‘Kalindi’ & ‘Pratham Prabaha’: Reconstruction of Satyavati/ ‘কালিন্দী’ ও ‘প্রথম প্রবাহ’ : সত্যবতীর নবনির্মাণ

Abstract

The topic of our discussion in this article is how the character of Satyavati from the Mahabharata is re-constructed in the novels ‘Kalindi’ (2016) by Bani Basu and ‘Pratham Prabaha’ (2017) by Sourav Mukhopadhyay. Following the original story of Satyavati's life in the adi parva of the Mahabharata, both authors have presented the character from a new perspective in their novels and have shown uniqueness in the construction of the story.

           Satyavati is placed at the heart of the story in both books. The mystery of her birth, the history of her transformation from Matsyagandha to Yojanagandha, the long story of her transformation from a bride to a paternal grandmother, and above all, the chemistry of her relationship with Vishma -- in this journey Satyavati has been recreated by the authors.          

            The magnificently beautiful lady Satyavati was raised in a Dhivara family. The wise sage Parashara was attracted by her beauty and she became mother of Vedvyas, the great creator of the Mahabharata. Then she became a part of the empire Hastinapur as the wife of the old king Shantanu. Was such a beautiful young lady truly happy with the old king? Was she really proud to play the role of the mother of Vishma? Both of the writers probe here deeper to carve a new analysis out of this part. They narrate the relationship of Vishma and Satyavati from a different perspective altogether. Through her passionate love, failure, pain, revenge, diplomacy and immense intelligence Satyavati became a distinctive female character from the historical era in these novels.