The Puffin Mahabharata - Hardcover

Gokhale Namita

4.39

51 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0143330489 ISBN 13: 9780143330486

Publisher: Viking (India), 2009

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Namita Gokhale s exciting new retelling of the great Indian epic is a treat for young readers. Older readers will enjoy it, too. She shows why the Mahabharata is timeless and always relevant Ruskin Bond Without sacrificing the complexities of either the narrative or the characters, Gokhale's lucid language and gentle prodding places the Mahabharata well within the reach of younger readers and listeners. She retains the anguish of the family drama at the centre of the story as well as captures the epic sweep of the great war and its bitter aftermath. Every child should know this story how wonderful that it should be presented to a new generation by such a skilled and mellifluous storyteller Arshia Sattar The Mahabharata is truly one of the greatest stories ever told. Namita Gokhale's rendition makes for compelling reading, because it retains the essential structure of the narrative without diluting its epic proportions. This book is the best gift for children who wish to discover and enjoy the wisdom and mythology of ancient India Pavan K. Varma A long, long time ago, in the ancient lands of India, known in those days as Bharatvarsha, a family quarrel grew into a bloody war. There had been wars before, and there have been wars since, but that mighty battle between warring cousins of the Kuru clan has become a part of the mythology and history of India. Told and retold a million times, the story of the Mahabharata is about defeat as much as victory, about humility as much as courage. It is the greatest story ever told. Like a modern-day suta or storyteller, Namita Gokhale brings alive India's richest literary treasure with disarming ease and simplicity. She retells this timeless tale of mortals and immortals and stories within stories, of valour, deceit, glory and despair, for today's young reader in a clear, contemporary style. A brilliant series of evocative and thoughtful illustrations by painter and animator Suddhasattwa Basu brings the epic to life in a vibrant visual feast. Matchless in its content and presentation, The Puffin Mahabharata is a book that will be cherished by readers of all ages.

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Review:

Good book for a gift This book has the so called 'feel good' factor. The writing is good (as you can expect from Namita Gokhale). The illustrations also add to the effect. Its a good book to read and also to gift to your children. --Deepon Saha Mar 8, 2012

Excellent book A wonderful book meant for young readers, with simple and lucid style of writing and excellent illustrations. Children above 8 years can easily understand the language and since the epic itself is a masterpiece they would surely enjoy it. --sashikumar nair Jun 11, 2012

For people looking to introduce their children to the Mahabharata, there are several options. For decades the standard has been Mahabharata. Then there is the Amar Chitra Katha version. There are countless other versions available. So what's new and different about this version? Several. For one, this book has been lavishly produced. The paper is thick and glossy. The hardcover book makes you want to pick it up and read it. The cover is a bright yellow, with the young Arjuna, Drona disciple, taking aim at a wooden bird perched on the branch of a tree. This in itself is one of the famous stories within the Mahabharata. The production quality of the book is important when it comes to childrens' books. It is important that a child like a book at first glance - which is the cover. Opening the book and turning the pages the child should find something on each page to want to read it. The large print, crisp printing, adequate spacing between the lines, the shiny and glossy feel of the paper, and colorful watercolor illustrations - all go a long way in attracting the child's attention and then holding it. Once attracted by the cover, there is enough in the story itself to keep children and adults alike engrossed. Secondly, the illustrations by Suddhasattwa Basu, painter, illustrator and animation filmmaker, are of high quality. Every second page you find an illustration. Some are spread over the entire page. Each illustration is tied to the story, which helps children tremendously. Looking at an illustration helps them identify the episode in the epic. The illustrations are an integral part of this book. --By Abhinav Agarwal on September 24, 2011

About the Author:

Namita Gokhale is a well renowned writer of Indian literature. She was born in the year 1956 in Lucknow, India. She spent most of her childhood in Nainital, in the lap of the nature and Himalayas and New Delhi. Namita Gokhale is a 'Kumaoni' by birth. She got married at a very early age. She married Rajiv Gokhale at the age of 18 years. She discontinued her college studies over a bias issue against the curriculum of Indian literature. She has written several novels and in the late 1970s, she published "Super" from Mumbai, which was an extremely popular film magazine. Namita Gokhale has penned down a total of five novels in English. She has also done some non-fictional work in English literature. The first novel of her literary career was "Paro: Dreams of Passion", which was brought out in the year 1984. This novel was a skit upon the Delhi and Mumbai elites. It received critical acclamation and it actually created uproar with its playful sexual humour. Next was an ironic fable titled "Gods Graves and Grandmother", which was about the street life of Delhi and it was later modified into a musical play. Her husband was diagnosed with cancer when she was only 35 years old. After a few years her husband died which shook her completely. NThis tragic experience of the loss has some reflection in her later novels like "A Himalayan Love Story", "The Book of Shadows", "Shakuntala" and more. Two non-fiction books of Namita Gokhale are "Mountain Echoes" that deals with the Kumaoni style of life seen through the eyes of four highly artistic and individualistic women and "The Book of Shiva" for the young readers. Moreover, this talented writer has also co-edited a compilation that entirely revisits the mythology surrounding Sita in today's contemporary culture. amita Gokhale is also committed to translating and showcasing the best of Indian literature writing and engaging the vibrant languages of Indian sub-continent in an inventive dialogue for connecting with the rest of the world. Namita Gokhale conceptualised Neemrana 2002, the popular International Festival of Indian Literature and the famous 'Africa Asia Literary Conference' in 2006. Along with renowned author William Dalrymple, she is the co-director of 'Jaipur Literature Festival'. She has been completely associated with it since

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