Utkarsh Patel - Kannaki's Anklet

Indus Source Books
Utkarsh Patel
Kannaki's Anklet

Silapapadikaram is a well known Tamil epic poem of the Sangam Era.  The authorship is credited to a Jain monk called Ilango Adigal.

I had heard of Silappadikaram and knew the outline of the story. The book has been translated into English but I never got around to reading it. When I discovered that Utkarsh Patel had brought out his version of the classic, I had to read it.

Kannagi (or Kannaki as Utkarsh prefers to call her) is a lovely damsel, daughter of a prosperous merchant who lives in Puhar, a port town in Chola kingdom.  She is married to  Kovalan, who lives in Puhar too and is the only son of another merchant.  They are over the moon to be married to each other, being young and beautiful. Their life is full of honey and happiness. On a silly whim, one day, Kovalan pays for the favors of the courtesan Madhavi.  He is smitten by her wiles and refuses to return home.  He keeps sending for money to lavish on Madhavi and reduces his family to penury.

His wealth depleted, his poverty earns him the ire of Madhavi's mother which opens his eyes and he returns home.  He has nothing, his father's business is gone, his reputation is in shreds.  He decides to go to Madurai with Kannagi to make a fresh start.  Will Kannagi finally lead a long and a happy life with her beloved Kovalam in Madurai?

Patel's book has two parts, Puhar and Madurai. The first part deals with Kannagi's life in Puhar. It is full of the anticipation of the young Kannagi, about to be married to the prince of her dreams.  Their wonderful time together as a newly wed couple.  Their life in Puhar, the various legends attached to temples and people there. The wretchedness that Kannagi faces when her husband goes to Madhavi. In contrast, Kovalan and Madhavi have some wonderful moments together.  The description of various festivals of Puhar are beautifully depicted.

Madurai is another gorgeous part where Kovalan and Kannagi embark on a journey by foot to Madurai.  The road is hard and beset with dangers. They are fortunate to find a Jain Sadhavi Kavunti to accompany them. She becomes their guide and protector. They meet all kinds of people on the way, a fool, a lecher, some wise men, even a wood nymph who tries to lure away Kovalan.  There are numerous legends associated with the places they visit which are recounted for our edification and entertainment.

Patel has done a wonderful job of narrating this classic tale.  The prose part is in a simple and direct language. The poetry in it is charming and lyrical.  In fact, it was the poetry part that I read as an excerpt on Facebook that drew me to the book.

The book had me turning pages and despite my busy schedule, I finished the book in two days.

In the Acknowledgements section Patel writes, "This book is a result of the quest to look for female heros in  mythology." He succeeds, I must say.  The fire and brimstone that Kannagi spews at the end of the book and brings down a King and a City is worthy of Heroine.  As explained elsewhere in the book the path to righteousness should be followed assiduously no matter who you have to face.

Remember to focus on the principle; Not on who it is against

If you wish to be acquainted with the story of Kannagi, this book is the best place to start.

Utkarsh Patel - Shakuntala

+Rupa Publications India Pvt. Ltd.

Utkarsh Patel is a professor of Comparative Mythology at Mumbai University.  He has put forth a different version of Shakuntala, whom we know as the wronged heroine of Kalidasa's famous play, Abijyanshakuntalam.

Patel goes to the source of the story, which is Mahabharata.  According to him, Shakuntala was the first female to make an appearance in the Epic.  Kalidasa used Rishi Durvasa to create a rift between two lovers.  But the original version in Ved Vyasas differed.

The novel starts with the story of Shakuntala's parents, Rishi Vishwamitra and Menaka, an Apsara sent from Heaven to divert the attention of Vishwamitra.

Menaka is ordered to abandon her child and return to Heaven by Indra, once the mission is accomplished.  Vishwamitra is incensed by the deception played on him by Indra and leaves too, to begin his meditation afresh.  The little baby girl is protected by Shakuntal (Blue Jay) birds.  She is discovered by Rishi Kanva who brings her up as his own child and names her Shakuntala.

Utakarsh Patel's Shakuntala is not only a wood nymph cavorting among nature as depicted in Kalidasa's drama.  She is deeply interested in various topics and can make up her mind about things. She is incensed when she learns about the story of Sati Ahalya.  Why is Ahalaya alone punished so severely for a transgression of which she was NOT guilty.  Why was Indradev let off so lightly.

Much later in the story Shakuntala is moved by the story of Madhavi, Yayati's daughter, who is loaned to various kings for begetting sons.

When she is accosted by the handsome king, Dushyant, she falls for him and believes him when he marries her and promises to make her son the heir to Hastinapur.  We do know the story from Kalidasa's version.  Patel tells us that Dushyant wilfully abandoned Shakuntala once he returned to Hastinapur.

The story is an eye-opener for us.  Not only does it enhance the image of Shakuntala as a strong woman who had the courage to give Dushyant a talking-to but also had the courage to leave him with her child and disappear into a world of her own.

The story is rather dense.  It is very sad as Shakuntala gets only a few days of pleasure with Dushyant and a lifetime of loneliness. In Patel's version Dushyant is not married either.  Despite him having a 'loose' character, he does not seem to cavort much with women. There does not seem to be cause enough for him to have not mentioned Shakuntala to anyone.

That apart, it is great to find Shakuntala turned into a fiery female.