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The Palace Of Illusions, written by Chitra Divakaruni, is a tale of honor and humiliation, love and passion, kings and queens, featuring the epic story of the Mahabharata, but from a female perspective.
Summary Of The Book
The Palace Of Illusions is a modern retelling of the epic Mahabharata, through the eyes of Panchaali (Draupadi), the wife of the famous Pandava brothers. Divakaruni has rewritten this epic from a female perspective. The focus of the story has shifted from the original war and honour, to more humanistic concerns. It is an epic saga, surrounding the events of Panchali's life, while growing up in a male dominated world. The Mahabharata is a narrative about the Kurukshetra war between two families, the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
Panchali is the protagonist of Divakaruni's story. She is a young girl born out of a special fire ritual that was performed by her father, King Drupada. Right from the start, she leads a lonely and unusual life, without the care of a mother. Her sole companion is her brother, Dhristadhyumna, who was also born out of fire. Panchaali is characterized as an atypical female as she is a woman who is outspoken, self confident, and defiant. She is also interested in the art of warfare and the politics of monarchy.
Her life changes when she falls in love and ends up married to all the five Pandava brothers. As a result of unfortunate circumstances, she ends up living as a servant, and watches her family suffer through a terrible turn of events. The story explores different areas of Panchaali's life, such as her husbands' fight to regain their kingdom, and her intriguing friendship with Lord Krishna. Things become more complicated when she is attracted to Karna, a fierce and noble warrior, who is also the Pandavas' enemy.
The Palace Of Illusions is a woman's struggle for survival in a man's world. This book was published in 2009 by Pan Macmillan India.
About Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a poet, author, and professor of writing at the University of Houston. Her writing repertoire covers numerous genres. Some of her published titles are Black Candle, Leaving Yuba City, The Brotherhood Of The Conch, and Shadowland.
Apart from writing, Divakaruni is the former president of Maitri, a helpline geared for South Asian women who are experiencing domestic abuse. She is also a board member of Pratham, a non profit organization which tries to bring literacy to underprivileged Indian children. Divakaruni is married to Murthy, and lives in Houston, Texas, with their two sons.
Mrityunjaya is the autobiography of Karna, and yet it is not just that. With deceptive case, Sawant brings into play an exceptional stylistic innovation by combining six "dramatic soliloquies" to form the nine books of this novel of epic dimensions. Four books are spoken by Karna. These are interspersed with a book each from the lips of his unwed mother Kunti, Duryodhana (who considers Karna his mainstay), Shon (Shatruntapa, his foster-brother, who here-worships him), his wife Vrishali to whom he is like a god and, last of all, Krishna. Sawant depicts an uncanny similarity between Krishna and Karna and hints at a mystic link between them, investing his protagonist with a more-than-human aura to offset the un-heroic and even unmanly acts which mar this tremendously complex and utterly fascinating creating of Vyasa...
Review:-
If you are into mythology, this book would certainly interest you. The book is a psychological insight into various characters of Mahabharat, primarily Karna who is confused about his identity almost his entire life.
The metaphors in the book are very apt and the conversations between different characters are thought-provoking. A lot of literary merit seems to have been lost in translation, it is nonetheless a great read in English. The translated version has the typical language of Sanskrit-translated work and if you are not new to reading translations of Sanskrit books, the language would be very familiar.
Karna is one of the most magnificent characters, only epic persona who didn't get his identity by his birth but got it with his immense talent as an archer and undying struggle with social discrimination. His birth was result of his mother Kunti's curiosity who wanted to test the boon given by sage Durbasha and summoned Sun God and had his son. Karna was born with gold shield and gold ear rings which made him invincible. Unfortunate since the time of his birth, karna was floated by his mother in the river of Ganges. Charioteer Adhiratha and his wife Radheya got him from Ganga and adopted him as their son. They named him Basushena. Karna was also named "Radheya" after his mother's (Radha)name.
