The Palace of Illusions

How can you tell an ancient story in new light? And how can you tell it to a generation, who as children have literally grown up with this story, and as adults will have high expectations of it?

Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni has the answer in The Palace of Illusions.

The floor of Mahabharata is nothing new to me. A kingdom greater than any – cousins fighting for the throne – sacrifices, promises, boons, curses – war – bereavement – atonement. An epic. The Mahabharata is an detailed story, which

How can you tell an ancient story in new light? And how can you tell it to a generation, who as children have literally grown up with this story, and as adults will have high expectations of it?

Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni has the answer in The Palace of Illusions.

The story of Mahabharata is nothing new to me. A kingdom greater than any – cousins fighting for the throne – sacrifices, promises, boons, curses – war – bereavement – atonement. An epic. The Mahabharata is an elaborate story, which can be perceived from any character’s point-of-view and still have a rich storytelling experience. So, why not tell in from a woman’s perspective?

While I was growing up, Mahabharata was always about the virtues of the brave men who went to war. There wasn’t one story about what it was to be a woman during those epic times. This book is the wonderful tale of the woman who was the cornerstone of Mahabharata. Told in first person, this tale takes us to the depth of Draupadi’s soul and shows us her views as the events of the great epic unfurl.

THE MODERN DRAUPADI:
The best part about The Palace of Illusions was that, as a modern woman, I felt very connected to Draupadi. How Chitra ji manages to walk the fine line between the old and new interpretations of the character of a ‘strong woman’ is beyond me!

The author mixes the right amount of fiction into the archaic tale without taking away its original flavor. I mean, I have never heard of Draupadi’s love story in the original.
The new Draupati falls in love with Karna when she sees him at her Swayamvar. Her love for him is only intensified after her marriage and she yearns for him all her life. Here’s why I think it might be true: a woman with high ambitions would see Karna as an achiever. She would find him capable and deserving of her love not only because he is wise, brave and handsome but also because he would respect her and treat her like the Queen she is. So, despite her fate, every time she sees him her heart gives a jolt. He was her one true love, until the end.

(hide spoiler)]

Draupadi’s love story arc comes as a surprise because I have never imagined this possibility before! I just assumed that Draupadi accepted her life and marriage with satisfaction. The version that we have all been given has been avoiding a crucial detail about her character – Draupadi is a woman driven by resentment and regret of her own choices. How could she be happy in that miserable married life? Have we been painting Draupadi as a meek martyr when she clearly was much more?

It was a new take on Panchaali and I think it fits her perfectly. Brilliant interpretation Chitra ji! It might or might not be true. I don’t know if other interpretations tell the story the same way, but you have convinced me of your interpretation so beautifully, that now I begin to wonder if your version is the original version and if the truth somehow got diluted in the million re-tellings.

DRAUPADI – A CHARACTER SKETCH
Where do I begin? Wow.

Never have I ever read a story with a POV with such strong intentions and inner monologue. The story in The Palace of Illusions is the story of Draupadi from birth to death. She was a woman beyond her times. She was headstrong, intelligent, virtuous (in her own way), ambitious, proud and was a feminist believing that the place of a woman is not just in the back of the palace, but right next to her royal husband.

Emotionally, we see the bitterness that shapes up Panchaali from the start. We see her angry, we see her withdraw, we see her contemplate, we see her lash out in blind fury, we see her curious, we see her loving. As the story progresses, the insight into Panchaali’s inner doubts and fears become much our own. We see the princess who felt like a misfit at her own dad’s place but eventually found a home in The Palace of Illusions. My heart goes out to her.

Panchaali’s story is that of a woman so blindly confident of her unique destiny that she brought about her own misfortunes. Her pride fell. And then, she grew, learnt humility, kindness, surrender and acceptance. She grew to find a woman’s power in her. She grew to identify her devotion to Krishna, and her love for him which is beyond body and mind.

