Govinda - Book Review

The least appealing aspect of the Mahabharat, I feel, is the intrusion of the divine.

The marvelously multifaceted narrative is, in my opinion, severely compromised by the heavy-handed attempt to present it all as a good-versus-evil morality tale orchestrated by God Himself in the form of Sri Krishna.

It’s not just that I find the idea of an avatar rather ridiculous. It also makes for lousy fiction.

An arrogant and cocksure God-in-human-form, always slated to come out on top with smug smile on face and pithy proverb on lip, makes for an unappealing character at best, while ruining any element of suspense in the story.

What if the Mahabharat were presented as historical fiction without any attempt to inject a “moral of the story”? What if Krishna was just a man among others, struggling to shape his destiny amidst the forces of his time, rather than achieving it all by effortless divine will?

To get a flavor, look no further than “Govinda”, first book of the “Aryavarta Chronicles” by debutante author Krishna Udayasankar.

The geographical backdrop of the novel is Aryavarta, the northern half of the Indian subcontinent in the second millennium BC. The historical setting is a deadly conflict between two groups of Brahmins.

On one side are the Firstborn, scholar and sages, upholders of sacrificial rituals and social norms, makers and breakers of kings. Opposed to them are the Firewrights - master scientists, inventors, and iconoclasts.

When Firewright technology gone awry dries up the Saraswati river - turning a fertile kingdom to barren desert - the Firstborn seize the opportunity to launch the Scourge. With the active support of the ruling nobility, Firewrights across the nation are mercilessly tortured and killed. Some survivors go into hiding; others seek refuge with kings who are willing to surreptitiously exploit their expertise to manufacture lethal weapons.

One such is Jarasandha, king of Magadha, gradually extending his sway over Aryavarta in a bid to become Emperor. Other kingdoms, including the Kurus and Panchalas, officially acknowledge his sovereignty, while secretly seeking to counterbalance his power.

Into this landscape of intrigue steps the character of Govinda Shauri – the author’s preferred name for Krishna. Arisen from humble origins as a gwala (cowherd) to become king of Mathura, he has since abandoned his kingdom in the face of Jarasandha’s attacks to establish an outpost at Dwarka on the southwestern edge of Aryavarta. This act of “dishonor” has earned him the eternal contempt of the ruling Kshatriya nobility who are already ill-disposed to accept him as an equal due to his cowherd past.

The Firstborn, however, see him as a convenient pawn in their bid for supremacy. In the past, Govinda has been instrumental in the success of the Scourge. His enmity with Jarasandha makes him the perfect foil to the would-be emperor and last refuge of the wrights. As Vyasa, leader of the Firstborn, tells his disciples, Govinda is a “tiger who needs to be tamed” to their service.

A resourceful politician and wily warrior, Govinda is happy to aid Vyasa’s efforts.

But there are hints of a deeper, darker plot in the background, a plan which makes even his brother and friends uneasy…

Udayasankar wields her prose deftly, drawing you swiftly into the story and holding your interest thereafter.

In her hands, the Mahabharat takes on a darker, grittier aspect.

This is no tale for children with the reassurance of a happy ending.

Prisoners are brutally tortured and executed, ruling classes treat commoners with contempt and derision, women are marginalized and restricted – especially in the Kuru kingdom.

Bad things can, and do, happen to good people.

While the characters are all from the Mahabharat, those familiar with the epic only through Amar Chitra Katha or teleserials may find themselves at a loss.

Characters are referred to by unfamiliar alternate names found in the epic. Yudhisthira is Dharma, Arjuna is Partha, Duryodhana is Syodhana, Karna is Vasusena and so on

A number of characters are presented in a refreshing new light.

Dharma (Yudhishthira) – complex and self-serving, forever trying to project an image of righteous otherworldliness while hungering for personal glory, disguising his bids for power as burdensome duties he must take on for the greater good.

Syodhana (Duryodhana) – peace-loving family man, increasingly dismayed to find himself cast in the role of villain by Yudhsthira’s machinations.

Shikhandin (Shikhandi) – a guerilla warrior par excellence, maligned as a coward because he refused to blindly condone his father’s actions.

Panchali (Draupadi) – Intelligent, thoughtful and every bit as fiery as her epic counterpart, she takes a very active role in the politics of the day, far beyond merely goading her husband/s into action.

Finally, there is the fascinating Govinda Shauri (Krishna).

Charismatic, charming, unfailingly polite and kind to everyone around him.

Yet, at the same time, strangely detached and dispassionate, willing to manipulate or sacrifice loved ones and unleash great suffering to achieve a desired end.

An intriguing persona indeed - far more so than the annoying Bhagwan Sri Sri Krishna we usually encounter.

In summary, I heartily recommend Govinda. Can’t wait for the next book to come out.