Bhima: Lone warrior by M.T. Vasudevan Nair

"Bhima: Lone warrior" by M.T. Vasudevan Nair. This book is published by Harper Perennial in Oct 2013 and has 373 pages. This book is the translation of original Malayalam book and is translated to English by Gita Krishnankutty.

This is the story of Bhima, the second Pandav. He was the fiercest warrior of them and the mightiest as well.

Everyone considered him blockhead, all mussels and no brain. He was credited more for his size and strength than his skills. However author tells us that he was skillful, agile and adept at all war forms including archery and fighting from a chariot. In this book portrayal Bhima is lonely, sometimes helpless and always taken for granted by everyone. His size and strength become a hindrance and advantage at the same time.

Whenever there was a danger, be it Baka or Hidimba or Kichak or any other, it was always Bhima to the rescue. Bhima was always the point man in the war, the most important position, while Arjun (the greatest Archer) and Dhrushtadhymna (the commander-in-chief) covered flanks. He was the only one to take view of revenge at the time of Draupadi Vastraharan and singlehandedly killed all Kaurav's.

He had there wives. Hidimbi, who was a forest dweller and who he never m meet after impregnating her. Draupadi, who was aroused by stories of war and violence, who always expects from him without giving and who he still loves unselfishly. Balandhara, princess of Kashi who stayed with him for a long time. Author unpeeles the human side of Bhima. He repents for not asking after his wives when he was away or not sending messengers to them. He is anguish that his son, and eldest of the next generation of Pandav's, Ghatotkach is not respected by Pandav camp, despite proving that he is an unmatched fighter, because his mother does not have a royal lineage and that he is not accorded respectful funeral. He even abdicates the throne.

Towards the end author even dispels the myth that Pandav's were born of Gods and even goes on to reveal identities of Yudhishthir and Bhima's fathers.

Author has consciously avoided the myth and magic from the story and has tried to give a logical explanation to everything that happened. He has an easy writing style and has put the things plainly rather than making them dramatic. Although you read the story of Mahabharata, the writer has introduced the readers to Bhima, the human, rather than Bhima, the hero.

Cover is not eye catching. It looks more like a caricature. Hence I was reluctant to read it and kept postponing the purchase. Finally I read it when Ravi recommended and loaned it.

A good book and different perspective. Recommend reading.

The palace of illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

"The palace of illusions", by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. This book is published by Pan Macmillan in 2009 and has 384 pages.

This book is the story of Mahabharata from a female perspective. A female who is supposed to be the cause of Mahabharata war; Draupadi. All the events are seen through Daupadi's eyes. Author has avoided the temptation of narrating entire Mahabharata and chosen to narrate only those incidents that have direct relation to her.

Epic story of Mahabharata is, has been and will remain fascinating for generations so I will not delve into the story line. The story is so fascinating that an author need not work on the storyline and needs only to concentrate on the section and angle she wishes to narrate and the presentation.

Draupadi was proud, stubborn, impatient lady with a sharp tongue. She was dark, not considered favorably in those days, yet beautiful. She was ambitious and bold. She was treated very badly. She was attracted towards Karna and could not forget him until she died.

Fire ceremony was done by Drupad to obtain a son who can take vengeance. His prayers were answered when Drishtadyumna came out of fire with Draupadi. Drupad tried to pick up only Drishtadyumna when he came out of fire thereby rejecting Draupadi implicitly. Draupadi was uninvited.

Draupadi had a chance to make a decision that would mitigate catastrophes to come three times in her life. First when she did not allow Karna to participate in her swayamwar sighting his low cast. Second when she laughed at Duryodhan and insulted him in the palace of illusions. Third when she cursed Kaurav's that culminated in war after her wastraharan (वस्त्रहरण). The choices she made on these occasions altered the course of history.

Draupadi was raised motherless in a palace she did not feel home. Pandav's were raised in Hastinapur in their uncle's palace and did not connect to it as their home. Hence when Maya built the palace of illusions for them in Indraprastha it meant a lot to them. They could call it home. A home that was owner's pride and Duryodhan's envy.

I expected the author to have given a convincing explanation as to why Draupadi laughed at Duryodhan in the palace of illusions, because after all it was the reason why Duryodhan hated her and de-robed her later causing the great war. But the justification given by author is at best lame.

Did Bheeshma hate all women due to the behavior of his mother? Was Kunti a  dangerous woman who succeeded in bringing up her sons in a hostile environment? Did Draupadi long for a beautiful palace of her own? Was the relation between Draupadi and Kunti uncomfortable? Did Draupadi love Karna?

Draupadi quips 'Doesn't anyone have normal births anymore?' How true. All Kaurav's, all Pandav's, Draupadi, Drushtadyumna, Karna, Bheeshma, Dritarashtra, Pandu, Vidur and even Krishna; all had abnormal or unusual births.

Character of Vidur is completely omitted. Death of Dussasan and Bheem applying Dussasan's blood to Draupadi's hair is also omitted. Although author has tried to justify the name of book, she has not effectively drilled home the importance of Palace of illusions to Draupadi.

All in all it is a good book to read that looks at the epic from a different angle. Did Draupadi really think like the Draupadi of this fiction? Only Maharshi Vyas can answer it.

A good book. Recommend reading.