Much प्रसंग, Very व्याख्या of "Mahabharata unravelled"

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Okay, so let's start with my incompetency to write about the absolutely stunning book Ami Ganatra wrote. I can't do justice to the book even if I try my hardest, so I'll not review or try to do the व्याख्या of the book, I'll just talk about the points I liked more.

First of all we all need to acknowledge the FACT that Mahabharata is our इतिहास (iti + ha+ āsa: thus it has been) and not mythology (stories that are myth/मिथ्या) and the figures involved are obviously our पूर्वज and the author does a fantastic job of reminding readers time and again about the same. The author rightly HUMANISED the people's involved. We must give them the respect they deserve but must not make them शिव.

The author, in the preface itself, declares that this publication is not a retelling and she stays true to her words for the next 373 pages. Unlike the recent literary retelling of the people involved in the great war, this book does not contain any politically motivated perspective based rewriting of the scenes. For example, in "The palace of illusions" chitra, the author, wrote several internal monologue of mata Draupadi in which according to chitra, on ishwar knows what basis, mata Draupadi was infatuated and had soft corner for karna. 
Karna, the failed क्षत्रिय, liar शिष्य, हीनभावना ग्रसित मनुष्य, अधर्मी, स्वार्थी friend. I have always been of thought that adharma is punishable only by death and death so gory even the coming generations could not find heroism in the fallen rather slain villains. We must condemn each and every one who goes against the dharma, be it rashtra dharma, aadhyatma dharma or naitik dharma. Karna was indeed a sterling but he must be remembered as the pathetic who stood against the dharma when kaal came.

Author also brilliantly explained the rather unexplored parts of yogeshwar Krishna. I personally always liked the krishna whom everybody feared because of his grandeur stature but TV serials always portrays him as this cute, नटखट, lover boy which he was but he was also this Fierce yadava warrior who always proved to be the most reliable person even for the mightiest of warriors. Yogeshwar shri Krishna was a complete man, he was such a great kid आज तक हर माँ अपने बच्चे को कान्हा कहती है, he was such a great lover आज तक हर प्रेमी को समाज "कन्हैया बना फिरता है" कहते है, he was such a great friend आज तक सब उनकी मित्रता को मापदंड मानते है। Shri Krishna is the complete man and the author did justise with him. I literally cried when I read (rather imagined because it's so beautifully written) Arjuna's dilly-dallying (page 173), Arjun was being very lenient on Bhishma, so one side we have Bhishma, the old kuru, the most fatal guy in the entire war, the guy who mercilessly slayed almost a lakh soldiers a day, in his all might and on the other we have Shri Krishna jumping out of his sarathi seat with nothing but a whip (चाबुक) in his hand, dashing towards Bhishma, FURIOUSLY DETERMINED to kill Bhishma because Arjun would not.
THE SCENE, LITERAL GOOSEBUMPS!!
One other such instances is The killing of Jayadratha (page 180), Krishna was ready to break his vow of not picking up taking up weapons. He thundered," Justice had to prevail, even if it demanded the sacrifice of personal reputation."

Mahabharata unravelled by Ami Ganatra is an amazing masterpiece and a dispelling document. Loved everything about it. Narration was brilliant. The highlighted additional stories added to the overall reading experience. I eagerly wait to read her next work. It's a must read book. Buy and read. Follow Ami didi everywhere.

Also this book gave me a new catchphrase i.e. यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु (do what you deem right).

Instagram: @amig_insta
YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCjgntlMCjkoalT3g_y_pthg
Twitter: @6amiji

Thank you Deepanshu Bagwan for the picture. ❤️

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