![Arjun: Without A Doubt by [Sweety, Dr.Shinde]](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61ZqscMAEhL._SX260_.jpg)
The Mahabharatha has traditionally been a plot-oriented epic with a multitude of main characters. It is for the first time that I am seeing it through the eyes of Arjun. Equal time and importance has been given to portraying the character of the eminent Draupadi, who provides the perfect foil for Arjun, performing the role of an antagonist and ally. The characters of Arjun and Draupadi continue to haunt me long after I completed reading the novel wherein lies the real victory of the author - getting into the skin of the historic characters and employing her creative intelligence to etch their trials and tribulations within the framework of the unalterable incidents from the epic.
While my tryst with the Mahabharatha started several decades ago, the five Pandavas somehow functioned as a collective protagonist and I had viewed Arjun as just one of the lead characters (akin to one of the heroes in the multi-starrer Hindi films popular in the 70's and 80-'s!. This novel made me realize that he is the most under-revered hero from Hindu mythology, as the author effectively intertwines the courage of a valiant warrior with the fragility of his emotional relationships - with Krishna and with Draupadi - traversing the gamut, from tranquility to trauma. The depth of understanding displayed by the author and her ability to impactfully dramatize the complex cast of characters of this complicated epic is truly commendable.
The novel is written in first person from a dual point of view - Arjun and Draupadi - a Herculean achievement which can get tenuous at times. Staying with each point of view a little longer in a chunk rather than crossing over to the other character too soon would have made for an even more effective read, as would a variation in the tone to identify the two points of view with greater ease. The permutations of interactions and conversations between Arjun, Draupadi and Krishna are a treat to consume and a major highlight of the book. (The dialog tags could have been a tad more prominent though, the conversations would have been even more enjoyable if I did not have to figure out who was saying what at times, but this is a minor distraction)
While the plot driven epic had always made excuses for the follies of Yudishtir, the epitome of Dharma, reading this novel through the eyes of Arjun and Draupadi - gave me my biggest Aha insight - that this was but a crutch to cover up his character weaknesses, since he represented the 'good side' of the epic! And full credit goes to the author for demystifying this myth without being judgmental.
The novel is a must read for all those who have any connection or exposure however limited, to the Mahabharatha.
Product Description
I knew there was nothing poetic about death. I knew not that the most horrific battles are fought off the battlefield. Arjun: The idealist in a non-ideal world; the warrior whose deadliest opponent was his conscience. History forgot his voice, but misquoted his silence.My self-esteem originates from me and ends in me.Why does your honor depend on me? Find your own. Draupadi: The untamed tigress, the fragrant flame, the unbridled spirit. Power does not justify sin. Power is not virtue. Virtue is that which lasts in spite of power. Krishn: The enigma whose unique ideology churned the battlefield into a quest for Truth.The Missile …The Trajectory … The Vision. The trio that makes for the core of The Mahabharata (Indian Epic).
About the Author
The heart can be dissected, the brain can be spliced open, but I love to unravel the mind and emotions. Dr. Shinde Sweety holds a Doctorate in Medicine. Avid Mahabharata fan. Voracious reader. Yoga enthusiast, Student of Spanish and yearns to learn Sanskrit. Skilled at pencil sketch. Loves to daydream and swim. Curious about the Mystic & Mystique. Insane about soulful music. Content to be cocooned in a dream world. Email: sweetyshinde@hotmail.com
