The Palace of Illusions - Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

The Palace of Illusions - Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni 

Just as I was yearning for it, I could read the great epic 'The Mahabharata' through the lens of a royal woman, Panchaali. When it comes to lengthy chronicles such as this one, various writers come forward with their own touch to the storyline, each one I've come across being the best one. Here, the author has put forth the tale through the words of Draupadi, the woman who married the five Pandava brothers and is regarded as one of the Panchakanyas (along with Kunti, Tara, Ahalya and Mandodari).

The narration begins from the yajna scenes, from which both Dhrishtadhyumna (addressed by her as Dhri) and Draupadi came into the earth. Later, the atmosphere of Kampilya (the capital of Panchaal), which she found suffocating initially, was described as though it lacked the usual charm any wealthy Kingdom possessed. In a nutshell, Draupadi found her childhood a boring one, except for the company of her only brother and her foster mother (addressed as Dhai Maa). She wasn't close to her father nor to any of his wives who thought her differently from the others in every way possible.

Later, her friendship with Krishna is brought up, with him addressing her as Krishnaa, indicating that Draupadi was dark skinned just like him. Her father, though not close with her, goes on with an adventure of arranging a swayamvar for her, unlike he did with his other daughters. And we all know what followed it. After the marriage, there arises differences between Draupadi and Kunti in almost everything, it's portrayed as though Kunti doesn't seem to like her and wants to control her in every possible way.

The wicked game of dice, the vanvaas, the ajnyaatvaas, the war, the ruins, the death, everything is mentioned as it did occur. The only astonishing fact was Draupadi's attraction to a mysterious man right from the day of her swayamvar till his death in the Kurukshetra. This part of her surprised me and an ultimate question arose, "Was she truly loyal?" And I couldn't say yes or no exactly.

Every character, through its goodness or hidden envy or jealousy paved the way to the bloody war at the end of the third yuga (dwaapara yuga), it's difficult to blame any one of them specifically. But the whole axis of revenge hovers over Panchaali. "Was her lust for vengeance righteous or not?", the second question arises.

Whatever happens, time heals it, they say. Does time truly heal or does it hurt as days go by just like a thorn that is struck in your throat while eating which only vanishes the moment plain rice takes it into the abdomen along with it. Draupadi was really fond of her Palace of Illusions, as is evident by the way she repeatedly mentions it. But what was the point, it was just a mere lump of clay that lay on the barren Kandava land right after their departure into the forest!

People and their lust for earthy matter! The book definitely made me rethink life choices, I loved it beyond words!

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Read for life!