I admit it. Usually when I think of Draupati, I only think of her shame and her terrible fate at the hands of Dushasha. I was so wrong. I hadn’t given her much credit. Understanding Draupadi’s background and her character was a privilege. It was amazing. I understood the bottled-up rage and fury against her husbands, the shame that befell the pride of the Queen of the Pandavas and the surrender that sparked from desperation and her love and devotion to Krishna.

It was amazing to fill in the emotional blanks that I had of Mahabharata when it comes to Draupati.

Throughout the story we see other women of her age – Sudheshana, Banumati, Subadra, Uttara. None of them even compare to her. None of them even come close to The Fire Princess! Not even Kunti, who after a point accepts that it isn’t her place to rule over what the Panchali says. And that is the most inspiring part of Panchaali’s story for me.

CHITRA’S WONDERFUL STORYTELLING:
The author/poet has a way with words. Her words flow like honey and read like a poem. I was completely in love with her words while reading the book.

Chitra ji’s art of storytelling comes out in the most unlikely places. Her idea to interpret Mahabharata from a new perspective is seen even in short snippets. For instance, we all know the part where Arjun and Duryodhan ask Krishna to join them in the war. In this story, this incident is told from Duryodhan’s point of view, meaning we are privy to his arrogance and utter confidence in his victory, in contrast to the third-person, moralistic tale we have been hearing so far.

While telling a tale of this magnificent scale it’s impossible to avoid villains.
Sometimes, flawed characters need to remain flawed.
Chitra ji’s story had the compulsive need to seek goodness in flawed characters, and that felt far-fetched. It is okay for the characters to have chinks in their armors. I felt that the reasons the author gives to justify them were mere excuses. I just feel that when writing POV, it’s okay not to idolize everyone.

Chitra ji brings out the chemistry between Panchaali and Kunti (the original Saas Bahu drama!) in a few entertaining pages. She has an ease of telling didactic incidents with a funny twist. She just told a convincing Mahabharata in less than 400 pages. I admire that. Well done!

PROS:
1) A fresh viewpoint
2) Intense
3) Unapologetically human
4) Short, quick chapters
5) One-word chapter names (I love one-word chapter names)
6) Stays true to the original Mahabharata

CONS:
1) Difficult to read as a Mahabharata virgin. Should be familiar with the original story.
2) Glorifies almost everyone

The Palace of Illusions insures a place for Mahabharata in the modern bookshelf by baring a story that is incredibly true to humanity and intensely inspiring.

