6 notable mytho-fiction books on Draupadi

Draupadi is one of the most fascinating characters of the epic 'Mahabharata'. So much so that, over the years there are many authors who retold her story. Yet each of them is unique and interesting in its own way. For those who like reading mytho-fiction books or would like to know more about Draupadi's side of the story, here we list down some such notable books.

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There have been hundreds of tales of Mahabharata but most of them from a man’s point of view. In 'The Palace of Illusions', international bestselling author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni retells the epic from a Draupadi's point of view. The book begins from the moment of her birth from fire and how her life changes when she is wedded to the five Pandavas, who have struggles of their own.

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Draupadi is blamed as the woman responsible for the greatest war of all time- Mahabharata. In this novel, Pratibha Ray attempts to portray Draupadi’s character and brings it to limelight. It depicts the outcry of a woman in a patriarchal society and the sacrifices she makes. Who was the real Draupadi? The answer to the question is vividly described in the novel. The book was originally written in the Odia language, and later translated into English by Pradip Bhattarcharya.

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The Mahabharata is mostly retold through the eyes of heroic men. However, the stories of its women are often neglected. In 'The Song of Draupadi', Ira Mukhoty writes about the women of Mahabharata- Satyavati, Ganga, Kunti, Gandhari, and Draupadi. The tales narrate the journey of the Pandava Queen, Draupadi, from the time of her birth to when she became the wife of the Pandavas.

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Koral Dasgupta's 'Draupadi' is the third book in the Sati series. While the first two books are about stories of Ahalya and Kunti, the third book is about Draupadi as the title suggests. The book also includes short poems which makes it astonishingly beautiful. The book presents insights into the warrior queen’s thoughts and inner life.

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Published in 2019, 'Draupadi: The Tale of an Empress' by Saiswaroopa Iyer is yet another book that tells the tale of the epic Mahabharata. What makes it different from the bunch is that Iyer has tried to narrate the tale through different episodes from Draupadi’s life.

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Released in 2016, 'Ms Draupadi Kuru' is a hilarious read. In this book, the author has given a whole new perspective to Draupadi's story. The book takes the readers through the life of modern-day Draupadi, who is bored of her monotonous life in heaven. With her girl squad Amba, Kunti, and Gandhari, Draupadi goes on a month-long visit to New Delhi, where everything is changed. This is the first book of a two-parts series. It's sequel is titled 'The Misters Kuru'.

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