15/03/2023
The Mahabharata has one of the most extensive cast of characters, far more than most other epics from other parts of the world. While this contributes, in large measure, to its complex and confusing structure, the abundance of people weaving their way in and out of the text also means that many characters remain in the shadow of more famous personalities that dominate the storyline. Their stories are often lost in the numerous twists that the plot turns through.
Rajessh M Iyer brings many of these hidden lives to the front, providing readers with a counter-factual retelling of a popular and much-loved story. His focus on women in the book is interesting and is likely to spark a desire to read among people who often lament about the lack of women’s voices in stories of war.
Jambavati, Lakshmanaa, Charumati--these are names not many readers of Mahabharata are familiar with and even those who are, would have largely encountered them at the margins of the text. Mr. Iyer's book, "The Scarlet Horizon", shines a light on their lives and gives us a glimpse into how their views were shaped by and shaped the times that the epic is set in. And of course, as is the case with most modern retellings, the book gives readers a chance to indulge in many 'What if...?" moments.
What if women had a bigger say in the war? What if Krishna had managed to broker peace among the war-mongering cousins? What if the anger that spilled into unimaginable blood and violence on the battlefield had found its release in other spaces and in other ways? The book gives rise to many questions and that is probably, one of the most effective ways to engage readers in the reading of a story that is older than time itself.