Karna's interest in warfare made him curious to learn the art of archery but his low social status brought only rejection in his life. Rejected by Dronachariya, teacher of Kuru princes and pandavas he decided to learn archery by himself considering Sun God his Guru. Finally he decided to go to Parashurama for completing his education. He posed as a Brahmin as Parashurama only thought the supreme caste the art of warfare. Karna excelled in this art and an overwhelmed Parashurama declared karna a warrior equal to him but before karna could complete his education things changed drastically. Once when Parashurama was slipping keeping his head on karna's lap, a scorpion (or bee) stung karna. Karna bare tremendous pain so that his Guru's sleep doesn't get disturbed. Parashurama after awaking misunderstood karna as a "kshatriya" seeing his level of tolerance and cursed him that he will forget everything he learnt from him in the time he need it most. Karna revealed his true identity and Parashurama blessed his beloved student with Bhargava astra. He also gifted Lord Shiva's "Vijaya" bow to Karna.
Karna's entry in kuru politics happened on the day of the friendly tournament what was arranged by Drona to exhibit Kuru princes' warfare skill. Karna wanted to challenge Arjuna the best archer among Kuru princes but he was rejected for the same old status problem. Eldest kaurava Duryadhana appreciated his talent making him the king of Anga and that marked the beginning of deep friendship between karna and Duryadhana what remain unchanged till the end. However karna still had to face humiliation from Bheema, Draupadi and even from Bhisma in different times. Karna took the command of army and conquered a large part of Aryavarta to establish Duryadhana's command over everyone. Karna not only aced in skill of warfare but he became the greatest philanthropist of his time.
Karna's antagonism with pandavas, what sprouted with getting rejected for challenging Arjuna and Bheema's constant insult, enhanced with his getting insulted by Draupadi in open swamvar. As revenge karna used harsh words for Draupadi during cheerharan period. An angry Bheema took oath that his brother Arjuna will kill Karna to avenge Draupadi. In Vyasa's epic we see karna to regret his action towards Draupadi.
Karna joined the Kurukshetra war on twelfth day and became the commander of Kuru soldier on sixteenth day of Kurukshetra war. Before that Krishna revealed karna's true identity as "jesth pandava" and asked him to join Pandava side offering throne of Hastinapur and Draupadi but Karna declined the offer choosing to be loyal to his friend. Kunti returned with karna's word that he won't kill anyone but Arjun. Before Karna could join the war Indra, father of Arjuna, fearing karna's valor, begged karna's Kavach and Kundal in disguise of a Brahmin. Karna gifted it knowing its Indra, Indra blessed him with Vasav Shakti weapon, what karna could use only once. Karna and Arjuna fight was the highest point of Kurukshetra war which ended when advised by Krishna, Arjuna killed an unarmed karna from behind when Karna was busy to struggle with his chariot's wheel which sank in earth due to a curse. It is said karna's good deeds saved him from getting killed so Krishna appeared in disguise of Brahmin and begged his charity. Karna gifted it without a single thought and Krishna showed him his Biswaroop.
Karna is the tragic hero of Mahabharata and certainly the most celebrated character in the world of literature. We see Bengal's great writer Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay explained karna as the real winner as he earned tears and sympathy of millions in his greatest novel "Pother Panchali." Bengal's pride Biswakabi Rabindranath Tagore wrote all time classic "karna kunti Songbad" and portrayed the beauty of his character with his golden words. The most famous books on karna are "Mrityunjaya" written by celebrated Marathi scholar Shivaji Sawant was awarded by Janapith Award for it and "Rashmirathi" by Ramdhari Singh Dinker. In contemporary English writings we see the same trend is going on.
In Star Plus' Mahabharat Vidyut Xvier played young karna and now Aham Sharma is portraying the role with excellence. He played pivotal roles in Tv shows like "Asmaan se aage" and did a film named "Blue Orange."
Karna pic
Aham pic
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