Draupadi (Mythology) (Campfire Mythology) - Softcover

Saraswati Nagpal

Softcover

ISBN 10: 938074109X ISBN 13: 9789380741093

Publisher: Campfire Graphic Novels, 2013

Synopsis

Draupadi was a beautiful princess who was born out of a fire and with a strange destiny -- this is her story of struggle and determination.

About this title

Review:

I highly recommend Campfire's comics (books). They do what they are intended to do and do it in a way that excites kids about classic literature." --Chris Wilson, The Graphic Classroom (a resource for teachers and librarians)

For a parent looking to broaden a child s understanding of the world, this new graphic novel is a find. This is a story with a princess, a lying king, a cheating lord, a period of exile, a lesson in what matters in life, a family that argues and cheats, and a mystical element that gives magical weapons from the great beyond. And nothing written inside the story of Draupadi The Fire-Born Princess comes from established Greco-Roman tradition or the eurocentric mindset of the Disney Studio. It is a fascinating story that comes straight from the deepest tradition of Indian literature and philosophy. This book showcases why the graphic novel format has become one of the leading and best ways to help tell a story. Whether you read it on a Kindle or hold the book in your lap while sitting near a sun-filled window, there is such a personal nature to the story telling and art that you can never escape it. Using the sequential art form to tell the story of a national epic helps brings the action and drama right in front of us. For a parent looking to broaden a child s understanding of the world, this new graphic novel is a find. For an academic looking to introduce the incredible depth of not only India s myths but those of the world as well to a new generation this is the perfect way to do it. Taken directly from the ancient Indian epic known as The Mahabharata, which also holds philosophical scriptures and is considered the holy book of Hinduism, this is the story of a determined woman who does her best to come to terms with her own demons and live in the world around her. While a woman holds centre stage, it is a tale that crosses gender lines as those around Draupadi contribute to her growth as she does to theirs. Her story of her place in an ancient dynasty is as filled with love, betrayal, war, honor and craziness as anything that has ever appeared in the accumulated mythos of the western world. Scholars familiar with The Mahabharata equate its importance in world history on a level with that of The Bible, The Qur an, and Greek drama. Inside this story Draupadi is the central female role. As she begins her tale she is walking to her final resting place. Told from the point of her memory the story then moves to her earliest days as a princess. When she speaks Draupadi gives us a brief history of those who preceded her in this life, setting the stage for the massive action that is to follow. She introduces us slowly to the world of Indian society and royalty. Over the next hundred plus pages her story and her life gives us a deep understanding of what it means to be human and to be part of something larger. To read this woman s tale is to see how much our own lives and myths inside western society overlap with the culture of India (and by extension much of the rest of this planet). As Joseph Campbell put forth in his own studies and writings, regardless of the physical boundaries and cultural differences that separate us, we as humans are much closer to each other than we could possibly realize. In its original form The Mahabharata is a long and complex story. Focusing on the story of the Draupadi is the perfect choice to introduce new readers to this epic. As written by author and educator Saraswati Nagpal, the tale unfolds with an action and force that matches Greek tragedy, the most hard fought Roman battles, and the majesty of a Shakespearean drama. While Ms. Saraswati captures the highlights of the story that surrounds Draupadi, she still keeps the story firmly rooted in the woman s journey from birth to her ultimate ascension into the afterlife. It is a difficult task to encapsulate such a massive story in such a manner but Ms. Saraswati finds the exact tone and never betrays the heart of The Fire-Born Princess at the expense of the story. --Mark Squirek, New York Journal

A story with a princess, a lying king, a cheating lord, a period of exile, a lesson in what matters in life, a family that argues and cheats, and a mystical element that gives magical weapons from the great beyond... This book showcases why the graphic novel format has become one of the leading and best ways to help tell a story... This is a story that will inspire and fill the reader's mind with faith and drive for their own lives." --Mark Squirek, New York Journal

About the Author:

Born in 1980 in Dubai, Saraswati Nagpal was an early reader. She wrote plays, stories, and poetry through high school and college. A keen student of Indian classical dance and music, Saraswati has been teaching young children for five years how to weave their own stories through words, music, and movement. Her dream is to write many magical stories and she is working hard at it.

About this edition

• Publisher: Campfire Graphic Novels
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 938074109X
• ISBN 13: 9789380741093
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 112