Draupadi wants to beget a daughter by Karna. Bilingual
poet [Malayalam and English] K Sachidanandan has written a very short story in
the latest edition of the Malayalam weekly, Mathrubhumi. Titled Draupadi’s
Soliloquy, the story is an implicit lament on the current state of affairs
in India.
No woman can accept her fate with
resignation when she has five valiant and virtuous husbands and yet has to
stand disrobed in front of a couple of malevolent men who have usurped all
powers through means more foul than fair.
Of what value is Yudhishthira’s
dharma? Draupadi laments. Arjuna’s famed valour is in vain now. Even the
devotion of mighty Bheema serves no purpose. Nakula’s dutifulness and Sahadeva’s
courtesy are all futile virtues in this royal court where villainous characters
have put on the robes of heroes.
What I want is Karna, Draupadi
laments to herself. She has seen the flame that burns fiercely in the eyes of
Karna. She has felt the ardour of the passion that fumes in Karna’s bosom.
Karna can sacrifice not only his kavacha-kundla but also his very self, if she stands
in need of it. Let Karna the Outcast come.
I want a daughter by Karna, Draupadi
says. To herself. In the world that is driven by a handful of vicious men, how
loud can a woman utter her wishes?
Draupadi wants a daughter who will be
a harbinger of a new era in which no woman will be disrobed in royal court that
is sustained through manipulations and machinations. I want a daughter who will
liberate women from men. A daughter who will liberate my husbands from their
macho egos. I want a daughter who will liberate my sons from their ancient
hubris.
Draupadi wants a daughter who will be
able to laugh happily in the world of men. Not stand disrobed by political
chicanery.
A daughter whose heart will have abundant tenderness. Also harshness if needed. A daughter who knows that sacrifice is not only a woman’s duty. A daughter who won’t have to beg for a Krishna’s magnanimity. She will be the Sun’s descendant. From her will a new earth emerge. A new earth where all that exists will be sacred: trees and rivers and hills and valleys and caterpillars and butterflies and…
Beautiful! Amen.
ReplyDeleteSachidanandan's original is a lot more beautiful. This is my way of looking at Draupadi through Sachidanandan's story.
DeleteThat's a nice take - sometimes we don't question the mythology enough - the only thing we can do is be rational and ask questions - whether it is history of mythology, it has to adapt to our time - the morals of an old era might not be valid anymore - glad to see and hear about a book that questions that and makes us think
ReplyDeleteNot a book, Vinay. It's just a short story. But there are books on this. Let me suggest one here:
Deletehttps://matheikal.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-palace-of-illusions-review.html
If only...
ReplyDeleteYes...
DeleteGood one!
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteIf it weren't for some mythical stories, we wouldn't have understood whats and whys
ReplyDeleteYes, one purpose of myth is to help us make sense of reality.
Delete