Jun 25, 2012 10:13 PM
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(Updated Jun 25, 2012 10:26 PM)
'Abridged Mahabharata in Panchali's view point' is the best one line I can give to Chitra Banjerjee Divakaruni's The Palace of Illusions. Mahabharata, story of the stories is something you can read time again and still you will love to hear more! The Palace of Illusion do justice to the epic Mahabharata, at the same time present a modern outlook to the thoughts of Panchali. This is a Herculean task and Chitra Banerjee succeeds in the attempt with perfection to make the book as an excellent read!
I have to admit that while start reading the novel, I thought that the novel is bound to carry some hangover from other works based on the epic like Draupadi by Prathibha Rai, Mrithyunjayaby Sivaji Sawant and Randamoozham by MT Vasudevan Nair. Then, I was happy to find that Chitra Banerjee remain independent in her views about Panchali, Karna and on Krishna.
The highlight of the novel is that a reader gets the feeling of going through the thought process of the protagonist, the Panchali. Almost all of the major incidents of Mahabharata is been covered in this (360 pages) novel. Being written by a woman on Panchali's perspective I was ready to accept even if the author had taken some bias towards feminism. Then, to my pleasant surprise, Chitra Banerjee didn't fall in the trap; instead made the character with all her faults and still acceptable to the reader. Yes, the view point was there in the earlier chapters, but sooner it synch to the general view of things. The author in fact gave a modern outlook to the epic character. The silent ego clash between Kunti and Panchali, doing things which we don't want at heart, repenting on decisions, analysing what if scenarios, questioning incidents which is not logical - Chitra Banerjee did a wonderful job with this novel.
Other than strongly impressing Panchali's character in our mind, the book also tries to cash on the most powerful character in Mahabharata, i.e. Karna. CBD projects that Panchali had an untold love sentiment to Karna, which enhanced the story telling to some extent. However, have to admit that remaining strict to the epic story it was a nearly impossible task, and CBT succeeds only partially at it. Here, I would love to stand with Shivaji Sawant's angle.
One of the major pluses of the novel is that the author weighs values and principles told in the epic and make assumptions and conclusions which we tend to agree most of the time. The book contains lot of life observations from the epic as well as from the personal experience of the author, which is a boon to a novel like this.
Once you are highly impressed with the novel which tempted and guide you to read in one stretch you may start to think about its flaws, later. There is no doubt that Panchali had liked Arjun the most from the five Pandavas. Having told this earlier in the novel, the author ignores their love angle completely to oblivion. Bhima's point of view is been stressed as we have read it in MT Vasudevan Nair's 'Randamoozham' (aka Bheem) but Arjun didn't get a chance like this. Love or hate, the reader wish to see Arjun's mind as well but that is missing in the novel. Given the writing style and skill, Chitra Banerjee could have done this in a matter of hours but the opportunity was not utilised. Also, Kunti's stand on the Kurukshetra War was important which too is missing. I will consider these small chances could have magnified the novel further but no doubt it shines in its present form as well.
The book got a fantastic cover, truly inviting, justifying the title and the content. It is one to pick in the first sight and to get fascinated by reading it and to keeps a lasting impression on the reader. If a reader says that they feel like the characters hang around with them for few days or weeks, I can confirm that the reader is telling a truth. Recommended to all eager readers who would love to revisit Mahabharata, characters, events and philosophy! Highly recommended!!
