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.
This is their saga.
Insightful, visceral and candid .
Find ‘other’ famous Arjuns; compare Arjun vis-a-vis Achilles and Alexander; Explore Myths of Mahabharata.
Waseem: How would you explain your book to an audience that knows nothing or very little about the Mahabharata?
Dr. Sweety Shinde: Thank you for your query. Mahabharat is universal in its themes. Its core issues are still relevant and relatable, because it deals with human emotions at their raw best ...and raw worst. Treachery, lust, greed, nobility, generosity, betrayal, love are Mahabharata's consistently compelling vital emotions - and they in turn lead to events. So, take away the Indian names - and you can still apply it to Greek mythology. Take away the '5000 yr old' tag, and it is still applicable to political families, business rivalries et al. Take away the gold jewellery and silk robes - and you & I can still empathize with the characters.
Being an Indian reader merely makes Mahabharata a 'personal' read, since most Indians have strong likes and dislikes to characters ; as well as strong views on every event unfolding within this Epic. On the other hand, non Indians have the privilege to read Mahabharat without prejudice and with fresh eyes.
The only points that need explanation are the numerous short background stories (E.g Indra's Govardhan incident vs baby Krishn etc), which can be explained in footnotes.
WAM: Being a Muslim, I'm not well versed with Mahabharata. I've asked many a Hindu friends about the incident that ended up with Draupadi having 5 husbands. All they tell me is that Arjun's mother, without knowing what he had brought home, told Arjun to share 'it' with his brothers. But your book paints an entirely different perspective. Now I am unable to differentiate between the fact and fiction. Was it just a slip of tongue or did Arjun's mother do so to meet her own ambitions?
DSS: Vital question - and very central to my book. As per Vyas's epic, Kunti did say 'Share whatever you have brought', since she meant alms. The reasons I'm unconvinced is for following facts-
1] Vyas mentions Yudhi & twins move away from swayamwar court b4 Arjun-Bheem battle with her suitors. SO the time lag allows Yudhi to reach hut comfortably in time for Kunti to know events and to know which 'treasure' is arriving home.
2] Dhrishtadyumn, brother of Draupadi is sent by her father to gauge identity of Brahmin who won the swayamwar. He follows Arjun, Bheem, Draupadi to hut where ' An elderly lady was seated with 3 young men'. It again roves point 1.
3] Kunti was no sage, while even Durvasa & Parshuram were known to take back slips-of-tongue. If Kunti's words were accidental, nothing prevented her taking them back. She didn't , b'cos her words were not accidental.
4] Kunti's motive may have been to preserve unity among 5 sons, but IMHO, her action was brutal to Arjun- cos it insulted his archery trophy, and to Draupadi, the new bride with dreams in starry eyes.
5] Yudhi again lies to her father, stating that all 5 are bachelors, since Bheem is already married to Hidimba. So that event again made me question Yudhi's truthful'' nature.
6] Draupadi-Drupad were super allies that Arjun won. However, Arjun would still not be in line for throne. Yudhi was elder to Duryodhan and thus Kunti's ace card. I think she turned blind eye to his immoral demand.
So, Vyas plants many such pointers which acted as stimuli for my perspective.
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My Review: Filled with numerous quotes, mesmerizing life lessons, strong narration, compelling dialogues and complex dilemmas, Arjuna: Without A Doubt book tempts the reader to go on. It is not less than a classic. An interesting book. Highly recommended...
