Draupadi of Mahabharata cries out in Pratibha Ray’s Yajnaseni
I have just finished reading Pradip Bhattacharya’s English translation of the Oriya book “Yajnaseni” by the famed writer Pratibha Ray. If women can be educated and modern without losing their cultural identity, then Pratibha Ray sets an excellent example. Yajnaseni won her a Bharatiya Jnanpith award in 1993.
The story of Draupadi, the heroine of the Mahabharata, is set out in Yajnaseni in Draupadi’s own voice. Panchali’s heart-rending cries of help and anger due to the abuses heaped on her (not only during the episode of her stripping in the Royal court by the Kauravas) can almost be heard through the pages.
The wife of the five Pandava brothers, she is torn between her love for Arjuna and her devotion to Krishna. Krishnaa, as she is also known, presents her utter confusion when placed in dilemmas as when she was given the choice between respective her mother-in-law and marrying all five brothers, or disrespecting her and marrying only Arjuna.
Pratibha Ray has cleverly brought out women’s place during those times - though women were exalted and regarded very highly, their position especially among the kings as next to wealth and kingdoms is revealed. Pratibha also questions why it is only the chastity of women that is always under question - why it is that when men could have many wives, women could not have many husbands; and therefore her eternal question - why is she ridiculed even today in spite of all the sacrifices she underwent.
Pradip’s English translation is simple and brings out pictures of the emotions and feelings of Draupadi vividly. I can imagine that he has tried his best to give justice to the Oriya work, and would say that he has succeeded.
Yajnaseni makes wonderful reading, and not only because Mahabharata by Veda Vyasa is a living treasure!
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Dear Sooraj. I am looking for the e-mail address of this greatest indian writer Pratibha Ray.If u know any address of her please let me know.My e-mail ganesh7@inbox.ru.
Mila.