Ajaya by Anand Neelakantan

Ajaya: Duryodhana's Mahabharata - Collector's Edition by Anand Neelakantan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

History is written by the victors – but what of the viewpoint of the vanquished? This is a brilliantly narrated interpretation of the epic Mahabharata by the Kaurav prince Suyodhan (disdainfully called Duryodhan by his arch-rivals – the illegitimately begotten Pandavs who changed the prefix सु to the derogative दुर्).
Unknown to most Hindus, there is a temple dedicated to Suyodhan in Kerala (where there is no presiding deity)

The author writes about the beauty of secular Hinduism

This demonstrates how critical thinking is the basis of all our philosophy. We have no concept of blasphemy. This openness to criticism is what makes the Hindu religion and its traditions unique. Vyasa did not hide Krishna’s faults, nor did Valmiki remain silent on Rama’s shortcomings. This openness to debate and discussion had helped us evolve over time and withstand thousands of years of foreign rule, reforming as the times demanded. Otherwise, Hinduism would long have dead, like the ancient religions of Greece and Egypt.

It is said that for every village there is a Ramayana and for every person there is Gita. Lord Krishna says

इति ते ज्ञानमाख्यातं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं मया |
विमृश्यैतदशेषेण यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु || १८:६३
(I have given you the most confidential of all knowledge.
Analyze it critically and act as per your wish and understanding. The Bhagwadgita 18:63)

The book is essentially a vituperative indictment of the caste system. Take the examples of Eklavya and Karna – how they were unfairly denied all that was rightfully theirs – Eklavya an archer as good, if not better, as Arjuna and Karna, also, denied the chance to prove his prowess as an archer, the hand of Draupadi, and, being the first-born, the rightful heir to the kingdom.
The characters have been shorn of divinity and there are no magical arms and flying chariots – just valorous, ambitious, treacherous, exploited and scheming individuals.
The author also dwells on the overreaching Brahminism and the North/South divide in India.
An extract from the book

Suyodhana was a good man and Eklavya was happy for him. But he knew such joy and real life rarely went together. No self-respecting God would allow a good man to be happy for long. God has relevance only in the unhappiness of good people.

One of the best books of this year; now plan to read the author’s Asura: Tale Of The Vanquished, The Story of Ravana and His People.

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