Mahajaya by Dr Alpna Das Sharma is a modern reimagination of the Mahabharata that keeps the reader riveted. It is not a retelling but more of a seamless blending of the past and the present that emphasises the timelessness of Dharma or righteousness.
While set against the backdrop of college politics, the story reimagines one of the greatest epics of all times, which is no mean feat, given the sensitivity and complexity. Meet a group of friends, Yaj, Bhav, Aryan, Neil, and Sehajveer, who study at Delhi University and prepare for a Kabaddi match against their arch-rivals. Joining the boys is the feisty Dwija, who is a force to reckon with. These characters have emotional and intriguing backstories that bind them together. The story does take creative liberties and deviates from the original, leading to a satisfying climax.
While the initial chapters are slow, the pace picks up and soon becomes unputdownable. It develops into a full-blown thriller with twists and turns. As a reader and a mythology buff, I appreciated the finer nuances. I could spot snippets and lesser-known stories from the Mahabharata incorporated into a contemporary context. The characters' interests and hobbies are loosely based on the life of the Pandavas during their Agyatavaas (period of living incognito), be it Neil (Nakul) who loves horses, Bhav (Bhim) who loves cooking, and Aryan (Arjun) who loves to dance.
The remorse and the anger that emerges from Yaj to right the wrong of the past is the best part of the book, a page I would read over and over again.
“Surely, it couldn’t be happening again. She stood at the centre of the court, her fists clenched, as the jeering men circled around her.”
His redemption scene gave me goosebumps.
My favourite character is Dwija, who in her words, is the princess of her fairy tale. She is not going down, at least not without a fight. She has a connection to fire, and it burns bright within her. And of course, Kannan. Not to give spoilers away, but Kannan makes Mahajaya what it is. He is the consciousness, the flame, the fire, the voice, the strength, and the victory.
If I had to nitpick, many characters are introduced at once in the initial chapters. It might have been more impactful if the story focused on two or three main protagonists, or if the introduction were a bit more gradual. But then again, how does one reimagine an epic of this proportion?
The author skilfully marries philosophy, mythology, college politics, family drama, and political and social differences, in a way that isn’t contrived. Even as a standalone thriller, this book sustains the reader’s attention. Mahajaya is an impressive debut that has something in it for everybody!
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