Recently, many contemporary authors are trying to explore ancient Hindu scriptures and present refreshing perspectives and interpretations for us. The Palace of Illusions is one such book. It retells the story of the great epic, Mahabharata, from the perspective of Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas. However, the perspectives are rather from the modern feministic approach. Childhood, dreams, choices, the marriage of Panchali and then her life in Hastinapur, Indraprastha and eventually in the jungle for 12 long years and how she wants her revenge thereafter. We all know the character of Draupadi is very strong and positive. But in this book, Draupadi is Portrayed as weak, impulsive and frivolous. If you consider it as fiction then this book is definitely a page-turner. However, it cannot be a retelling of Mahabharat as this work ignores and has altered many crucial information and events which is not at all acceptable to those who have read the original epic or seen it enacted.

By Parakashtha for Read then Wrote