[ultimate_heading main_heading=”Indrana by Anway Mukhopadhyay” main_heading_color=”#1e73be” sub_heading_color=”#8224e3″ spacer=”line_with_icon” spacer_position=”bottom” line_style=”dotted” line_height=”1″ line_color=”#1e73be” icon_type=”custom” icon_img=”id^48|url^http://ashvamegh.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Ashvamegh-ICO.jpg|caption^null|alt^Ashvamegh Journal Icon|title^Ashvamegh ICO|description^null” img_width=”48″ main_heading_style=”font-weight:bold;” main_heading_font_size=”desktop:34px;” line_width=”3″ margin_design_tab_text=””]a lyrical epic featuring the daughter of Zeus, Indrana[/ultimate_heading]
Book – Indrana: the daughter of Zeus
Author – Anway Mukhopadhyay
Publisher – Authorspress (2016)
Page Numbers – 100
Reviewed by – Alok Mishra
Indrana – the daughter of Zeus is a fresh experiment in the field of long poetry by Anway Mukhopadhyay, a poet and professor of English Literature. I did not anticipate such a happening that a poet could write long narratives, that also on the Greek mythical themes, in any near future. Anway has weaved a story of Indrana, who is a supposed daughter of Zeus and is born to ‘defeat the attackers who come to colonize the island inhabited by Zeus and Sapphomer’. The narrative of the ‘epic poem’ is divided into two parts – the narrative and a concluding epilogue. The poem is indeed ‘lyrical’ as the poet confesses in his preface:
“I would like to see this as a lyrical epic.”
Now coming to the business and locating the elements of the poetry in this epic called Indrana, I would like to start with the lines which are interesting as well as simplifying the meaning of Anway’s poetic intentions. The lines:
“Zeus is a poet.
Zeus is a scientist.
Zeus is a colonizer.”
The epic Indrana deals with the story which deals with the birth of Indrana for the purpose that she has to eliminate the threats of being colonized. However, with the end of the said threat, Zeus poses himself as a threat to the independence of Indrana and Sapphomer. Thus, Zeus himself becomes a colonizer! Another remarkable couple of lines in the poem that tells the story of Zeus’ character can be found in the 20th section of the epic:
“He had the used the wombs of young women
“To produce his own army.”
Indrana in the poem stands for independence and sign of bravery. She does not even fear Zeus, her maker, in a way. Indrana has been used successfully as a symbolic character to represent the ‘freedom’ that one seeks from slavery, mental torment or the feeling of being kept under someone’s command. She is brave and wins the battle for Zeur, the very purpose for her being born. Her valour has been depicted in various verses by the poet, Anway Mukhopadhyay. I have liked certain lines and would like to cite those:
“The hurled their spears.
“Indrana’s single spear finished them all.
“They hurled their javelines,
“But all were neutralized by her thundering laughter.”
At the end, the battle is won and threat being eliminated, Zeus and all his subjects (captives, in a sense) are happy. However, Zeus becomes ambitious, as he often is, and aspires to rule his own people. Indrana cannot take it and she becomes not only rebel but also fully conscious of her strengths and higher hierarchical knowledge. She punishes Zeus with her deeds and words and asks him to accompany Sapphomer and enlighten people outside the temple with the knowledge of freedom.
At last, I would say that this book was a fresh read and enjoyable too! I really liked this new adventure in the playground which is, in a way, meant to be played only ‘with a referee’. Those who love poetry, must give it a read.
