Book Review :  The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee

Hello friends,

Recently I read this book "The Palace of Illusions" and it just made me to explore a new perspective which is inspired by our ancient mythology characters.

This is my first review of any book .So I hope I justify my opinions on it.

This book is about the world famous woman of our history for whom the greatest war happened in India called Mahabharat . Her name was Draupadi. 

First I was little anticipated about how its going to be as we do have prenotions about some characters by listening to our elders or story tellers. Moreover , I am not much aware of our mythological history and I guess thats a good thing to read or review this book as I don't have any data in my conscience to compare or build any complicated plot.

So , Starting with book , It starts from Draupadi childhood which was really new to me and arises  a new series of questions like the way she was born (comes out as part of Havan-puja done by his father with his twin brother). 

I used to questions before like How can these things happen like Magical way to get a child born or how can we transform one person to another But I think may be we are not that qualified or techno to understand that era. So I leave it to go deeper into facts and enjoyed the read.

Draupadi was also called Panchali as she became wife of 5 brothers . Its really made me to think like how they were emotionally connected to this thing as to share your wife among your brothers and then socially accept about it. The pain of draupadi or dilemma to face her destiny like that wasn' easy. 

A woman is not a thing or a piece of bread to be shared , Still she take it gracefully and obey her duties. If we compare same thing to this era , we can't think of doing same thing in family and thats a way to keep dignity of a woman.

This book tells about the complications held between families of Pandavas and Kauravas and how it has been taken by Draupadi. How she sacrifice her desires , self respect and dignity in that era.

May be it was meant to happen or written in destiny (end of Kauravas) and Draupadi was mere a character or excuse but I don't think that to achieve bigger goals a woman should be exploited just to justify its result.

The writing of book is really good , It really engross you into the world of Panchali and you can feel her emotions very well. 

I don't know about its facts or whether it is originated from any scriptures 

But Yes story wise , Its a must read.

Excerpts from Book :

Draupadi : I must ask Krishna the qusestion that had slipped from me earlier, the question that has plagued me all my life.

Are you truly divine?

"Will you never be done with questioning?" Krishna laughs.

Like the small brass bells tied around the necks of  calves, that sound will remain with me even when hearing has gone . "Yes , I am . You are, too , you know!".

Hope you like it!

Happy Reading.

Hello everyone,

So, There have been lot of things running in my mind lately. I am not sure its there because of my female genes or may be somethings bothered me.

I am a 31 year old woman (oops! I told my age) and I have been raised in our so called Indian values filled society. I don't know how it come up or how I look it differently, otherwise I was very well trained or educated to keep our society values intact.

I know , some would consider it as feminism or weird hashtags in this era of virtual world but if you think about it like today also if a woman is successful or educated or even having a progressive approach, still her opinion doesn't matter to lot of people or comes as last point to consider. I am not talking about big professional shots or working professionals who attain a hold in their positions to lead a big team.

I am talking about woman in terms of personal front where her family , husband , in-laws etc. hold a major role of her life.

There are some privileges which a woman don't get since the time of her birth itself. There are some boundaries which has been set by society which you need to follow no matter what you feel. It has been structured like this since ages.

I have seen some woman highly educated , highly paid or having a good career life still taking burden of loosing self-respect in front of their family at home.

You may think, that I am defending this from one side of talk , may be she
is not right in some situations but so do people too.
I don't get that why we judge a woman from her cooking or cleaning skills or how she behave with strangers etc. She is human, who are we to compare one to another. Every person is different, why cant we judge a male from his cooking habits , its because its not his birth right to learn so or there is no such rule mentioned for it i our old books.

Ok , so now you will take me as some social activist worker , but thats how you or all judge people in every sentence of their life , while as I told you , I am just a 31 year old woman.

Cheers!

Are you a Super Man or Super Woman ?

Hello everyone,

Ok , So Its been like more than 2 years I guess , I wrote or read anything good from a long time.

Its just that some day , some talk, some incident urges you to write about it and reside it within you forever.

Today a small incident happened, I was returning from my workplace along with my kid and there is a advertisement board outside our home which has an animated figures of Super man and Super woman.

Everyday , when I used to park my vehicle there , my kid ask me daily :" Mumma, See Superman " and I laugh and nod my head,wondering he is getting bigger day by day. He started observing his surroundings now and responds too.

Today , I asked him , What's there apart from superman in this picture ?

I hoped, he will reply a supergirl or woman etc. But he said "Mummy".

At that time, I corrected him "No , She is a Super Woman"

But It left me with a thought that do Super woman look like this animated character in reality or its just a fantasy for kids

So who is Super woman ? , a mother , a successfull businesswoman or a simple girl with ambitions.

Have you heard of good mother or bad mother, We never justify a role of mother in our lives as good or bad because deep inside we all know that all solutions of our all problems lies in lap of our mother.

Today in this era , we want every thing to be perfect or best like big house , a modern wife , a good salary, big car etc,
and we have a certain set of rules in our society according to it.

If a person is having a small car , we associate it with his income  or status.

If a house is messy , we also associate it with skills of lady.

we do not give a second thought of reasons behind it.

May be that person like a small car due to small family or may be he has another priorities to fulfill than to buy a big car.

or May be that lady is a mother, who loves to spend her time with her kids, play all around or to just be with them.

But as we did not find them or place according to our mindsets we labelled them middle class or messy woman etc.

In my opinion, Its okay if some days you are not following rules of society until you hurt anybody.

In that way , the perfect body or the charm beauty of animated super woman are the mindsets or image created by this society.

In Reality , If you can make your life a little easy, helpful to others , spread love all around and have peace within you,then you are a real Super Man or Super woman.

