She’s dead. Half of her died the day when everyone she had loved and counted on to save her, sat without protest and watched her being shamed. The other half perished with her beloved home. But never fear. The woman who has taken her place will gauge a deeper mark into history than that naïve girl ever imagined.
In her latest offering Chitra Banerjee takes us to an era about which we have read or heard, an era full of mysteries & hard to believe stories.
Mahabharata, has been told to us numerous times but have you ever read a version of the story from any of the strong female protagonist? No…
“The Palace of Illusions” is the journey of Draupadi; it is how she sees Mahabharata.
Born out of fire, Draupadi was blessed to King Draupad who had wished for a warrior son, so that he could take revenge of his humiliation at the hands of Dronacharya. Alongwith his son came, Draupadi gifted to him with a sole purpose, “she was expected to change the course of history”.
The book traces Draupadi’s journey from her birth to her marriage to five of the greatest warrior prince’s to her humiliation at the hands of Kaurava’s & then the final act of vengeance.
In her very earlier years, Draupadi’s curiosity had landed her in front of sage who had predicted
“You will marry 5 greatest heroes of your time….You will be remembered for causing the greatest war of your time….A million women will become widows because of you. You will leave a mark on history….You will be loved, though you will not always recognize who loves you….
Can knowing your future change your destiny? May be yes if Draupadi had followed three simple advices given by the sage – Hold back your question, hold back your laughter & hold back your curse. But then who can change destiny…
While reading the book one thought kept haunting me, we always wish to know our future. But does the knowledge really help? Did it help Draupadi? It didn’t, I think we all come with our destinies written for us and sometimes knowledge makes it more painful because you are waiting for it to happen…
Many would say that if it is Mahabharata retold then what’s new in it? What makes this book different from other versions or why should we read a mythological tale which has already been told numerous times….here is my answer
.:. As have said the book, is Mahabharata as seen by Draupadi and that makes it different…the author has at length discussed Draupadi’s thoughts when Kunti asked her son’s to share “Draupadi”. Some people ridiculed the multiple marriages, some envied her but what was she really thinking? The book delves into that.
.:. While reading the book, no where will you feel that it’s an old story being retold. Chitra is an author who plays magic with words and this time too she has done it.
.:. The book is so fast paced & the author has very intelligently skipped or briefed the better known parts of history. She concentrates on Draupadi and succeeds in it. And that’s where the novelty lies, you are reading an old story but from a view which was not thought of.
.:. Not even omce the book looses its pace and niether does it makes you feel that it is set in old times. The book is as contemporary as it can be because it has been told that ways only:-)
.:. We all know Draupadi was married to Arjun but whom did she really love? That’s an aspect which too has been delved into.
.:. She talks about Draupadi’s thoughts on how she could have saved the fiasco where she had laughed at Duryodhan & why didn’t she do anything to salvage the situation…
.:. Another reason that makes this book a must read is the character of Krishna, beloved, dependable & inscrutable he is. Draupadi’s closest friend, who can read her….Though have heard numerous stories about him, out here he completely bowls me over. Sample this
“When Duryodhan Cursed him for teaching us the unfair tricks by which we won the war, he smiled and said, I take care of my own- in whichever way possible. The moment when Panchaali gave up struggling with Dusshasan & called on me to save her, in that moment your death warrant was signed. If there’s sin in what I did I’ll gladly shoulder it for her sake.
*There are many more reasons which can be sited to stamp this book as “Can’t be missed” but the main reason for me is, it talks about our heritage, our past. A past which we don’t delve into because it’s just not “In”.
When I had started reading this book, I had blanked out my mind of any past knowledge I had on this topic(though even that was little) and from page 1 the book hooked me, it was after ages that I was reading each & every word. I was reading it whenever I had time. This means, when in auto, when waiting for lift, while waiting for the milk to boil…
For last one week my thoughts were occupied with…A story which is full of love, revenge, sorrow, redemption, vengeance, guilt….
It’s the story of a woman who was born for a purpose. A Queen of Queens who could have anything she wanted in life but ended up in misery because she was played in the hands of two dreadful tools, revenge & guilt. It’s the story of a lady who was insulted & shamed in front of her own people(who were supposedly bound by ‘Dharma’) but her desire to be different & strength to stay afloat against all odds made her a survivor. Despite all her guilt’s of her supposed sins, she was a doer….an instrument in the larger scheme of things…
Chitra Banerjee has served us with an irresistible, un-putdown-able book. It is a collector’s item(worth every penny), to be read & enjoyed. At the last count I had started reading (which is a rarity as far as I am concerned)it yet again & its like am reading it for the first time…. and I would recommend it to those people also who avoid historical books(I fall in that acategory)
There are two questions which I would like to ask Chitra.
1- Was it easy it to re tell a story which is already etched in our minds
2- Difficult was it to think like a woman who is an enigma & mystery to us…how difficult was to fit yourself in her shoes and imagine her thought process…
*Trivia
*- Palace of Illusions was the name of the Palace of Pandava’s.
- The opening lines are Draupadi’s thoughts during one her phases when she was fighting her guilt