#52BookClub
Prompt: Character’s name in the title
Serial: 09/52
Book: Kausalya – Queen of Hearts
Author: Vibha Sangita Krishnakumar
Pages: 290
Publication: Readomania
Genre: Mythology
When it comes to mythological retellings, I have honestly reached the saturation point. However, this book was a gift from a friend. The fact that it was a winner in the ‘Best Manuscript’ category at the AUTHER Awards kindled my curiosity. So I decided to cast aside my scepticism and give it a go.
Plot:
Kausalya, as the title suggests, is a retelling of the epic Ramayana from the lens of Ram’s mother. The novel traces her growth from a brave princess to a dignified queen who has to share her husband with two other women and, later on, to a mother who is forced to exile her son and daughter-in-law.
Review:
As someone who writes short stories every now and then, I know the hassles of not only penning a lengthy novel but also catching the eye of a publisher. To an author, the joy in seeing one’s book baby in the market is unparalleled. I consider these factors when I review a book. Giving blunt negative reviews is not my forte, although I do attempt to pinpoint the nays I come across during my reading experience in a gentle way. The reason is simple – I never disrespect the author’s sweat that has gone into publishing the book.
While leafing through the pages of Kausalya, I oscillated between rolling my eyes, sighing, and yet finding myself emotional at some scenes.
The language is lucid. Many Tamil and Sanskrit words pepper the narration. As a Tamilian, I had no difficulty grasping the vernacular terms like vadakkan. The detailed glossary at the beginning helps. It would have been better, though, if the list had been at the end. For readers unfamiliar with the language, it would be cumbersome to go back to the first page and locate the foreign expressions.
Retelling a grand epic of Ramayana’s grandeur within 300 pages is no easy task, but the author has managed to bring to life the tale as viewed through the eyes of Kausalya. The feisty princess who falls in love with Prince Nemi, aka Dashrath, soon transforms into a graceful queen. She not only displays a magnanimous heart in giving away her firstborn daughter, Shanta, to her sister Varshini but also accepts Kaikeyi and Sumitra as her husband’s wives. Throughout the novel, she shows nerves of steel, accepting the curveballs destiny throws at her.
Be that as it may, my grouse with the novel raises its head on many an occasion.
Both the epics have interesting secondary characters. A retelling gives an author ample scope to let loose their imagination and come up with a unique version. Having said that, I fail to grasp the reason behind belittling the primary protagonists. Moreover, it would be commendable if the author stays true to the essence of the epic without diluting its sanctity. I respect the viewpoint of Ms Krishnakumar, but as a reader, I found an overdose of creative liberties.
** Spoilers Ahead **
I was ok with Kaikeyi being portrayed as a good woman, but what I vehemently objected to was the subplot of Sita. Ram’s wife gets visions, which prompts her father, Ravan, to take her to Lanka for treatment. The doctor in question is none other than Soorpanakha. The Lankan War is set into motion by the scheming Vibhishana. As a result, Sita unleashes her sharp tongue on Kausalya and the perfect Ram, whose efforts to help her are seen as patriarchal. I can go on and on, but I’ll stop here.
** Spoiler Ends **
Has it become a fashion nowadays to incorporate current topics in stories that are centuries old? Amish wove the ‘Nirbhaya’ and ‘Jallikattu’ incidents into his Ramchandra series. As if taking a cue from his bestsellers, the author talks about skin colours and the prejudices against people from the South. But to give credit to her, the topic didn’t appear forced.
As a debutante, Ms Krishnakumar’s novel is commendable. Juggling a career as a Carnatic vocalist and a writer must be tough, so I congratulate her on her enviable achievements. If you’re okay with a mythological retelling that strays away from the original, you might enjoy Kausalya. Call me old-fashioned if you want to, but to me, the novel elicited divided feelings. I am sorry if my thoughts do not align with yours, but there’s a limit to which I can sugarcoat my aspersions.
