Mahabharatha Volume four

Dr L.Prakash

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Review of Dr L.Prakash’s Mahabharatha

Reviewed by Dr Santosh Vishwanathan M.S., MCh.
Retired Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery

Book title        Mahabharatha in four volumes
Author            Dr L.Prakash
ISBN       978-81-906981-3-9, 978-81-906981-4-6, 978-81-906981-5-3, 978-81-906981-6-0
Publisher        Banana Books Madras India
Price               Rs 600 for four volumes ( approx 15$ US; 10 € )
Rating             ***** (five stars) [outstanding]

My first exposure to this wonderful epic was when I was seven or eight years old. We could not wait for our summer vacations, which we would spend in our ancestral village, and the chief attraction was the magnificent and awesome rendering of this timeless classic by my octogenarian grandmother. Each evening after dinner, we children; and some adults too, would gather around her, and she would narrate stories from Ramayana and Mahabharatha. I have never waited more anxiously for my summer holidays than in those times. Even today, I have to just close my eyes, and despite the passage of many decades, the intense face of my granny, with her hollow cheeks and thousand wrinkles, describing the emotional scene where Karna peels off his golden armor and rips off the sun-crested earrings from his body, unmindful of the dripping blood, and hands over the same to Indra, whose face bears features of victory admixtured with guilt; flashes before my eyes.
My next exposure to Mahabharatha was during my college days, when I had an opportunity of reading C. Rajagopalachari’s rendition in simple English. I was transported to Hastinapura, Indraprastha and Kurukshetra. Much later, I had an opportunity of reading the magnum opus by Kishori Mohan Ganguly, and a Tamil version by Cho Ramaswamy. Each time I marveled and wondered on the writing genius of Veda Vyasa who had penned such a magnificent story so long ago. What I had read and heard was reinforced by Peer Brook’s movie and the serialization of the epic by our own Doordarshan.
Around two months ago, I received an email from a friend waxing eloquently about a new version of Mahabharatha by Dr L.Prakash. He also sent me the URL ( www.bananabooks.in) of the web page, which I visited. Nevertheless I was shocked to find that the author was a convicted pornographer, currently spending time in prison. What would such a person know about Mahabharatha? This was the question in my mind, as I clicked the close window button and switched off the computer.
At that time I was reading a self help book, and by coincidence the chapter I read that night was about not being judgmental, and not trusting things unless I had access to both sides of the story. I felt a little guilty, and it was probably to assuage my own guilt that I decided to buy Mahabharatha by Dr L.Prakash. I could not find the book in the local Landmark bookstore, but a smaller bookshop in Anna Nagar had stocks. I shelled out six hundred rupees, and was not too disappointed, because the four volumes in a neat box, represented quite a lot of reading material. This set appeared to be almost four times in bulk as the Rajagopalachari Mahabharatha that I remembered reading.
Once I started reading, I had to revise my opinion both about the epic and its author.
Being a retired, non practicing surgeon gives me ample time and I started reading straightaway. The first two volumes took four days each to complete, the third, three days, and the last volume I devoured over a weekend. Having completed reading, I am beginning from the first volume once again, and this time I plan to read it slowly. In a single word, it is an awesome story, and I could not suppress my admiration at both Veda Vyasa the original author, and Dr L.Prakash who has done this wonderful rendition in modern simple English and contemporary idiom.
This is not exactly a translation of the Sanskrit original. The author has introduced many additional characters, twists, and sub plots. Though the original Vyasa skeleton remains intact, Dr Prakash has added his own muscle, sinew, and skin to tell a wonderful tale wonderfully. The language is simple; and we all know that it is difficult to write simple English! The narration is brisk and the author has rearranged the sequence of events in such a unique and gripping manner, that once you begin, it is almost impossible to put the book down. Shorn of religion, Hinduism, and preaching, Dr Prakash has presented the epic as an adventure, reminiscent of the narrative style of Alistair McLain or Desmond Bagley.
There are a couple of spelling and typographical errors, and I only wish that the editors had been a little more careful. The small errors jar the reader, and break his otherwise excellent narrative. Not a big problem and I am certain that the same can be corrected in the subsequent editions. However the story is narrated with such passion, that I completely forgave all these small errors.
It is indeed a pity that the current generation of children and youth, rather than enrich enlighten and enjoy themselves with such a wonderful epic, are seen intensely discussing the magic in Harry Potter books or the adventure in Twilight Series and vampire books! I pity their ignorance and lack of interest in the wonderful magic of our ancient stories, more thrilling than even the Hollywood movie Avtar! Buy the book, read it and make sure that all your children read it as well. I am certain that these volumes will find a pride of place in your home library and you will be reading these volumes again and again.

Rating: Five Stars

Table of contents

The Story so Far	009
The Story so Far	015
The Story so Far	020
Balarama’s Advice	024
Peace Negotiations	031
Indra’s Arrogance	038
Vritra	045
Slaying of Vritra	052
First Among Equals	059
Charioteer	066
Salya	072
Drupada’s Messenger	079
Just five villages	086
Pin point of Land	091
Krishna’s Visit	097
The failed Mission	103
Vishvaroopa	109
Kunti and Karna	115
Commander in Chief	120
Neutral in War	126
Bhishman and Karna	133
The War Begins	139
Bhahavad Gita	145
Yudishtra’s Benediction	151
Uttara’s Heroism	156
Arjuna and Bhishma	162
Arjuna’s Reluctance	169
Duryodhana’s Anger	175
Bhishmas’ Dreams	180
Fourth day of the War	186
Drithrashtra’s Agony	192
Satyaki’s Valour	198
The Sixth day	204
Kripacharya and Chetikana	210
The Seventh Day	216
Irvan son of Arjuna	221
Irvan’s Death	224
Gadodgaja’s Valour	230
Bhishma’s Death	236
Bhishma and Karna	242
The New General	248
Duryodhana’s Strategy	253
Gadodgaja’s Death	265
Bhagadatta	277
The Twelth Day	283
Subhadras Sons	288
Abhimanyu’s Valour	294
Abhimanyu’s Death	300
Arjuna’s pledge	306
Vriddakshatra	310
Srutayudha	313
Varuna’s weapon	316
Borrowed chariot and flag	319
Drona and Satyaki	322
Anxious Dharmaputra	329
Bhima and Drona	333
Karna and Bhima	339
Vikarna’s Death	346
Satyakis arrival	352
Vishwamithra and Vasishta	358
Satyaki saved	365
The Death of Bhurisravas	371
Daruka and Satyaki vs Karna	376
Jayadratha’s Killing	381
The floating chariot	386
The broken string	392
Yudishtra’s Decision	396
Aswathama is dead	405
Drona’s slaying	409
Drishtadyumna’s Justifications	414
Dusshasana’s slaying	418
The struck Chariot	422
Karna’s Death	428
Duryodhana’s Anguish	436
The Final Combat	441
Balarama’s Anger	446
Aswathama’s plans	450
Owl amongst crow chicks	455
Vyasa’s Ashrama	460
Drithrashtra’s Anger	464
Gandharis fury/Yudishtra’s Curse	469
Vishwa Roopa	474
Elixir of life	479
Lord Krishnas Demise	482
The End	486
The Writing of this book	493
Cast of Important Characters	495

 

 

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