Book review | Unsung Valour

Forgotten warriors of the kurukshetra war

             "Loyal. Valiant. Steadfast.

              They were all that and more.

              They secured crucial victories.

              They were indespencible.

              And yet, they were forgotten."

The writers of this book deserve all appreciation for bringing unsung stories of great warriors directly from the kurukshetra war. A very creative addition to long tradition of storytelling in india.

The ten stories of book explore the Mahabharata epic in new dimension and bring out tales of lost valour and as they call it unsung valour of great warriors of the kurukshetra war forgotten over period of time in popular imagination.

This attempt by ten writers to bring to bring forth those forgotten warriors should be appreciated and taken tobmore young people so that valour of our warriors no more leaves unsung.

Unsung no more: protagonists

Iravan

Son of Arjuna and ulupi.

Shakuni

King of Gandhara. Son of subala.

Jayadratha

King of sindhu and married to dushala.

Ghatotkach

Eldest son of bhima and hidimba.

Prativindhya

Son of yudhishthira and Draupadi.

Bhagdatta

Son of naraka.

Yudhamanyu

Brave Panchal prince.

Yuyutsu

Son of dhritrashtra begotten on a vaishya women.

Excerpts and briefs

Bharathi Venkat's narration of young Naga prince brought a new hero for children today including myself who read this name for first time!

Narration of war felt like standing on battlefield itself. 

An Excerpt from the book:

"The throne of Hastinapur would be drenched in blood by the time the kurukshetra ear ended.Arjuna knew it.He knew it well and so did iravan, his courageous Naga son who sacrificed his life for dharma."

The narration of fierce battle between alambusha and iravan will surely excite all readers.

The battle would continue,for that was dharma...

"Warrior Shakuni" a new perception of Shakuni.

Shakuni, known for his decitful mind, tongue and dice.

An excerpt from the chapter:

"Dice made of father's bines, infused with dark sorcery. Tongue forked like a serpent, legs bent like the hind limbs of a dog and teeth black as coal. Your ill repute precedes you and it smells to the high heavens like the stink of midden heap."

Character of Shakuni as defined by vidura.

Story beautifully defines warrior side of Shakuni which is usually neglected in popular imagination. 

Shakuni screamed. Draupadi smiled.

jayadrathatha,

This was really a wonderful surprise at the end coming from a high school student.

Abhyuday deserves all the best regards for wonderful articulation of killing of jayadrathatha.

Adding an excerpt from the same:

"Jayadrathatha thought to himself that he would win at the end of the day and would be the cause of Arjun's death...when darkness descended all of sudden. He breathed easy thinking that the sun has set... Arjuna aimed his gandiva and shot the divine weapon Aindrastra...the one with victorious chariots, the king of Sindhu had fallen because of his arrogance and overconfidence of the demons within."

Cessation

My humble appreciation to all the writers for their untiring efforts to bring stories of great warriors which were lost from popular imagination 

Listen to the interview of authors on this podcast 

A Shloka in homage to all unknown and unwept, unheard and unsung who upheld dharma.

मनस्वी म्रियते कामं कार्पण्यं न तु गच्छति ।

अपि निर्वाणमायाति नानलो याति शीतताम्॥

People of self-respect rather have death than humiliation.

Fire dies out but never turns cold.