For graphic novel lovers, find a similarly intense (but not quite there) Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni has the answer inThe fib of Mahabharata is nothing new to me.An epic. The Mahabharata is an elaborate fib, which can be perceived from any character ‘s point-of-view and inactive have a rich storytelling feel. so, why not tell in from a woman ‘s perspective ? While I was growing up, Mahabharata was always about the virtues of the brave men who went to war. There was n’t one story about what it was to be a woman during those epic times. This book is the fantastic narrative of the womanhood who was the cornerstone of Mahabharata. Told in first person, this fib takes us to the depth of Draupadi ‘s soul and shows us her views as the events of the bang-up epic unfurl.The best function about The Palace of Illusions was that, as a advanced woman, I felt very connected to Draupadi. How Chitra jemaah islamiyah manages to walk the fine agate line between the old and fresh interpretations of the character of a ‘strong woman ‘ is beyond me ! The writer mixes the right total of fiction into the archaic fib without taking away its original season. I mean, I have never heard of Draupadi ‘s beloved floor in the original. ( view spoiler ) Draupadi is a fire born princess with exalted goals for her life. sadly, none of them come true when she married the Pandavas. It is only fair that she keep think of where things went incorrectly for her and wonder if she married the good guy ( s ) .Draupadi ‘s beloved fib arch comes as a surprise because I have never imagined this possibility before ! I just assumed that Draupadi accepted her life and marriage with satisfaction. The version that we have all been given has been avoiding a all-important detail about her character -How could she be felicitous in that measly marital life ? Have we been painting Draupadi as a meek martyr when she intelligibly was much more ? It was a newfangled consider on Panchaali and I think it fits her perfectly.It might or might not be true. I do n’t know if other interpretations tell the history the same way, but you have convinced me of your rendition so beautifully, that immediately I begin to wonder if your translation is the original interpretation and if the truth somehow got diluted in the million re-tellings.Where do I begin ? Wow.Never have I ever read a report with a POV with such impregnable intentions and inside monologue. The report in The Palace of Illusions is the story of Draupadi from parentage to death. She was a womanhood beyond her times. She was froward, intelligent, virtuous ( in her own way ), ambitious, proud and was a feminist believe that the position of a charwoman is not fair in the back of the palace, but right following to her royal husband.Emotionally, we see the bitterness that shapes up Panchaali from the start. We see her angry, we see her disengage, we see her chew over, we see her whip out in blind craze, we see her curious, we see her love. As the floor progresses, the insight into Panchaali ‘s inner doubts and fears become much our own. We see the princess who felt like a misfit at her own dad ‘s place but finally found a home in The Palace of Illusions. My heart goes out to her.Panchaali ‘s floor is that of a charwoman so blindly confident of her unique destiny that she brought about her own misfortunes. Her pride fell. And then, she grew, teach humility, kindness, surrender and acceptance. She grew to find a womanhood ‘s baron in her. She grew to identify her devotion to Krishna, and her beloved for him which is beyond body and mind.I admit it. normally when I think of Draupati, I alone think of her pity and her atrocious destiny at the hands of Dushasha. I was thus ill-timed. I had n’t given her much citation. Understanding Draupadi ‘s background and her character was a privilege. It was amazing. I understood the bottled-up fury and craze against her husbands, the shame that befell the pride of the Queen of the Pandavas and the resignation that sparked from despair and her love and devotion to Krishna.Throughout the history we see other women of her age – Sudheshana, Banumati, Subadra, Uttara. none of them flush compare to her. none of them flush come close to The Fire Princess ! not evening Kunti, who after a point accepts that it is n’t her place to rule over what the Panchali says. Andis the most inspire share of Panchaali ‘s fib for me.The author/poet has a way with words. Her words flow like honey and read like a poem. I was completely in love with her words while reading the book.Chitra jemaah islamiyah ‘s art of storytelling comes out in the most unlikely places. Her theme to interpret Mahabharata from a new position is seen flush in short snippets. For case, we all know the separate where Arjun and Duryodhan ask Krishna to join them in the war. In this fib, this incident is told from Duryodhan ‘s steer of opinion, mean we are outhouse to his arrogance and dead assurance in his victory, in contrast to the third-person, moralistic fib we have been hearing so far.While telling a narrative of this brilliant scale it ‘s impossible to avoid villains.Chitra jemaah islamiyah ‘s floor had the compulsive need to seek good in blemished characters, and that felt far-fetched. It is okay for the characters to have chinks in their armors. I felt that the reasons the generator gives to justify them were bare excuses. I just feel that when writing POV, it ‘s okay not to idolize everyone.Chitra jemaah islamiyah brings out the chemistry between Panchaali and Kunti ( the original Saas Bahu drama ! ) in a few entertaining pages. She has an still of telling didactic incidents with a funny flex. She good told a convincing Mahabharata in less than 400 pages. I admire that. Well done ! 1 ) A fresh viewpoint2 ) Intense3 ) Unapologetically human4 ) Short, agile chapters5 ) One-word chapter names ( I love one-word chapter names ) 6 ) Stays true to the original Mahabharata1 ) Difficult to read as a Mahabharata virgin. Should be familiar with the original story.2 ) Glorifies about everyoneThe Palace of Illusions insures a identify for Mahabharata in the modern bookshelf by baring a history that is fabulously true to humanness and intensely inspiring.For graphic novel lovers, find a similarly intense ( but not quite there ) Draupadi : The Fire Born Princess [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] > [ “ red brigades ” ] > [ “ bromine ” ] >