Book Review
A novel by Indira Parthasarathy. Translated from Tamil by the author. 209 pages Rs. 559. Publishers Ratna Books.
At first glance the title seems off putting. Forever Yours Krishna – hardly a title for a mythological treatise on Krishna’s narrative! It is as told to Jara, the hunter, who aims the fatal arrow at Krishna’s request. Jara chooses Narada the cosmic traveller to tell the story in his own inimitable way. Narada unfolds a complex tapestry of events interlaced with humour and melded with modern events to draw parallels.
“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” I remind myself as I delve into this fascinating story delightfully written by Indira Parthasarathy. It is no mean accomplishment especially when you consider that the author has chronicled every single detail with unerring accuracy. Padma Shri Dr. R. Parthasarathy, whose pen name is a household word, has under his belt the Sahitya Akademi Award (for his novel Kuruthippunal) as well as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, making him the only novelist to be honoured with both these prestigious awards. Parthasarathy was given the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 at the Hindu Lit for Life literary festival.
Krishna – clearly the protagonist in the novel – is portrayed as a contemporary hero flawed as anyone else, and relevant to modern times. The river of the narrative stems from Krishna himself, as told to the hunter. The story is not told in the conventional linear style, but wanders to the realm of philosophy, sprinkled with personal anecdotes. Narada confesses he is not the son of Brahma but a Sudra though he was conceived from Brahma’s breath after the Great Deluge. He was the news provider, as ‘he was the only journalist working in heaven and earth. There was no electronic information which would have not been absorbed but for the freelance journalist Narada!’
Often described as the meddling character who stirs the pot, creating misunderstandings and rancour among the Gods, Narada clarifies his position, pointing out that the so called ‘mischief’ that he creates only helps people caught up in unsurmountable situations.
Krishna, typically portrayed as the darling of the gopikas, has never been criticised for flirting with women. He is often compared with Rama’s impeccable character that of an ekapathni (a man bound to one wife). The story goes on to talk about Rukmini who is determined to marry Krishna. A similarity is drawn between Radha and Rukmini – where the former is a wildflower, Rukmini is a well-tended garden whose fragrance would never leave him. This results in a meticulously planned elopement.
The ubiquitous, unconventional Krishna makes each maiden feel he is hers only, whereas he is available to each one of them who worship him. The love for the celestial flautist is universal, and his presence celebrated with great ecstacy and devotion. The author describes the power of love. Radha inspires Krishna to reach great heights with his alluring music from the flute; but once withdrawn from his divine presence, takes away his talent inadvertently, and the flute becomes a mere reed without her glorifying presence. Radha remains etched in Krishna’s mind as he describes her as his alter ego. The first time he set eyes on her was when she was a young girl of ten years, and he a child of three. Their love story started right there.
A charismatic character in the Harivamsham, Sri Bhagavatam, Vishnupurana and the Mahabharatha, Krishna has no claims to being the hero. He is often criticised as not playing right in the codes of the war. Encouraging Bheema to wound Duryodhana in the thigh, killing Karna off guard and many more. Krishna explains that all is fair in love and war, and towards the end of the war, everyone abandoned codes and ethics.
Parthasarathy compares Krishna to Freud, and that ‘he could read the minds of people better than the celebrated psychologist’! In the famous discourse between Krishna and Arjuna which forms the basis of the Bhagwad Gita, he explains there is no such thing as sin and virtue; there is only one’s cognizance of differentiating the good from the evil. He is able to convince a hesitating Arjuna that one must fight for justice and mete just punishment to the enemy for trying to shame Draupadi in public. Thus persuaded, Arjuna picks up his bow and discharges his duties, just as his granduncle fights him because of his beliefs.
“I am the void which existed even before time and space were conceived.”
So Arjuna integrated with Krishna and broke into a monologue which is not recorded in Vyasa’s Bhagwad Gita.
Parthasarathy, now in his early nineties, has brought out the story of Krishna with great clarity, emphasizing and bringing to light little-known facts and stories untold. Krishna affirmed that Jara was indeed the second person to hear the Gita directly from him.
“You have discharged your duty” – with these last words to Jara he points to the arrow which the hunter shot, and smiles as he succumbs to his last breath.
Forever Yours, Krishna is an amazing novel which delves into various untold aspects of the Gita and the Mahabharatha, and the author is able to capture every subtle nuance of the story. It is a must-read for Krishna devotees, and for all those interested in the moral lessons these stories tell us, which is applicable to modern times.