The book starts with the swayamvar of
Draupadi. The book constantly switches between Arjun’s and Draupadi’s
narration. Arjun gives the side of the dutiful son, the man bound by his
principles and a lifetime of conditioning. Draupadi gives the untamed and
logical point of view. She doesn’t understand the system that has been in place
for centuries. She doesn’t understand the rules that seem biased based on the
situation they are applied to. She is a force of nature, she is a warrior who
fights the war, all her life. I like how the writer managed to convey the basic
difference between the point of view of a man and a woman. It is refreshing to
see someone place the story of Draupadi, who is always depicted as the woman
who made a family go to war, shown as a warrior who is in reality, fighting her
own battle.
Starting from the time of her divine
birth, she wishes for a childhood never granted, feels the joy and apprehension
of marrying a man she has met for the first time, feels the shock when her life
is forever bound to five husbands, experiences the happiness of setting up her
house and then the brutal reality of having it stripped away from her. The way
the writer presents her mindset, it somehow makes the story more relevant to
modern times. If you take away the backdrop of the Mahabharata, you can almost
see it as a different version of what many women go through in their life.
Arjun on the other hand, gives the picture
of almost an anti-hero. Wandering from exile to exile, loving a woman he is
forced to share with his brothers, worshipping a man who is forever, guide and
best friend, facing the fears of fighting his own family and friends, being
brave enough to ask the questions that trouble his soul and finally, triumphing
over the most arduous trials and tribulations without the glory, all for his
wife. The writer, at the end of the book, draws multiple parallels between
Arjun and other heroes such as Alexander and Achilles. I cannot help but feel
that history, while it may have twisted and changed a few facts, Arjun still
remains one of the most human heroes in Indian literature.
Finally, I cannot end this without a
comment about Govind. Indeed, the story of Arjun and Draupadi is incomplete
without the cowherd who seemingly masterminds the entire epic. Govind, the man
loved by both Arjun and Draupadi, is the best friend, a guide, mediator; he is
whatever they both need. I like how the writer tells the same tale as almost a
love story, albeit with far reaching effects. One thing before you read this
book though, if you are unfamiliar with the general storyline of the
Mahabharata, you might find it a bit difficult to grasp the fast-paced events
unfolding in the book. However, if you are interested in finding more about the
love story in the epic, I suggest you read this book for a fresh modern take on
it.
Name: Arjun - Without A Doubt
Author: Dr. Shinde Sweety
Publisher: Leadstart Publishing Pvt. Ltd.
My Rating: 3/5
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