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AJAYA : Epic of the Kaurava Clan -ROLL OF THE DICE

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AJAYA : Epic of the Kaurava Clan -ROLL OF THE DICE


ajaya_book_cover.jpg



We all have heard the name of the greatest Indian Epic “MAHABHARAT”. One might have heard its stories from their grandparents, or might have read during their school days as a part of syllabus (like I did) or might have seen the show on TV which used to be aired in the mid 1990’s. I am sure that we all have known MAHABHARAT from either Krishna’s or Pandava’s context. And I am also confident that none of us (including me) might have even considered knowing MAHABHARAT from the Duryodhana’s point of view; the person who is abhorred by everyone even to this date. Well, AJAYA is just the right book to carry you through the epic from Suyodhana’s (Duryodhana) point of view.




Written by a well-known author named Anand Neelakantan (whom I had the opportunity to meet a couple of months back), AJAYA is the second mythological fiction book written by the author after ASUARA which was all about RAMAYANA from the deceased RAVANA’s point of view. AJAYA is an exhilarating and a fast paced 433 page book that starts on a promising note and also ends well and makes the reader starve for its sequel which shall be releasing around August this year.



Now, coming to the book, from the very first page the Pandava’s (who are always portrayed as the protagonists in every form of MAHABHARAT in the real world) are shown to be cruel, ruthless and even cunning. It is not written to hurt the sentiments of the readers, but it just shows how Suyodhana and the entire Kaurava clan felt about the Pandava clan. All the things about either the Kaurava clan or about the Pandava clan is explained with such a finesse that it is absolutely difficult for a person reading it to decide whether to believe it for real or to just carry on reading it thinking it to be just another fictional book.



There are many things in this book which we all are aware of like how the greatest archer of the then India –Arjuna had won the hand of Draupadi during the Swayamvara, or how the Pandava’s escaped death from the Palace of Lac which was especially built on the orders of the Shakuni for assassinating them, or how Ekalavya was asked to pay gurudakshina for learning archery secretively and many more. But to these very well-known versions, the author adds up many things which not only makes the story worthwhile but also one ends up questioning as to was it really dharma which the rulers believed and followed? Well, different persons might have different perspective about the various questions which might have popped into their brains and it is merely those questions which make the book even more interesting.




We all are very well versed by the main characters of the epic which includes the likeness of Krishna, Arjuna, Yudhistra, Kunti, Bhishma, Shankuni, Karna and many more. But apart from these main characters, there are a handful of other characters, which though do not have major roles, but only their presence enlightens ones heart. The characters are Ekalavya - A young Nishad, Jara – A beggar who is always accompanied by his blind dog named Dharma and Parashurama- Guru of the Southern Confederate, Mayasura – The Architect. For me, from all the characters, Jara was the best. His character encourages you to find happiness even in the smallest things which you might experience in real.




The closing line of the book “The dice had fallen” is a perfect way to end the first book of the mythological epic as it promises more in the second book. After completing this book, the reader will surely become very much curious to know as to what is going to happen next and how the story proceeds. Though this book has 433 pages, it can be easily completed within a week as the story just flows smoothly without any hindrances. Overall, looking at the way various characters, various scenarios, various happenings were portrayed; the way the story was narrated, it is not easy for the reader to abdicate this book once he/she starts reading it. The way the story was articulated is praiseworthy and as a reader, it is difficult to find any flaw in the plot. While writing such books there is always a huge risk that the reader might lose interest while reading it, but with such a master storyteller writing a book like this, the risk can always be neglected. Deserves 5/5.

Kashyap's Blog: Review of the book AJAYA- Epic of the KAURAVA clan
 
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