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THE EMPRESS OF INDRAPRASTHA - Entering Kuruvansh
by Sonali Raje

I started reading Mythological Fiction almost after a gap of six years, and it is interesting to find books re-showing the epic in a new light. In the process, some new characters get created, old characters are shown from a different perspective, and the story passes through unchartered lanes. Sikhandi (ni) is shown as a transgender, always fuming against Hastinapur. Bhishma thinks of him as a woman only.
So what?
It is still Mahabharata.
A new tale spun out of the timeless Mahabharata, interestingly presented for new generation readers.
Purists can find a lot of deviations from the original story; however, the original story itself is available in different versions authors do take liberty in following different versions suiting their imagination. Not only those versions but the author had also drawn from the existing fiction on Mahabharata.

Draupadi of the author is a friend of Krishna, even before she was married to Pandavas. It was Krishna who suggested using water as a medium instead of the mirror in the archery test so that only Arjuna can succeed. Of course, Karna was about to do it, but Draupadi stopped him, saying the famous,' I don't marry a Sutaputra.' Actually, her real reason was she didn't want to be a third wife of Karna, and she did not like him because his interest seemed to be in meeting the challenge and not in winning her. He also detested his role in helping Duryodhana in abducting Bhanumati. However, she said those words to say something to stop him. Actually, Panchalas are very liberal with respect to gender equality and varna. Interestingly, Krishna does not like such an insult by Draupadi. Karna is one of his closest friends. He chides her for citing an insulting wrong reason. Another interesting deviation from the original is the decision to marry all five Pandavas was taken by her and her alone. Neither Drupada needed convincing from Vedavyasa, nor there was a need for a mystical explanation as to why she should marry all five. She hears the case pleaded by Kunti, and talks to Krishna, who talks in generalities and leaves the decision to her, and she considers the question of Sahadeva as to why a woman can not have more husbands when a man can have many wives. Finally, she asks the brothers whether they are willing to be her husbands and only after making sure that they were willing she accepts the proposal. It was she who announced the decision to Drupada boldly.
Then the story moves to Hastinapur and we get to see the reactions of Shakuni, Drona etc.
Draupadi is surprised that the four brothers implicitly obey their elder brother and finally finds out the reason. She finds Sahadeva to be thinking like her (intelligently) and has a whole library with him. Nakula's quarters remind her of Panchala, and he is a competent doctor besides showing interest in horse/chariot races.
Bhima is seen making delicious dishes, and Arjuna is found to be a lover of music and enjoys drinking Madira. Yudhistira's interest in dice games does not please Draupadi, but she compromises that everyone has a weakness.
Another interesting episode is the travel of Pandavas ( except the newly married Yudhistira and his wife Devika) and Draupadi to Dwaraka, where Draupadi meets Rukmini Devi and adores her. Then she asks Krishna whether it is true that he was once in love with Radha, and Krishna replies to her that he loves Radha even now, though there was no necessity of being together physically.
Then there was a picnic on her becoming pregnant for the first time, and all of them go to Anga. That's where she meets the two wives and two sons of Karna. That episode also shows how Kunti passes on the family jewellery to Karna's first wife. As readers, we know why she does that, which Draupadi or Pandavas can not fathom. Draupadi and Sahadeva identify the problem correctly and insist on demanding partition. Finally, it happens, but they get the forest area of Khandavaprasta. Pandavas decide to convert this as Indraprastha. Readers have to wait for the next book for Draupadi to assume the role title suggests .....The Empress of Indraprastha. For now, they have to be content with the subtitle .....Entering Kuruvansh.
Overall, the novel is interesting. Draupadi and five Pandavas converse amongst themselves, cut jokes, and pull one another just like modern-day class fellows. Draupadi comes out as a spirited lady, broad-minded, well brought up to take up independent decisions with a shrewd political mind.
The author explains in her note that she was inspired to write this mythological fiction after reading Palace of Illusions by Chitra Divakaruni and Karna's Wife by Kavitha Kane. I hope those two writers would have certainly read this and appreciated it. The author must be congratulated on her bold portrayal of Draupadi and planning to come up with four more books to ultimately unveil what kind of Draupadi she would like her readers to remember.
I like the mention of the illustrator to whom this is a debut cover page too. He did a good job. A blue lotus in the hands of Draupadi is a symbolic representation of the natural body fragrance of the heroine.
Waiting for the rest of the series.......
Sesha