Upsanhar (Hindi) - Kashinath Singh.
My Rating: 5/5
I got this book after reading an amazing review on the same in our book readers group, and another reason to get this is our upcoming trip to Dwarka (Gujarat) around mid-December. I am super happy to read this gem of a book, especially because it was originally in Hindi, and every time I read a Hindi book, it improves my depleting vocabulary. I had read somewhere that even after being only 120 pages, it is no less than an epic, and it was so rightly said. The way it covers the last 4 decades of Lord Krishna’s life after the great war of the Mahabharata, it also covers almost the entire Mahabharata episode in small glimpses, but makes up for a terrific review of the entire epic war, which lasted 18 days but sounds like a lifetime. The painful movement of the Yadav clan from Mathura to Dwarka, and after the inevitable debacle of beautiful Dwarka, how they disperse is so amazingly captured. It was an eye-opener to see Krishna in a totally new light, especially his regrets when he accepts what he had done in the so-called Dharmayudh. Was he even righteous, as he himself questions his ways of helping Padava win the ultimate war and reclaim their right? I must say I haven’t read a better life story of much much-loved character from Hindu Mythology. This will certainly go on top of my recommendation list if anyone ever asks me which is my favourite Krishna retelling, this will be it for sure.
Have you read Upsanhar? Do let me know if you loved it. I am looking forward to reading so much more from Kashinath Singh, as I have loved two of his books back to back (Kashi Ka Assi being the other one).
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