Book Review 61
Name Of The Book : Bhima The Lone Warrior
Author : M. T. Vasudevan Nair translated by Gita Krishnankutty
Publisher : Harper Perennial
Year : 2018
Category : Fiction
Review :
This is the story of Bhima, the second son, always second in line - a story never adequately told until one of India's finest writers conjured him up from the silences in Vyasa's narrative. M.T. Vasudevan Nair's Bhima is a revelation - lonely, eager to succeed, treated with a mixture of affection and contempt by his Pandava brothers, and with scorn and hatred by his Kaurava cousins, Bhima battles incessantly with failure and disappointment. He is adept at disguising his feelings, but has an overwhelmingly intuitive understanding of everyone who crosses his path. A warrior without equal, he takes on the mighty Bakasura and Jarasandha, and ultimately Duryodhana, thus bringing the Great War to a close. However, all of Bhima's moments of triumph remain unrecognized and unrewarded. If his mother saw glory only in the skills of Arjuna and the wisdom of Yudhishtira, his beloved Draupadi cared only for the beauteous Arjuna.
I love reading different versions and interpretations of the Mahabharata and this urged me to pick up this book. Bhima is one of those characters who did not get the importance that he deserved. Through this book, the author tries to tell us his perspective and he is very much successful. Though Bhima is considered to be physically strong, he has his own insecurities and emotions which most people tend to overlook. His love for Draupadi is unwavering but Draupadi never reciprocates it with the same vigour. The book is originally written in Malayalam. The translation has more or less captured the emotions but I felt that it was still lacking in certain areas. For those who can read Malayalam, it would be better to read the original; the others should surely read this book. The integrity, compassion and love exhibited by the character of Bhima make him loveable. The author takes us through the thoughts that go through Bhima’s mind on various occasions and his imagination is vivid. I would have preferred that the book be continuous but it is divided into different sections based on major events. The magic of Bhima will surely touch your heart.
Rating : 4/5
Name Of The Book : Bhima The Lone Warrior
Author : M. T. Vasudevan Nair translated by Gita Krishnankutty
Publisher : Harper Perennial
Year : 2018
Category : Fiction
Review :
This is the story of Bhima, the second son, always second in line - a story never adequately told until one of India's finest writers conjured him up from the silences in Vyasa's narrative. M.T. Vasudevan Nair's Bhima is a revelation - lonely, eager to succeed, treated with a mixture of affection and contempt by his Pandava brothers, and with scorn and hatred by his Kaurava cousins, Bhima battles incessantly with failure and disappointment. He is adept at disguising his feelings, but has an overwhelmingly intuitive understanding of everyone who crosses his path. A warrior without equal, he takes on the mighty Bakasura and Jarasandha, and ultimately Duryodhana, thus bringing the Great War to a close. However, all of Bhima's moments of triumph remain unrecognized and unrewarded. If his mother saw glory only in the skills of Arjuna and the wisdom of Yudhishtira, his beloved Draupadi cared only for the beauteous Arjuna.
I love reading different versions and interpretations of the Mahabharata and this urged me to pick up this book. Bhima is one of those characters who did not get the importance that he deserved. Through this book, the author tries to tell us his perspective and he is very much successful. Though Bhima is considered to be physically strong, he has his own insecurities and emotions which most people tend to overlook. His love for Draupadi is unwavering but Draupadi never reciprocates it with the same vigour. The book is originally written in Malayalam. The translation has more or less captured the emotions but I felt that it was still lacking in certain areas. For those who can read Malayalam, it would be better to read the original; the others should surely read this book. The integrity, compassion and love exhibited by the character of Bhima make him loveable. The author takes us through the thoughts that go through Bhima’s mind on various occasions and his imagination is vivid. I would have preferred that the book be continuous but it is divided into different sections based on major events. The magic of Bhima will surely touch your heart.
Rating : 4/5