Review of Palace of Illusions by Chitra Divakaruni

One of the best books I have read based on mythology. Mahabharata retold from Draupadi's perspective (from a woman's point of view). Basically the original epic is entirely from the male POV. This take by Chitra Banerjee gives a tremendous insight into a woman's mind. (I had read the Odia novel 'Yagnaseni' by Pratibha Ray - a much earlier writing pointedly from Draupadi's point of view starting from the point she has fallen from the Himalayas and is dying and is reviewing her life and her roles in a man's world.)

Chitra's characterization of Draupadi made me feel for her like I had never felt earlier. I always knew she was one of the most wronged characters in the epic, second only to Karna. But her voice is so human that I could not help but engage my mind in wishing to help her - the foolish mind that I have.

I have saved the best part that I liked to the last. Karna O' Karna. I am a die-hard fan of Karna and know for sure he could have vanquished anyone in battle if he had so wished. His greatness lay in not wishing for victory at the last stage. Chitra's writing brings to fore the heart of Karna, which he had kept to himself in the Vyasa's epic. Again I have fallen for that man. (Please don't take me amiss, I'm quite normal.). If you happen to read 'Karna's Alter Ego', you'll find Karna's mind laid open.

Though I don't quite believe Draupadi and Karna had a crush for each other (I don't remember any such allusion in the original epic), I liked such a possibility and wished she really harbored a soft corner for him. Some versions of ‘Mahabharata’ in different Indian languages go several steps further in dramatizing their mutual attraction.

The author has portrayed Kunti as a dis-likable woman. I would go a step further to say her character is outright abominable. Pratibha Ray says in her novel that she pretentiously forced five husbands on Draupadi for she had herself bedded five men.

The ending is imaginatively surreal, yet so believable that I, as a reader, would love to go into that kind of trance.