Parva

If somebody asks me to pick one book that tops my reading list it would be Parva. A Kannada novel Written by veteran S.L.Byrappa based on epic Mahabharata. This has been translated to several languages.

It was my father who recommended the book. He had the copy, which was brought in early 80s. It was in a very fragile condition by then. He explained it was borrowed by many back then and was debated in fervor. I started it immediately after my 10th board exam. From then onwards I would have read it 8 to 10 times and know the story and characters like back of my hand.

Now a days there are 100 versions of epic Mahabharatha out there and nothing comes close to S.L.Byrappa's Parva. The story begins at the end of Vanavasa (12 year of exile in forest) and Ajnatavasa (1 year in disguise). Both Kauravas and Pandavas are now on the quest to collect warriors to fight for them. It is narrated in different point of view of many characters such as Kunti, Bhima, Draupadi, Arjuna, Satyaki, Karna, Dhuryodhana and so on.

As much as I love all the characters it is Draupadi who stands out to me. A royal princess, married to the most powerful men of that time, her life is nothing but bed of roses. It is a feat to read her transforming from a innocent, coy bride to her strength displayed at the time of infamous disrobing to her unshakable determination to seek justice. She falls out of love with handsome and romantic Arjuna for various reasons.  She opts for more caring and compassionate Bhima at later part. Her repulsion towards Dharmaraya is evident though she is bound by duties to treat all her husbands equally.

All the characters here are mere humans and not gods or demi-gods even the mighty Krishna. They do not possess any supernatural powers. And all born through natural process of "the birds and the bees", not by boons granted to Kunti by sage Durvasa.

Byrappa created the most believable characters with flaws just like how we human beings are. Author spent years traveling all over India. His research mainly consists of geography, anthropology, techniques of warfare, socio-cultural detail, and philosophical approach. He took sabbatical from his new job to do all that. He is totally impartial to all the characters he created. It is rather hard for an author because somewhere down the line he is prone to fall in love with one character 
more than the rest.

I'm reluctant to read the English version of Parva for the fear of losing its magic in translation. And nothing can be compared with reading the book in its original language. My father and I still debate about it whenever the topic of Mahabharata comes up. For us "Parva" is the holy magnum opus.