a little space for happiness? Perhaps, the answer is, if you don't value your happiness, no one will! Perhaps, Panchali understood this and so stood tall and strong facing such wrath from the world!  The novel brings the epic back to the reader on a new path, making us wonder over again about the same questions of life, relationships and the self?!!  

If you have read the novel, I would be very happy to read your comments or opinion.  

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