Drupadi by Kajal Oza Vaidh

 

Hey everyone, 

            Writers are always interested in using myth as a plot for writing fictional story. Northrop Frye in his essay "Myth, Fiction and Displacement" talked about this. It is easy for writers to use Mythical story. Fictional stories are one of my most favourite genre for explore or read. Though, Kajal Oza Vaidh is consider as feminist writer, she was best at reveling thoughts of women and especially towards 'Krishn'. 

        Dhrupadi by Kajal Oza Vaidh is a Gujarati novel based on Mahabharat 's character Dhrupadi. This book is written in Draupadi's perspective, how she looks at world. She was not a normal girl because she wasn't born, but came out from fire as a fruit of fire pit which was done by her father Drupad. She along with Shikhandi and Dhrushthdyumn brought up at Panchal. Basically, this is story of revenge which was seeded in everyone's mind. 

        She always asks questions, in her words it's her 'Prshnopnishad' . All the people around her teach her to not ask questions but she asks. Ideas of gender inequality, and dominance of male upon women not only physically but also mentally and constant discrimination in upbringing of Drupadi and her brother reflect in the beginning of the novel. 

        However, she has soft corner for 'Krishn' and said that she finds all the answers of her questions when she looks at his eyes and suspicious, captivating face. She was very well aware about objective of her life that is revenge.  Revenge tragedy that's what we can call it. In addition, Kajal gives voices to all other female minor characters of Mahabharata.

        In the same way, idea of 'Swayamvar', nonetheless not actually gives write to girl to choose husband. If one is able to win the bettle then he can marry the girl. Moreover, injustice with 'Karna' just because he is sutputra, is reflecting caste baisness. 

               Polyandry practice was not famous at that time still, she married five men so that she became the centre of criticism. Her ineffable infatuation for Krishn remains same. "આપણને કળાય જ નહિ એ રીતે કોઈ આપણા જીવનમાં પ્રવેશ કરીને આપણા સમગ્ર અસ્તિત્વ પર રાજ કરવા માંડે તો એને સુખ કહેવાય કે વિવશતા. "However, she felt to be betrayal by him as not choosing her wife and to marry his own sister to Arjun. જે વ્યક્તિ અગાધ સુખનું કારણ હોય એ અપાર પીડા નું કારણ બને એતો નવાઈ ની વાત છે. પ્રણય પરમ સંતોષ હોય કે પ્રતાડના? She wasn't able to depict bond of Krishn and her. 

        Cycle of revenge being continues because it is endless. Drupadi's one sentence makes a consequences of war that's what described all over. Nonetheless, behaviour of Kauravas and other kings not taking into consideration which is basic reason for her words. Though, she has five husband, none of them utter single word when other seduced her and treat her by words as prostitute. She said,"શું એમને નહિ સમજાતું હોય કે મારે માટે સ્નેહ અને સંપત્તિ કરતા વધુ મહત્વ સન્માનનું છે? " 

       Furthermore, Fire of revenge constantly lying in her heart. Yudhishthir is like Odysseus. On the other hand, Dhrutradhtra is believing in nepotism. Chastity and ordeal are connected with women from the ancient times. Drupadi don't have exception.

           After injustice with her she continuesly provoking her husbands to ask for war. Though, at the end she had repentance. " વર્તન કે વાણી ના ઉચ્ચાર વખતે આ પ્રાયશ્ચિત સ્પર્શતો નથી પરંતુ  પરિણામ ભોગવવાનું આવે ત્યારે એને પ્રાયશ્ચિત ઘેરી વળે છે. " 

          Consequently, all had repentance for war. They all go through post truma of war. Theory of karma also reflected in her thoughts. At the end, her mind deeply drought into the thoughts of death. At the deathbed, man has self realisation. She accepted all the things and forgive everyone who do injustice with her and expose herself to Krishn. 

         One the whole, the soliloquy of Drupadi feels like having my own thoughts. She is the greatest character of Mahabharata. Her love for Krishn makes her extraordinary. In a way, this book is very well written by her. For reading myth with different perspective, it is recommended book. Worth reading.

Thank you.