Can you rewrite a classic? What can you add to an epic that is timeless? What can you tell me about the Mahabharata that B.R. Chopra did not? These are some of the misgivings that I had when at the recommendation of a friend I sat down to read Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s “The Palace of Illusions”.
Well, by the end of the book the writer managed to convince me that it’s all about the perspective. The book is the Mahabharata through the eyes of ‘Panchali’ - which is, the key difference here, a tale which has always been dominated by the male characters and was primarily testosterone charged has been turned on its head. The writer gives a deep insight into probably one of the strongest women characters in Hindu mythology “Panchali”. How Panchali born of fire lives out her inevitable destiny is what the book is about. Of all the Mythological women, she was perhaps the strongest of them all, demanding her rights in a male-dominated society. Unlike the idealistic, softer Sita, Draupadi is unabashedly the most prominent queen with a woman’s pride, a sharp intellect and a strong will.
Her question to the messenger for Yudhishtira when Duryodhana had ordered Draupadi to come to court after the five brothers lost the dice game still resounds in my ears! Draupadi was never the one to obey her husbands unreasonably; she refused and sent the messenger back to ask Yudhishtira, “Did you lose me before or after you lost yourself?”
The book also captures the other women in Mahabharta like Kunti, Gandhari, Amba beautifully, changing them from clichéd caricatures to three dimensional characters. The way the writer defines the key relationships in Panchali’s life her lifelong friendship with Krishna, her tumultuous relationship with Kunti, the love of her life and the one who truly loved her most are both novel and enlightening.
The book succeeds in creating lasting images of Kurukshetra where the Pandavas fought the Kauravas, the Palace of Illusions that the Pandavas built for themselves in the jungle and much more. This mention brings us to notice the title “The Palace of Illusions”. This was a famed palace – even the envy of gods that the Pandavas built for Draupadi in their capital city of Indraprastha. The palace was perfectly named as its walls had unseen doors, and while what appeared as doors were infact solid walls. Also, what might appear as pools of water was actually flooring while flooring looked like pools of water. Confusing? Indeed it is. May be the same theme runs even through the entire book – like the war that seemed just and fair by ending in favour of Pandavas – becomes an illusion of bravery and fairness by Duryodhana’s last words to Krishna, “Even with gods by their side, Pandavas could not have won the war without deceit."
Something to ponder on definitely! Who were the real bad guys in Mahabharata or were there any? Was the Great War of Kurukshetra worth the sacrifices victory demanded? Can one fight his own fate? A good book is one that forces you to think and maybe even change pre conceived notions.
That is what Divakaruni’s book did for me - it made me think and change my opinions about a lot of the characters in the Mahabharata. For me, the best and the most interesting thing about the book was that it explained the reasons that led to a lot of the incidents in the Mahabharata and the reasons why people did what they did.
Remakes rarely do justice to the original, so in this case “The Place of Illusions” is an exception. I think it’s a must read for all young Indians to get a deeper understanding of our history as well as get a perspective that probably none of the history books or televisions serials can provide!
Sweety Thomas
Extramarks User
Suggested Similar Readings:
- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s plotline of Bhima and Draupadi love is similar to be as found in Yuganta, where Irawati Karve explores this relationship.
- Divakurni herself gives credit to Pratibha Ray’s text for somewhere being the inspiration behind “The Palace of Illusions”. Pratibha Ray in Yajnaseni explores the special relationship shared between Draupadi and Lord Krishna, i.e. of sakha and sakhi in deeper, more elaborate manner.
Well, by the end of the book the writer managed to convince me that it’s all about the perspective. The book is the Mahabharata through the eyes of ‘Panchali’ - which is, the key difference here, a tale which has always been dominated by the male characters and was primarily testosterone charged has been turned on its head. The writer gives a deep insight into probably one of the strongest women characters in Hindu mythology “Panchali”. How Panchali born of fire lives out her inevitable destiny is what the book is about. Of all the Mythological women, she was perhaps the strongest of them all, demanding her rights in a male-dominated society. Unlike the idealistic, softer Sita, Draupadi is unabashedly the most prominent queen with a woman’s pride, a sharp intellect and a strong will.
Her question to the messenger for Yudhishtira when Duryodhana had ordered Draupadi to come to court after the five brothers lost the dice game still resounds in my ears! Draupadi was never the one to obey her husbands unreasonably; she refused and sent the messenger back to ask Yudhishtira, “Did you lose me before or after you lost yourself?”
The book also captures the other women in Mahabharta like Kunti, Gandhari, Amba beautifully, changing them from clichéd caricatures to three dimensional characters. The way the writer defines the key relationships in Panchali’s life her lifelong friendship with Krishna, her tumultuous relationship with Kunti, the love of her life and the one who truly loved her most are both novel and enlightening.
The book succeeds in creating lasting images of Kurukshetra where the Pandavas fought the Kauravas, the Palace of Illusions that the Pandavas built for themselves in the jungle and much more. This mention brings us to notice the title “The Palace of Illusions”. This was a famed palace – even the envy of gods that the Pandavas built for Draupadi in their capital city of Indraprastha. The palace was perfectly named as its walls had unseen doors, and while what appeared as doors were infact solid walls. Also, what might appear as pools of water was actually flooring while flooring looked like pools of water. Confusing? Indeed it is. May be the same theme runs even through the entire book – like the war that seemed just and fair by ending in favour of Pandavas – becomes an illusion of bravery and fairness by Duryodhana’s last words to Krishna, “Even with gods by their side, Pandavas could not have won the war without deceit."
Something to ponder on definitely! Who were the real bad guys in Mahabharata or were there any? Was the Great War of Kurukshetra worth the sacrifices victory demanded? Can one fight his own fate? A good book is one that forces you to think and maybe even change pre conceived notions.
That is what Divakaruni’s book did for me - it made me think and change my opinions about a lot of the characters in the Mahabharata. For me, the best and the most interesting thing about the book was that it explained the reasons that led to a lot of the incidents in the Mahabharata and the reasons why people did what they did.
Remakes rarely do justice to the original, so in this case “The Place of Illusions” is an exception. I think it’s a must read for all young Indians to get a deeper understanding of our history as well as get a perspective that probably none of the history books or televisions serials can provide!
Sweety Thomas
Extramarks User
Suggested Similar Readings:
- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s plotline of Bhima and Draupadi love is similar to be as found in Yuganta, where Irawati Karve explores this relationship.
- Divakurni herself gives credit to Pratibha Ray’s text for somewhere being the inspiration behind “The Palace of Illusions”. Pratibha Ray in Yajnaseni explores the special relationship shared between Draupadi and Lord Krishna, i.e. of sakha and sakhi in deeper, more elaborate manner.