Its the beginning !! :)

Around 7 months back..I was not in a state to hold a new life or can start a new beginning.. My father got expired 2 months back and I was in a mourn state. I was not hoping to be myself again and laugh on silly things. I gave up myself to this and just spending time with no ray of hope or dream.

My life got shattered in pieces and whole set of things got disturbed. My perception to see things or people had been changed then.

Then one day.. I felt pain in my stomach and it was unbearable..I got to know that this is labor pain and u need to get hospital as soon as possible. I entered hospital and after suffering from intolerable pain for 5 hours.. I got something in my hands.

At that time ..I was not able to stand on my own or even talk. I was so exhausted to express anything at that time and just let it go. When I woke up and saw a cute little baby laying beside me..I was in a dilemma. In my inner voice..I said.. " Ohh dear..you are a MOM now " and I just smiled.

I saw a life coming up to me .. Holding me..and asking me to live again. In my mind..I was not ready for it to hug him and gave a chance to myself..but still in my heart a little ray of hope rise.

First few days were really tough for me..I was not able to sleep,can't walk even..it really made me tired and exhausted. I did not have a single clue about raising a child. So when I do something whether its feeding or making him sleep.. I found out that I am not one who is raising my child. Rather my child is teaching me with his love to do things for him.

At sometimes..I feel I am not going to be good mother as I did not know anything about motherhood but I was wrong .,once you get hold of those tiny little arms..you become a mother.

After that..day by day..I learn new things from my child and also explore myself in a different way .  I must say..kids are a good teacher..they teach you how to do simple things and stay happy. They teach you about life basic principles is to love everybody whose choose to be with you.

Now..after 7 months..when I hear those giggly laughs, those little hugs coming up to me,those babbling sounds. I laugh, enjoy,even dance and live again. I love those little words come out and talk to me as if they are asking me to be myself.

I gave another chance to new life or maybe life gave me another chance to start a new dream..new hope or just simply smile on it.

A bitter truth !!

Its been a long time for me to write something and publish .. I don't know may be..I didn't get enough courage to publish my thoughts.

Life !! A four letter word but it sums up everything inside of it. To live or to survive ..both are parts of this life. We always live in our dream and try to make it reality...but the whole journey or struggle to get it called LIFE .

In the midst of dark shadows... We always aim to catch light ...to come out of those black space , sometimes we get that spark but sometimes we again drown ourselves in dark black pool.  Its not easy to not able to come out of it and start your journey again with everyone. The problem here is not to get slipped in pool but to come out of it and shine.

And the struggle you do to catch that light behind those closed doors...makes you real person.

But do we realize ...what that person gain or loose during his struggle...

His most precious thing...his loved ones. No one wants to come in dark shadows whether its your husband....your son or your brother. And once they get chance to leave you...they fly back.

I know..it hurts or we can say...its a harsh reality but its truth and we have to face it.

So...the person who come out of that dark pool leaving everything behind and forgiving everyone..becomes a GEM.

And for those who did not succeed,will Rest in Peace.

Child within us !

Hi Readers,

Today I read a line "Grow Mature but don't kill Child within you " and it made me to think.. and realize about it to be so true !!

We always strive to become.. big.. mature and more practical in this mean world , and often kill child within us. We do not open ourself .. or those.. feelings which are there in our heart hiding somewhere leads to our childhood.. leads to our innocence , leads to our curious nature , leads to explore world through our eyes.

Since Childhood, we aim to become those big giants , we aim to become a mature social person and in the midst of it , we get disconnected to our roots , we go far away from our soul or those small desires. and later realize that ultimate happiness lies in simple moments spend with loved ones , those moments which makes us happy , which makes us connected.

You show your inner side only to those with whom you are comfortable and forms a big part of your life. Eating an ice cream in a midnight , shouting on streets , laughing stupidly and having an urge to sing , dance , clap etc makes you happy without any expense.

Its just depends on you , How you make your life ? How you take up things and deal with it ?
You are not successful if you miss to see first step of your 1 year old son.
You will not be happy if you can't have a single dinner with your loved ones.
and You have not lived your life if you have not made your family laughed on those stupid jokes.

Here , Wishing you good luck to keep your child active and naughty within you to enjoy your life fully with your loved ones and stay blessed.

Tum aa gye..

एक खाली सा मन लिए जिए जा रही थी मैं ,
अकेले  रास्ते पे खुद ही चल थी थी मैं ..

ना  जाने कहाँ से  मेरी ज़िन्दगी में  तुम आ गए …
एक पल में मुझी को मुझ से चुरा के ले गये

दिन वीरान से , रातें सुनी सी गुज़ार रही थी मैं,
खुद को खुद ही से .. जुदा मान रही थी मैं ..
ना जाने कैसे यह पल मुझे तुम  दे गए ...
जीने का एक हसीं बहाना बनके तुम  आ गये.

दिल  की तमनाओं को यूँही दबा रही थी मैं,
इस सन्नाते  को ही  अपना मान रही थी मैं ..
न जाने कब  इस दिल के उलझे तार तुम छेड़  गए ..
अपनी चाहत बनाकर के मुझे  ले गये.

चुप सा हो गया था मेरा मन और धडकनों को भी दबा रही थी मैं,
ख़ामोशी को ही अपने जीवन में उतार रही थी मैं ..
ना जाने कैसे एक कशिश , एक एहसास तुम जगा गये ..
मेरी होती इस गुमनाम हस्ती को फिर से मेरे से मिलवा गए .

खुद से ही नाराज़ हो कर जी रही  थी मैं,
हर किसी को पराया मान रही थी मैं ..
ना जाने ज़िन्दगी के कौन से पहलु तुम मुझे दिखा गए ..
मेरे जीवन में हर रंग भरने को तुम आ गये.

तुम आ गये ...