This week I want to share with you one of the most memorable books I have ever read – Mrityunjaya by Shivaji Sawant.
I enjoy reading a lot. And the fact that I still remember how riveting this one was makes it so special for me. I read this book sometime in 2003. The book was bulky (of which I am not scared), but I realized that none of the pages were ‘wasted’ or dispensable.
Mrityunjaya is the story of Karna – the great warrior from Mahabharata. In his archery skills, he was the only match for Arjuna (perhaps even better). Karna was born to Kunti before she was married. Even though his genesis was from a divine blessing (he was the son of Sun God - Surya), Karna spent his life bearing the stigma of having a low-caste birth (he was adopted by a charioteer family and remained ignorant about the identity about his actual parents until the fag end of his life). Kunti spent her life loaded under the guilt of her desertion of the newborn and inwardly singed by the taunts heaped on Karna by his real brothers and Draupadi.
Karna is an epitome of passion, commitment, courage and selfless giving.
The book shows Karna in a light that brings out the gross injustice he faced and how he survived all of it. Even though Krishna gave Karna a chance to join the side of Pandavas in the epic war, Karna stood by Duryodhana (eldest of the Kauravas and a dear friend to him). This book also reveals the cunningness in Krishna and how he was able to organize everything in favour of the Pandavas and how he intervened only when he desperately needed to. Karna was duped into giving up the protective armour he was born with (which made him invincible), when Krishna appeared at his door disguised as a needy Brahmin.
The book is a feast. It has flowery language, which does not overwhelm but only adds to the vividness of the description. It reveals intimate details about its central character as if Shivaji Sawant was there to witness Karna in life. Karna - his love for Vrushali and her sati on his funeral pyre; Kunti’s lone presence at the end of his cremation and her anguish at not having been able to rear him as a son; how Duryodhana cultivated him as a friend with an ulterior motive of having a formidable opposition to the rival Pandavas and Karna’s rock-steady loyalty even with that covert knowledge… You have to read it to know it!
I hope you liked going through this week’s Show and Tell. Have any of you read this book? Do try if you have not.
BackYoBack!
^Wiseguy^
It sounds fascinating.
ReplyDeleteIs the book also in Hindi? Did you read it in Hindi? And won't I be embarrassed if that turned out to be Urdu...
ReplyDeleteI was wondering the same thing as Lollipop, Hindu? Curious. It sounds interesting, I may just look into that!
ReplyDeleteSounds fascinating. With elements of the stories of Moses, Ares and Jesus all in one.
ReplyDeleteI have not read it, but have enjoyed some modern Indian lit: A Fine Balance and The Death of Vishnu, both which I would also recommend.
You've added something to my reading queue!
Hi! Can't say I've read the book, but looks interesting. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd, ryc, what, you don't like getting up before the sun does? ;-)
Must try it at least once! It is very awesome to see. :)
Rachel