Description
What a unique piece of art this book is! The author, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni takes readers on a magical journey through Mahabharata with her book ‘The Palace of Illusions.’
Draupadi or Panchali as we know her is most famous for being insulted and stripped of her honor in a court full of men; leading to the great battle between Kauravas and Pandavas.
For ages, we have been reading and hearing this story from the point of view of the heroes. It’s safe to say that Mahabharata has always been a male-dominated experience with all the heroes and villains playing their roles respectively.
But, what about the women during that period?
Did it ever occur to anyone what would have been Draupadi’s experiences before, during, and after the greatest war of its time?
We know the stories of birth, childhood, and achievements of Pandavas, Kauravas as well as Karna.
But what about Draupadi? What about her achievements and dreams?
The Palace of Illusions answers all the questions. It explores the life and experiences of the important women associated with Mahabharata. The unsung heroes of this classic and historic era.
Although the book’s title is not self-explanatory, it is a glue that binds this story together.
This book elucidates that right from her birth, Draupadi was unique and special in her way. She was always made aware of the fact that she was brought to the world for a special purpose. A purpose which was famously known as the Great War of Mahabharata.
The story of Mahabharata is the same but the lens is shifted to feature the story from Draupadi’s point of view. This brings Mahabharata in a new light altogether. The story and the characters are articulated beautifully and the message delivered is crystal clear.
Mahabharata teaches us to count our blessings.
Mahabharata teaches us to watch our words, thoughts, and actions.
Mahabharata teaches us the meaning of sacrifice.
But most importantly, Mahabharata teaches us the power of love and hatred. We get to decide the path we choose and then accept the consequences till our last breath.
Prads
Nicely written. Looking forward to more reviews
Abhi
Your review talks about this cool book, ‘The Palace of Illusions.’ It’s all about Draupadi from the Mahabharata and how the story changes when we see things from her side. You explained it really well, showing how important the women in the story are and the lessons we learn about love and sacrifice!