Week 6 Lab- Storybook Research

Bhima and Hidimba: 

Sources: Ristin, Wikipedia

Notes: When looking more into the character of Bhima, I thought it might be fun to delve more into his relationship with both Hidimba and his son Ghatotkacha. While some version of the story present him as being ambivalent towards marrying Hidimba, most versions agree that he loved his son. Given Bhima's ultimate decicsion to leave both Hidimba and Ghatotkacha to be with his brothers, this could be an interesting place to write a story. Given that my storybook takes place entirely during the time of the Virata Parva, some time will have passed since he left Ghatotkacha. Perhaps the story could present itself as a series of letters between Bhima and Ghatotkacha in which Bhima explains his decision to leave. 

(Ghatotkacha. Source: Wikimedia)

Draupadi, Krishna, and the grain of rice:

Sources: Devdutt, Pulao Recipe

Although the story of Draupadi, Krishna, and the grain of rice does not initially involve Bhima, it certainly seems like something that he would be very interested in... A single grain of rice and you feel stuffed- Bhima would eat a whole bowl full of such grains! I think the story could center around him going on a search for the field that would produce such grains (not knowing that it was Krishna who imbued the grain with its satiating powers). Draupadi, of course, would be reluctant to tell Bhima, as Krishna initially enchanted the grain so as to allow Draupadi to save face. Krishna might eventually take pity on Bhima and create a small field for him to harvest. This story could be accompanied with a recipe for rice. Though that might not be very exiting in and of itself, it certainly seems like people (perhaps in the Mahabharata itself) would have opinions about the proper way to cook rice. I certainly make and eat enough rice so that I would like to know if I have been doing something horribly wrong all of these years! It could also be accompanied by a recipe for pulao, a rice-based dish mentioned in the Mahabharata. 

Reading Notes, Public Domain Mahabharata, Part B

Bibliography: Public Domain Mahabharata. Story: Draupadi Lost/ Draupadi in the Assembly Hall

Notes: Whenever I have read or watched any version of the Mahabharata, I have always loved the story of Krishna coming to Draupadi's aid. Too often we see women being victimized (such as in Rama and Sita's story), and this is not so much the case here. I have always appreciated that Draupadi stands up for herself when she is gambled away- she does not just sit there and accept her fate (even though she is eventually forced into it anyway). I like this version of a female character who is able to kind of call the guys on their questionable actions (I don't really understand her forgiving Yudisthira so quickly, but I appreciate that she at least seems incensed by his gambling). 

        I was waiting for a new incarnation of this story in the Public Domain version, but have to admit that I was slightly disappointed when it kind of just glossed over it. I thought this presented an opportunity for a story! Given how much I already like it, I thought doing some research and expanding on it would be fun. 

         I liked that the "Draupadi Lost" story was written in verse- somehow, things written in poetry have always carried more dramatic weight for me. I thought that I might continue that trend with my version of the story. I also wonder how Draupadi and Krishna's story continues (if it does). Although this is not the first time that a god comes to the rescue of a mis-treated woman (again Sita's story), this time feels different because Draupadi feels more in charge of her own narrative. What must have been going through Draupadi's mind as she is forced to face the court with threat of being stripped and who knows what else. How must she have then felt that Krisha was the one to come to her aid and not one of her so-called devoted husbands?

(Draupadi under Krishna's care. Source: Wikimedia)

Reading Notes: Public Domain Mahabharata, Part A

Bibliography: Public Domain Mahabharata. Story: Ekalavya

Notes: I have read and watched couple of different versions of the Mahabharata, and Ekalavya's story has just always rubbed me the wrong way. I know that the Mahabharata is sort of unique in that there are not really any "good guys" or "bad guys." This story, however, feels different from other cases in which people who fulfill more traditional protagonist roles do acts that are villainous in nature (such is the case when you learn Shakuni's backstory and it makes his actions much more understandable, though no less heinous). In this case, Arjuna and Drona just feel petty in their actions. Perhaps there is an understandable motive behind their asking for Ekalavyas's thumb, but I have to be honest, it would have to be a pretty darn good reason before I think that mutilating a young hardworking boy is ok in any sense. 

        I went and did some research online, but wasn't able to find anything that explained Drona's request. This might be a place to insert a story. I don't know, however, that I might possibly be able to spin that would take the acid out of my mouth. So perhaps the better route to go is to tell Ekalavya's story after he is asked to cut off his thumb. I am generally not one for revenge tales, so I think I would rather go the route of having him achieve victory some other way. Maybe he trains with his middle fingers until he is back up to par. He could then disguise himself and enter an archery competition against Arjuna and win. This would be a way of sticking it to Drona without actually resorting to violence (I am never a fan of answering violence with violence)- proving that no matter what Drona does, hard work and dedication will always win out. 

(Bow and Arrow. Source: Wikimedia)