Dhritarashtra (book)

Dhritarashtra (धृतराष्ट्र) is a poetry book by Ghanshyam Kandel. It was published in 2016 by Airawati Prakashan. It is a short epic in verse and retells the story of the Mahabharat through the eyes of the blind king of Hastinapur, Dhritarashtra. It won the prestigious Madan Puraskar, 2073 B.S.

It is an epic poem and the author's sixth book. Reimagining of the Mahabharata, Dhritarastra retells the epic from the blind king’s perspective, undercutting deeply entrenched notions of what is right and wrong and what is just and unjust.

Synopsis
Dhritarashtra is told from the viewpoint of Dhritarashtra the blind king and focuses on how he perceives the protagonists of the Mahabharat war. Original Mahabharat depicts Krishna as a charismatic leader who fights for truth and justice. But in Kandel’s verse, Krishna appears as a crafty conspirator who tricks others into fighting the brutal war at Kurukshetra and plots the murder of Duryodhan and Dronacharya.

Reception
The book won the prestigious Madan Puraskar, 2073 BS (2016).