Book Review -Dhruvswamini

Jaishankar Prasad is one of the most prominent writer in Hindi language. His compositions are mostly inspired by historical era of India. His Play “dhruvswamni” is a short play which revolves around the lead lady character Dhruvswamini, she is the empress of Gupta dynasty but the King, Ramagupt doesn’t pay much attention to her and he remains indulge in other women and had doubt that his younger brother Chandragupt and Dhruvswamni have secret affair between them. The king remains reluctant towards the feelings and wishes of his queen.

                                    When another king Shakaraj attacks his kingdom, Ramagupta finds himself week, Shakaraj offers  a proposal to avoid the war according to which  Dhruvswamini should be sent to Shakaraj. Dhruvswamini pleaded to Ramagupta to not accept the proposal, but coward and timid Ramagupta did not listen to Dhruvswamini and agreed to send his wife to the Shakaraja.

 

Chandragupta, however went aggressive and opposed his king’s decision.

He tried to convince Ramagupta to get ready for the war instead of agreeing to the enemy’s proposal but he was not paid any attention by the king.

In the end, Dhruvswanini and Chandragupt, disguised as a women managed to killed the enemy king Shakaraj . Finally, the counsel of prominent people of the court also ruled against the king Ramagupta because of his cowardly acts. Ramagupta tried to kill Chandragupta cheatingly but got killed instead.

Chandragupta became king and got married to Dhruvswamini .                        

      

Mandakni-hriday me naitik saahash- vastavik prerna aur pourish ki pukar akatra kr ke sochiye to kumar, ki ab aapko kya karma chiye                 

(Mandakni-  With moral courage in your heart- gather true inspiration and audacity and think,  O! prince what should you do.)

Chandragupt-  ki shyahi ek bindu girakar bhagya-lipi par kaalima chada deti hai. Mai aaj swekar karne me bhi sankuchit ho raha hu ki dhruvswamini meri hai…ha, wah meri hai. Use maine aarambha se hi apni sampoorn bhawana se pyar kiya hai. Mere hridaya ke gahan antahsthal se nikali hui wah mook swikriti aaj boal rahi hai. Mai purush hu? Nahi, mai apni ankho se apna vaibhav aur adhikar doosro ki anyaya se chinta dekh raha hu aur meri vagdata patni mere hi anutsah se aaj meri nahi hai…nahi-yaha sheel ka kapat –moah aur pravanchna hai. Mai jo hu, wahi to nahi spas troop se prakat kar saka… yaha kaisi vidambana hai… vinay ke aavaran me meri kayarta apne ko kab tak chipa sakegi?

(Chandragupta-  one drop from the ink of destiny fells on the fate’s script and turns it black. Today, I am hesitating to accept that Dhruvswamini is mine….yes, she is mine. I have loved her with all my emotions since the beginning….this mute acceptance that is coming out from the core of my heart is speaking today….am I a man?..no, I am seeing that my splendor and right is being taken away from me by the injustice of others and my beloved is not with be due to my non-enthusiasm. ….no- this guile of modesty -is just alluring impotence……I am not able to express my true self…..what an irony! For how long, will my cowardice remain hidden under the shield of modesty?)

The dialogues justify each characters state nicely. The conversations are well written and the story never looses grip on the reader for a single moment.

Dhruvswamini is substantially presented by the writer you will love to read this story.

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Madhushala-My thoughts

Mitii ka tan, masti ka mann

chadnbhar jeevan , mera parichaya..

(Perishable body, playful mind

 Few moments of life, that is all my introduction)

Writing a review of Madhushala(wine-house) is beyond my cognitive capacity. All that I am writing here is just my thoughts that go through my mind whenever I read this Classic poetry.

Harivansh Rai Bacchan is among those rare poets who never heisted to explore any prospect of life. Madhushala is one of those daring metaphorical creation by Bacchan and is well accepted and appreciated by many generations of writers, thinkers and readers.

The topic which is not very well consented by society is so intelligently and philosophically presented by the author that it looks like an epic poem and provides great insight about human life : he has questioned the divide in society on the basis of religion, divide on base the of festivals, divide on basis of culture and faith but, how these boundaries dissolve when people go to sit for drink .

Mushalman aur hindu hai do, ek magar unka pyala,

Ek magar unka madiralaya, ek magar unki hala,

Dono rehte ek na jabtak , masjid-mandir me jaate,

Baair badhata masjid-mandir, male karati madhu shala.

(Mushliams and hindus are different, but they share same glass of wine

They go to same wine-house, when they have different faiths

They go to mosques and temples, mosques and temples create divide

While wine –house creates unite between them)

Bacchan has raised questions about many religious dogmas and also has presented much rational and liberal doctrine about life.

The book is very enjoyable even if somebody doesn’t wants to go into its central idea.

The author also has written about himself as

Naam agar puche koi to, kehna bas peenaewala.

Kamm dhalna anur dhalana, sabko madira ka pyala,

Jaati priye puche koi , keh dena deewano ki,

Dharm batana pyale ki le, mala japna Madhushala.

(if somebody asks my name ,introduce me as drunker

Work is of consuming and serving the wine,

If somebody asks my Cast, Tell him that I belong to crazies

Tell my religion as wine-peg, and keep chanting wine…)

To summarize about the book, I would say it’s a very delightful read and a complete book about philosophy of life in its own & unique way

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