Supriya's Banter
Mahajaya: The battle for Dharma Resumes…
Author: Alpna Das Sharma
Publisher: Vishwakarma Publications; First Edition (14 January 2025)
Language: English
Perfect Paperback: 244 pages
K Narayan once said that all stories in the Indian subcontinent have their roots in the Indian epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana in one way or another. Sharma’s book, set in the heady world of Delhi University, doesn’t only have roots but even the bones of Mahabharata. How she builds up on this mighty legend but still manages to make her creation stand out says a lot about her writing capabilities.
It takes guts to stand under the shadows of an epic of titanic proportions and not only point out the flaws but try to right them, too. Sharma does all that and so much more in her debut novel. She drags the Mahabharata out of the dusty pages of mythology and plants it firmly in the chaotic, contemporary world without losing its relevance or the core message.
Imagine the Kurukshetra war being fought on the sun-scorched college grounds. And that, too, not with arrows and chariots but with sweat, grit, and Kabaddi raids.
The novel swaps royal palaces for college canteens and battle lines for sports rivalries, but the pulse of the ancient epic still thrums under every page.
The five protagonists aren’t just reflections of their counterparts from the great epic. They stand out on their own. They have their own internal wars to conquer, their own ambitions and their own life goals. Together, they navigate college grounds turned battlefield crackling with tension and undercurrents.
The cut-throat ambition, betrayal, and power plays are in no way less than what you could have witnessed in the ancient epic.
The book doesn’t spoon-feed its messages or wrap conflicts in neat little bows. Instead, it makes its characters wrestle with their choices that are as messy and bruising as they would have been on a battlefield. The Kabaddi matches at the end is a heart-thumping showdown—a fitting climax to the conflicts that simmer between the lines throughout the book.
What’s refreshing is how Mahajaya ditches any reverence towards the demigod-stature characters. The odds that they are fighting against are human, urgent, and painfully familiar. The beauty of the book lies in its subtlety.
Dwija, in particular, stands out—a woman navigating patriarchy, fighting for space both on and off the field. And so does Kanan– an enigmatic spirit guide/ guardian angel, divine mentor all rolled in one.
The book isn’t just another mythology reboot. It’s a reminder that the Mahabharata never really ended—it just changes shape with every generation.
The story about human nature, power, and the eternal tug-of-war between right and wrong is as relevant today as it was aeons ago.
Thought-provoking and action-packed! It’s fascinating to see the Mahabharata playing out in denim and dust!
