Rukmini, the princess of Vidarbha is a charismatic woman. Intelligent, inquisitive and strong-willed, she knows how to question the wrong and do the right.
When her arrogant brother Rukma and father, the weak King Bhishmaka arrange her marriage with Chedi prince Shishupal, under the pressure of tyrant Jarasandha, Rukmini puts her foot down. She decides to write her own destiny, and elopes with the man she loves…Vasudev Krishna. The same Krishna, who is also Jarasandha’s sworn enemy. With that, in her own way, she defies the emperor whom the whole of Aryavarta fears.
But that is only the beginning.
Vasudev Krishna is no ordinary man. He is a visionary, a kingmaker, a Yug Purush whom some believe to be God Himself. He is loved and hated in equal measure. And most importantly, he is a man whom almost every woman desires as her own. Is it easy to be the wife of such a tremendous personality? This very question forms the heart of Rukmini: Krishna’s Wife by Saiswaroopa Iyer.
Rukmini remains a relatively less explored character in the literature related to Itihaas-Purana. She is primarily known in popular culture as Krishna’s first wife who defied norms and eloped with the man of her choice, and later the Tulabhara incident that portrays the selfless devotion of a wife for her husband. The author uses her creative pen to flesh out this magnificent lady from the pages of the Puranas, and gives her a feisty voice in the book.
Plotting has always been a forte of Iyer’s as is evident in her previous works. She knows how to build intrigue in even a known story, and Rukmini: Krishna’s Wife is no different. Iconic incidents from the Mahabharata such as Draupadi’s Swayamvar, Dice Game, etc have been intelligently woven into the love story of Krishna and Rukmini. The cherry on the top is the appearance of Draupadi and Abhaya, the heroines of her two previous works in this book.
However, this time, what scores as high as the plot is the character sketches. Particularly, of Rukmini and Krishna. I remember, in my review of Abhaya, I had expressed my desire to see some imperfections in the protagonist. This novel shows a rising graph there.
Rukmini, despite her righteous nature, is not free from mortal shortcomings. She is very much capable of jealousy as she realizes that she isn’t going to be the only woman in her husband’s life. This escalates when the charismatic Princess Draupadi appears to have become a possible contender for Krishna’s affection. That chapter is a treat to read.
The marriage between Rukmini and Krishna is the highlight of this novel. No relationship remains the same from the beginning till the end, not even divine ones such as this. Krishna spends most of his days away from home. Fighting battles, helping out the Pandavas and working on his vision to build a Dharma empire. Thus, despite a fairytale beginning, Rukmini begins to see the distance that has slowly crept in between them.
This realization brings a change in her. Bit by bit, she transforms from an impulsive girl to a mature woman, rising above her insecurities. She understands her husband’s true calling and takes his marital alliances in her stride. As Krishna struggles away from home, she does the same at Dwarka, becoming his support system in every crisis. This whole character arc is carved out beautifully.
Alongside this love story, the portrayal of the life of the Yadavas deserves mention here. Particularly, the sessions at the famed assembly hall named Sudharma and the position of women in the Yadava Confederacy. Saiswaroopa has deftly described the political backdrop behind the exodus of the Yadavas.
Some scenes are magical. For instance, the entry scene of Krishna, symbolizing the reclining posture of Lord Vishnu with Devi Lakshmi at his feet. Or that of Draupadi’s. And the story of Yogamaya who was born as the daughter of Nanda and Yashoda, Krishna’s foster parents. There are many such moments in the book that are worthy of mention. But that’d make the review too long, so I’d stop here.
The timeless tale of Krishna and Rukmini is well-known. So is the crux of the epic Mahabharata. But despite the familiarity, Rukmini: Krishna’s Wife by Saiswaroopa Iyer manages to create the necessary intrigue. The author’s passion for the protagonists is evident. She makes one fall in love with the characters and the story all over again.
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