If you happen to be an avid reader of Indian literature, chances are that you must’ve stumbled across Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s work quite often. Being a fan of Indian mythology, I was extremely thrilled when I got my hands on Divakaruni’s 2008 novel, The Palace of Illusions. This best-selling novel is a loose retelling of the Indian epic of Mahabharata, but told from the perspective of its central female protagonist – Draupadi (or Panchaali). The title focuses on the ethereal Palace of Illusions built by the Pandavas in their heyday. The palace was known for its magical elements in almost each of its corners and was envied by the Kaurava brothers, so much so, that it became a witness to one of the most pivotal events in the Mahabharata. So, here’s why I think you should give this book a read!
Book Of The Week: The Palace Of Illusions (Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, 2008)
A Fresh Perspective In Indian Literature
It’s not very often that we get to see Indian fiction taking a well-known story (Mahabharata in this case) and spinning the narrative to focus on a female perspective. Indian mythology has mostly been viewed from a unidimensional perspective – either as completely black or white. Moreover, these stories have often been dominated by male characters and their ambitions, sidelining many female characters or writing them off as unidimensional caricatures.
However, Divakaruni, with her retelling of the Mahabharata, makes sure that readers get a glimpse of the much-read epic from a newer, fresh perspective – that of a woman. The book revolves around Panchaali, chronicling her early days, her marriage to the Pandavas, the tumultuous days that would follow soon, her revenge arc, finally culminating in the Kurukshetra War.
The Palace Of Illusions: An Enchanting, Feminist Retelling Of The Mahabharata
The book begins well – you get a glimpse into Panchaali’s life when she was young. As a girl you see her navigating her childhood and adolescence, often questioning the tight-spun world around her. She doesn’t fear asking questions, and is often observant of the ways of the nobility. The young Panchaali is hungry to learn and question, often going against the very norms that define how a noble girl should behave. And these are the parts that make the reader interested to know more about the protagonist.
Her amicable relationship with her brother, Dhristadyumna, and their playful antics with Krishna have been written in the most innocent way, making you feel as if you too are a part of the story. What I liked the most about the book is the way the scenes involving Panchaali and Krishna have been written. The two share a dynamic that has been hardly covered by previous iterations of this epic. Krishna and Krishnaa (another name for Panchaali) are almost intertwined – in their good as well as bad times. He is the one friend Panchaali laughs wholeheartedly with, and the one she always looks up to when in need.
However, with only 360 pages, the book finds it tough to detail every major event in the Mahabharata. Many major events like Panchaali’s marriage and her disrobing in the Kaurava court are written well, but lots of readers like me are left wanting for more. Had these events been written more efficiently, the book would’ve been on a different level altogether.
The Palace of Illusions offers fascinating perspectives and retellings that we wouldn’t have seen otherwise. Such as her relationship with her brother, her inner thoughts, as well as her feelings for Karna, the arch nemesis of the Pandavas. We see Panchaali going through a tornado of emotions, and instead of painting her as a unidimensional, godly, or ideal woman, Divakaruni effortlessly humanizes Panchaali.
Throughout the book, you see Panchaali’s anger, despair, hopelessness, courage, wit, and her desires. She doesn’t shy away from speaking up, often upsetting her seniors who expect Panchaali to be a naive, obedient woman. Neither does she shy away from expressing her desires, be it physical or materialistic. Panchaali breaks apart the stereotypes Indian mythology has set up for its women – that of being an ideal, virtuous, and selfless woman at all times.
The Palace of Illusions also does a great job at painting the world of Mahabharata in the most whimsical way possible. The descriptive, lucid language succeeds in making you visualize many of the elegant courtrooms, bed chambers, expansive courtyards, and of course, the great Palace of Illusions. Divakaruni’s language isn’t very difficult to understand – it is not too busy claiming to be ornately written and doesn’t rely on heavy, unheard words to describe the world. Instead, with a simpler and lucid language, the book tastefully captures each detail in its pages. Be it Hastinapur’s grandeur or the Kurukshetra’s blood-filled battlefields, each setting is described in a way that gives total justice to the source.
Why You Should Read The Palace Of Illusions
What I personally loved about the book is the effort at ‘humanizing’ each character in this Indian epic. For centuries, each character in the Mahabharata has been viewed only through the lens of either ‘good’ or ‘bad’. However, this retelling by Divakaruni takes a ‘grey’ approach – the very essence of human nature is beautifully seen in each of its characters. All of these characters have their positives and negatives, which make them even more relatable.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to you if you are looking for an intriguing, whimsical, and downright powerful story about a woman who dared to defy the odds. The book masterfully combines elements of the epic and adds much needed takes that you wouldn’t normally see. Elements of magical realism, mythology, fiction, and fact, all come together to make this Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni book truly a must-read for fans of Indian literature.
