Major characters: Draupadi, Krishna, Arjun, Bheem, Yudhisthir, Konna, Duryodhan
Based on the Hindu epic Mahabharat, the book tells (or brings) the story of the battle saga through the eyes (or rather heart) of one of the pivot al characters, Draupadi- The events and their sequence are same as the original epic. It traces Draupadi’s, also known as Panchali, life, from her lonely childhood, when her brother is her only true companion, her marriage to the five Pandavas, her friendship with Krishna, to mother hood and her secret attraction to the the man who is her husbands’ most dangerous enemy. The book is how the author brings every character come alive through simple, lucid but vivid descriptions. A book that makes the magical epic come alive and sweeps the reader of Mababharat, it is a must-read for mythology buffs and feminists. into the dramatic, mysterious.
Another good thing about the book is the various life lessons taught by each character. The book has enlightened me more than any A bollywood movie ever will. It perfectly captures the hidden facets of each character in the epic, major or minor.
A problem becomes a problem only if you believe it to be so often others see you as see yourself.
-Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Palace of Illusions