BOOK REVIEW OF ‘PRICELESS PEARLS’ BY AUTHOR MONICA GUPTA.
“How do you define a mother, I wonder? By the number of kicks you’ve given her in her womb and every time she smiled, or by the number of bites on her swollen nipples yet she happily fed you and never cried.” (Excerpt from book)
BOOK REVIEW OF “A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS” BY AUTHOR MONICA GUPTA.
“A thousand splendid suns” by Khaled Hosseini, is a heart-rending tale of two women set in Afghanistan in the 1960s, when the country was at a war between the Soviet Communist and the Taliban.
“One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.” The plot pivots around stories of two women, how their lives merge not by choice but for survival. Their relationship ignites with flares of jealousy and a tug of war for power over the household and husband. But when the two realize that they share the same enemy and are battling the horrendous consequences of the war, they lower their guards and bond into a love that transforms them into courageous women.
ONAKE OBAVVA-BRAVERY EPITOMISED
Hyder Ali Khan, the de facto ruler of Mysore disguised himself in an ordinary attire and rode on his horse as if conversing with the winds. He loved to ride alone without the military force to spend some time alone. His soldiers tried to catch up with him. His popularity as an able military commander-in-chief was gaining momentum as he was on a conquering spree to expand the boundaries of his empire. He stopped at the sight of the Chitradurga fort; a pink, rocky fort located over the hills. He was always mesmerized by its towering thick walls. They challenged him. As if telling him, “See if you can win over me?” Madakari Nayaka IV ruled Chitradurga then. Hyder Ali’s numerous proposals of collaborations were politely rejected by him. Hyder Ali was awestruck by the fort’s beauty and strength. While he was romanticizing on invading Chitradurga, he was distracted by a female figure. A young woman, who seemed to be in a hurry. His gaze followed her. Before he could get a glimpse of her face, the woman bent and disappeared. Unable to spot her from the distance, he summoned one of his soldiers and ordered him to go check how a woman had vanished into thin air. The soldier returned in a few minutes and huffed,
SIGNIFICANCE OF GANESH CHATURTHI.
‘Vinayak Chaturthi’ or ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ is celebrated on the fourth phase of the moon in the Bhadrapada month of the Hindu calendar. It marks the birth of God Ganesha, the younger of the two sons of Shiva and Parvati.
Rani Durgavati-The legendary Queen of Gond
Rani Durgavati placed her sword and shield on the takht and raised her palm to send away the sipahis for privacy with her father, King Keerat Rai Shalavahan, at Kalinjar Fort in, Uttar Pradesh.
THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE BEHIND RAKSHA BANDHAN
“Treat me as a king would treat another king.”
Emperor Porus of Purava kingdom spoke with pride as his hands and legs were chained but the head held high. He walked towards King Alexander of Macedonia, as a surrenderer, after giving him a tough fight, in the battle of Hydaspes (on the bank of river Jhelum, now in Punjab Pakistan) in 326 BC.
The Long-distance Marriage Of Bheem And Hidimba
When Hidimba saw Bheem, it was love at first sight. But how and when did Bheem marry Hidimba? The fabled love story between a warrior and a demoness features in the Mahabharat right after the Lakshagriha incident. The Pandavas, along with their mother Kunti, were spending their days in a forest where the demon Hidimb attacked them one night. Bheem put up a brave fight, and with a little help from Hidimba managed to kill the demon. His courage and strength instantly attracted the demoness to Bheem.
Birth of Legendary Veda Vyasa Through A One-Time Stand
Vyas, also known as Veda Vyasa, is the legendary author of the world’s bulkiest epic Mahabharata as well as the ancient Vedas and Puranas. He is a well-known mythical figure. The Chiranjivi (immortal) sage whose birthday is celebrated as the festival of Guru Purnima. But not many know the answers to pertinent questions about Veda Vyasa history – When was Veda Vyasa born?, Who is Veda Vyasa in Mahabharata?, and Who are the parents of Rishi Vyasa? – to name a few. Let’s explore the tale of Veda Vyasa birth to find out:
The Unconventional Wedlock of Pradyumna and Mayawati
When one flips through the pages of legendary scriptures, one stumbles upon many tales that portray rather offbeat perceptions of love and a different course of relationships. One such story is of Krishna’s son Pradyumna and his marriage to Mayawati. To understand this story, we have to revisit the creation of Kama Dev, the God of Love, lust and pleasure, and his other half, Rati.
LAKSHMAN’S RETALIATION TO RAM
“No! No! By no means will I follow what you say.
The mighty King of Suryavansh, Sri Ram is giving into the talks of the gossipmongers!! How can you even think of abandoning Sita Mata? She is as chaste as this Earth, as this universe. Everyone has seen her go through the Agnipariksha. You still want to do this to her, to abandon her! No bhaiya! You may kill me for my disobedience, but I shall not give in to this cruel act,” Lakshman retaliated, as Ram ordered him to take Sita away from the palace and drop her in the forest. Not receiving any reaction from Ram, Lakshman continued, “Bhaiya, it was you, the progressive personality, who reformed Ahilya. She was punished by her husband, made an outcast by the society, turned into a stone as if dead, for a crime she didn’t even commit. She just fell into Indra’s trap. Only you were able to see her innocence and it was you who resurrected her from a stone to a living being, rehabilitating her into the society. It was your unbiased perception, who saw Shabri, the untouchable tribal woman, beyond her caste and creed. By accepting her hospitality, you set an example to the world that caste or birth do not define a person. It was you who bestowed the honour upon Mandodari, the wife of demon Ravana, and saved her from the impending ostracization from the society after Ravana’s death. You saw her as a deserving and faithful wife and a righteous queen. And now, when it comes to your wife, Mata Sita, why have you suddenly become so cold and weak?”