Review of Shakuntala- The Woman Wronged by Utkarsh Patel

      After a long time, found a mythological story which is rich and dense, yet portrays the character as it is! Strong and steadfast! Only thing we have ever known and heard is Vaidehi of Ramayan being tested, Ahilya had to be punished, and Menaka or Urvashi, being treated nothing more than a celestial object, in the world of Man, where Man fail to see beyond their beauty and end up in lust, which resulted in historical and mythological consequences! While, men make an analysis of his heart with brain, women understand that everything breathing is part of her and her soul!  Reminded me of something similar I have read about Shiva and Shakti being separated for the creation or as the myth conveys. Shiva might have found peace in his mind, but must have always been lonely at heart. For she is energy and strength, which men of today fail to understand. 

    Strangely enough, Shakuntala- The Woman Wronged by Utkarsh Patel, who is father himself, beautifully narrates a story of a long forgotten fiery brand, heroic character named, Shakuntala taken from Vyasa narration of Shakantula, where she is not a victim, but one who stands for what is right! She portrays US, the modern women who understand that we are not dependent on man, but is rather always the other way round! Woman who can be kind, compassionate and loving but mis-treat her and she is nothing less than Kali herself! The book is replete with scenic beauty and exhibits and expresses the mind of woman when wronged!  The story also has many other stories within the story, which present a psychological consciousness of a woman and metaphorical representation of all those women who have been wronged mythic-ally or historically and were judged one way or another, including Shakuntala herself in the story. As a woman, she is strong and beautiful inside-out and doesn’t succumb to a situation which might have been challenging and difficult to hold on.

      From the beginning of the story, where she already understands she is different from others and accepts her parentage as a matured person, yet which leaves her scarred for the entire life. It doesn’t stop her from asking question, which she thinks is right. She is drawn towards Dushyant, not because he is King but because he is able to somehow bring her from reverie that she is always in! It’s Dushyant, who makes her conscious that, there is something more to the world beyond the Ashram! She is sound in her knowledge and judgment and is someone who takes her own decision. Though in Love, with the King, she understands that her life is in her hands and that what she had suffered, her son should never go through the same!

       Her last speech in the court of Hastinapur almost reminds one of the last scenes of Sita of Ramayan. Yet, she is one who knows and understands that when man fail to love and respect back the woman of his life, she can always make a choice of moving out and leave the man in question to think of what he had lost. Myth lovers and story tellers will love it for the way the story has been exquisitely narrated with beautiful description of Nature in it. What it means to get away from the din and bustle of a city life. But, most importantly tells a heroic story of woman, who is not meant to suffer alone, rather is a one who stands up for herself and her rights. She and only she, is her own help. Thank you, Utkarsh Sir for bringing in a tale of woman, which might help sensible man see beyond beauty, and empowering women of the strength that lies within them, that she is none other than Shakuntala herself!

Namaste _/\_