Title: Mahajaya , The Battle for Dharma Resumes.
Author : Alpna Das Sharma Alpna Das Sharma @vishwakarma publishers
Genre: Mythofiction
Loosely based on the Greatest Indian Epic, Mahajaya comes out as a powerful and intricate book. The characters are strong willed and the story is indeed unique, here is a modern day perspective of Mahabharata.
The plot is about the fight for the coveted Kabbadi Championship Title in Delhi University. The players of both sides have been introduced chapter wise, and by the end you know who that character resembles from the Mahabharata. While one team sees no caste or gender bias, the other team doesn’t even trust their own.
So you have Aryan, Kaizad, Neil, Yaj, Dwija, Sahej and ofcourse Kannan, each with their own past and struggles. Though from different backgrounds, they finally unite, to battle for Good over Evil.
What sets Mahajaya apart, is the blending of Mahabharata with the present day. Alpna captures the essence of Bharat, the characters being from all across India and her various states. They aren’t siblings but stand with each other for their values. The game of Kabbadi has been chosen for the battleground, as it happens to be the oldest game of our India.
Also, Mahajaya talks about the inherent casteism and patriarchy in our society and how difficult it is for some, to survive and emerge successful inspite of the hatred they face everyday. Dwija’s character has been developed especially well by Alpna, it’s a subtle discussion of women empowerment. Kaizad and Kashmir too have been interpreted and explained beautifully.
The story has some surprise elements as well, there’s mystery, investigation and thrill. There are twists at unexpected junctures, which hold the reader with rapt attention. The language is crisp, the vocabulary and play of words is amazing. The last few pages are mind blowing. Calm and soothing , with Krishna and his Upadesh described in brief.
Mahajaya is a rare fusion of mythology, mystery, societal biases, culture, and the message of unity in diversity. It’s an Intense Read, I recommend Mahajaya to everyone.
