Review Of The Book Draupadi: An Enigmatic Woman’s Journey Of Rediscovering Herself
Discovering oneself, navigating conflicts, and stomping on social stigmas are all part of what it means to be a modern woman. Draupadi, a character created by author Koral Dasgupta, accomplishes everything and is constantly seeking self-discovery.
The book, which is a part of the Sati series, explores the life of one of the most illustrious figures to have ever lived in mythological India. Draupadi is portrayed by Dasgupta with courage; her voice pierces through the glaring eyes of a steadfast patriarchal culture.
The majority of us have read or heard stories about Draupadi in the Mahabharata. The princess of Panchal, whose exquisite beauty was highly praised, rose from a ceremonial fire. But fate pulled a terrible stunt that altered how people viewed her.
After an ostentatious Swayamvar in which she was married to Arjun, Draupadi’s existence as a newlywed was destroyed in an instant when her mother-in-law Kunti ordered the Pandavas to give whatever they brought. The first setback to Draupadi’s spirit was the promotion from being Arjun’s beloved to being married to five men.
But because of the cloak of respect for elders, she was unable to object or voice her viewpoint.
Draupadi’s persona is clearly evolving with time and a few more chapters. Draupadi was a woman whose mind was full of questions, and she questioned everything. The book’s storyline describes how everyone around her, with the exception of Krishna and Bhishma, thought she was naive despite the fact that she never received answers to her questions.
Krishna is referred to in the novel as Draupadi’s conscience and as a friend who she could confide in and ask anything of. Krishna was a person who gave her advice and listened to her. Draupadi’s transition from a newlywed bashful bride to a strong lady standing in the middle of a full courtroom and pledging to bring disaster to the clan that insulted her in public was greatly influenced by Krishna, whether it was a verbal battle with Kunti or explaining her ‘cruel’ fate.
The bond that Draupadi had with Bhishma was yet another outstanding feature of her tale. For her, Bhishma was hardly the renowned warrior who was also recognized as one of the nation’s greatest minds. The story keeps tracing Draupadi’s thoughts under various circumstances. Meeting Angaraj Karna, supporting her husband in the Battle of Kurukshetra, and seeing the true nature of everyone she had initially misjudged.
Following Krishna’s advice to be wise and patient, the author masterfully depicted Draupadi’s character development in the book, making it a priceless addition to the Sati series.
News Mania Desk
