"People who believe feminism is a recent concept, this book is for you. Il makes us feel how deprived we are of a Female perspective in our tales, epics and mythologies. There have been strong female chanarsene in the epics like the Mahabharata and the
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“People who believe feminism is a recent concept, this book is for you. Il makes us feel how deprived we are of a Female perspective in our tales, epics and mythologies. There have been strong female chanarsene in the epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, mast of obich are left unheard on unnatised since men waste their lates
The palace of Illusions is.
a very imaginative fresh and emphatic peaspective on the Hindu epic Maha- bharata, through the lens of Draupadi. one of the most popular and contasveasia bermaines of Hindu mythology,
Most of us have come acros Mahabharata in some foam Bul people who do not kriose Danupadi was thefiery princess boan from o yajna (Fire Sacrifice) Organized by king Drupada beag the fiery paineegs born from a of panchala. The novel starts with hea lonely childhood, where hea brothea Daishidhyum is hen only companion and kmshna, hea anly falend. The story then elaborateş on hea various stages. of life taking Flashbacks in between.
Aajun kins hen hand duning. the Swayamwanza. Bul she is made to maany all the Five brothers because of hea mother-in-law’s decision. Already Facing problems due to polyanday, the princess liveg in exile with thea husband Hen adapting to household work sister- uggles of living inith five husbands, the banshaness of forest living, all have been described very well
she tries hard to fight the Social Structures around hear. But from very early on in hea life, she has to bow down to highea valveg like protecting one’s family honoua and choosing for the gereater good of the kingdom.
“”What did I learn that day in the sabha?
All this time I’d believed in my power oven my husbands. I’d believed that because they loved me they woulddo anything for me. But now is soove that though they did love me as much perhap an any man can love there were athen things they loved more. Their nations. of honoua, loyalty toward each other. and oepulation were more important to them than my Baffeming.
The author also explores her gelationship with Arjun, and Haand chon de hea sexael admiration.unlike the popular version of Mahabharata, the emotions shown here: gre rawea.moo coloured colth Draupadi’s joys and doubts. her struggles and heart break
The ending and storyline have not been albered. Alat has been done around it, but not on it. while moty of us are already familiar with the end, we SHII wish better for Draupadi and karana throughout the book.
We cannot Faace ourselves to love-or to withhold it. At best. we can rooh oor. actions. The heart itself it beyond cont aal That is its power and its weakness.
• Whal learn from the story:
In “”The Palace of Illusione.”” readers Can learn about the complexities of female agency and Identity within a paatianchal society”
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