The last book I read is a novel, The Palace of Illusions , by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Like the Mahabharata, which is retold from the point of view of Draupadi, this novel has the potential to spark infinite thoughts in the reader. Karna comes across in the novel as a man of nobility, loyalty, pride and, above all, uncomplaining acceptance of the injustices of his life. Anger seethes within him and yet he is capable of great forgiveness. Destiny was particularly harsh towards Karna. He was born of a frivolous experiment carried out by Kunti who had not yet grown out of her childhood but was given a boon by the irascible sage Durvasa. The boon was a mantra with which she could invoke any god and have a son by that god. Kunti plays with the mantra even as a child might play with her new toy. It is none other than the sun god whom she invokes. Karna is the offshoot. Terrified by the disgrace that might visit her for gi...
Cerebrate and Celebrate