Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an important South Asian festival with cultural roots for many international students. Diwali celebrates the victory of good over evil and is mostly surrounded by joy, hope and, above all, discussion of ancient Hindu texts.
Instead of celebrating Diwali, it seems appropriate to read books inspired by the religions and stories being told surrounding Diwali. Below are three books inspired by old Hindu religious texts. And each is bolder than its predecessor.
Chitra Banerjee Divakarni’s Palace of Illusions
Inspired by the Mahabharata epic, The Palace of Illusions takes one of the most famous characters, Draupadi, and creates a retelling that rivals the original story itself.
Draupadi, also known as Princess Panchali, is most famous in old texts as a princess who married five brothers at the same time. In this story, she transforms from an innocent girl into a vengeful, ferocious and stubborn queen.
What makes this interpretation surprising is that in the original story Draupadi is often portrayed as a pitiful woman who is meant to struggle throughout her life. put in and immediately tear it apart, showing that this character can thrive as a ruler through struggle, even if she does it in the most atypical way possible.
By overcoming conflict, shame, and even varying degrees of extreme fear, ‘The Palace of Illusions’ proves that some of the most beautiful things are illusions from the start.
“Kaikei” by Vaishnavi Patel
Kaikeyi is often depicted as an evil stepmother, but in this story, Kaikeyi is the main character. Despite the Ramayana’s representation that Kaikeyi is a villain who punishes heroes, Patel aims to tell a story that defies this very notion, proving that not everything is as it seems. increase.
Kaikeyi is a young girl who eventually grows up to be a powerful feminist figure in a very patriarchal society, ruling this through thought, magic and strong will. Kaikei, who gives in under the throne, proves not only that women can rule with power, but that domination requires a level of tenacity not even God would offer.
You can’t help but love the emotional and touching Kaikeyi as a character.
“The Pregnant King” by Devdutt Pattanaik
A slow burn to the book, “The Pregnant King” tells the story of a childless king called Yuvanashva who struggles to get an heir only to become pregnant himself.
A tale of governance and tradition, gender roles and magic, this philosophical book puts many modern books to shame by talking about beliefs in a way that is ahead of its time. I was particularly surprised at how detailed the book’s discussions were, given that most beliefs rely on scriptures and superstition.
This book questions the motives and understanding of others. More importantly, it talks about gender roles, emotional dissonance, and physical dissonance in a way that gives such topics more nuance. This book can be incredibly vulgar. We are not here to censor anything, and what was believed in those days may not necessarily be accepted now.
Stories are important, but don’t forget stories about culture. Especially during Diwali, it is important to learn about these cultures through stories. Even if it’s just to gain a deeper understanding of other people and their celebrations.
culture@dailynebraskan.com
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