The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (Panchaali's rendition of Mahabharata)

Book Review

The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

The book with the pages of pains, sufferings, yearnings, betrayals, guilt and finally salvation (of Panchaali) -- The Palace of Illusions

It is always invigorating to read or listen to the story of  the great Indian epic -- The Mahabharata. There are numerous retelling of this epic in the forms of novels, plays, movies, series, etc., "The Palace of Illusions" stands unique from them all as it features Panchaali as a narrator who recounts the legend from her viewpoint. While reading the novel I could see the scenes so vividly through the eyes of Paanchaali.  

The plot begins with the magical birth of Panchaali from the yagnya fire, next to her brother Dhri. Right from the birth, she is ignored by her father for being a girl. Panchaali, being too innocent to understand the sociaty, yearns to fulfil the purpose of her life. Years pass under the protection of her nanny (Dhaima) and the friendship of Krishna. 

Her married life with the Pandavas-- five legendary brothers who are bamboozled by their cousins of their heritage, is filled with trials and tribulations. Panchaali, the girl with ardent dreams is shattered in the life spent in the wilderness, during twelve years of exile and a year of incognito -- the terrible aftermath of the gambling, the Kauravas and the Pandavas indulge in. Though her life's longing to have a palace of her own is fulfilled, she can't enjoy that throughout. Worst of all, she is insulted and disrobed in front of the people of her in-laws' kingdom and loses all of her sons in the battle. 

The best part about the novel lies in the casual, down-to-earth portrayal of  Panchaali. Instead of glorifying her as an embodiment of womanly virtues; pioneer of chaste and dutiful wives,the author has showed us the real Panchaali who is as flawed, as vulnerable, as whimsical as every other ordinary girl.Her inquisitiveness in learning things; her yearnings to be the queen of her own kingdom and her longings to become the head of the Palace of Illusions; her hatred for her mother-in-law; Her secret love for her husbands' potent enemy -- Karna; Her guilt for having insulted him (though unintentional) -- Every thing spices up the plot and let us fall in love with Panchaali's character.

On the whole, it's an appreciable account of the epic from the point of view of a woman, unlike every other retelling which glorifies the heroes of Mahabharata and ensure keeping the women behind the scenes.

Remarkable lines:

• “Your childhood hunger is the one that never leaves you.”

• “Expectations are like hidden rocks in your path—all they do is trip you up.”

• “Love comes like lightning, and disappears the same way. If you are lucky, it strikes you right.”

• “Can't you ever be serious?' I said, mortified. It's difficult,' he said. 'There's so little in life that's worth it.”

• “There was an unexpected freedom in finding out that one wasn't as important as one had always assumed!”

• “A problem becomes a problem only if you believe it to be so. And often others see you as you see yourself.”

• “Because ultimately only the witness -- and not the actors -- knows the truth (Vyasa to Draupadi)”

• “She who sows vengeance must reap its bloody fruit.”

• “A situation in itself,” he said, “is neither happy nor unhappy. It’s only your response to it that causes your sorrow.”

PS: It was a good and quick read for me. I enjoyed that immensely, as I'm a die-hard fan of the epic. This  book is for those who want to know more about Panchaali. Besides being a retelling, it's also a work of feminism.