Book Review- The Fisher Queen's Dynasty by Kavita Kané

The Fisher Queen's Dynasty 

 

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Disclaimer- This book review is majorly a self-contemplation. The personalized meaning derived from the book vis-à-vis life experiences. The quotes are used directly from the book.

Each human being is a story to be told.

I recognize the writer of this book Ms. Kavita Kane solely because her unique stories uncover the lesser-known female personalities of Indian folklore. These women characters are strong but rarely received the expected light-of-fame. Kavita introduces them to her readers and lends them a prospect to determine their role in the tales widely read.

This book renders the story of the first-part of Mahabharat through Satyavati's eyes. Abandoned at birth, shunned for her skin (Kali) and stench (Matsyagandha), jeered at for prizing ambition over love, this novel is about a lesser-known character of Mahabharat, Satyavati.

Satyavati married Shantanu, the king of Hastinapur. She is named as a conniving witch for snatching away the birthright of the crown prince Bheesma. She witnessed the unforeseen death of her husband and sons and later became a great-great-grandmother of 106 children. She was a head-strong monarch of Hastinapur who always made wrong alternatives to survive in the race for the throne. However, she possesses a soft side too. She is a daughter, a mother, a wife, and a lady. This book attempts at illustrating the life of the longest witness of the lengthiest epic of the world, Mahabharata.

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People are as shallow as the river shore, never as deep as the river.

While reading the memoir of Albert Einstein, I found this beautiful equation-

Ego=1/Knowledge which simply means: More the knowledge lesser the ego, lesser the knowledge more the ego."

I always wonder why, in common, everyone is adequate at giving advice but not obeying the same. The Covid times have bestowed enough indication about how people who lent a top lecture on upholding safety measures against the virus, themselves seldom follow rigorously. The words and acts of people do not match. The promises seem to have become a way to make fools of others. In my life too, I have experienced fake promises, fake words of advice, shallow care, and strange manner of people acting. The people who have little knowledge or who lack substance show off the most and boast about themselves.

In simple terms, I understand (your counterview is welcomed) that the people with deep knowledge are the simplest being at heart. Because they perfectly appreciate imperfections. They give importance to logic and living life...rather than criticizing the events and re-reliving moments. They appreciate the bigger picture. They know their demons and yet they continue to better themselves every single day.

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If you want to see the brave, look at those who can forgive. If you want to see the heroic, look at those who can love in return for hatred.

Everyone is extraordinary. Everybody wears a crown having their stake of the responsibility. We all are brave in our stories and have love-hate relationships with people, events and moments. 

What one can give to others in moments of despair is words of compliments and a belief that we are together...no matter what!! 

Words-of-compliments (WoCs) like love, accolade, commendation, applause, warmth, wishes, etc. make life colorful although they seem to be rare and expensive nowadays.

I somehow find these Words-of-Compliments (WoCs) as the double-edged sword. If these WoCs are held back and the other person is left for guessing them, this leads to the corrosion of relationships. However, once WoCs are spoken… they work like a charm, enhancing the relationship. But one has to be brave enough to give (and also accept) WoCs.

My advice- Go out, don’t hold your tongue, and don’t be greedy in giving Words-of-Complements (WoCs). Let the brave-heart speak. Let the desert of hate get pounded in the downpour of love, admiration.