Kusum Choppra

Dec. 2015 saw most of India agog over a lavishly set movie, in which a princess storms into the headquarters of an ally and into his heart -- at a time when she and her bhabhi were actually storming the enemy camp to rescue her imprisoned brother. That did not count . The evil Sasu relegates the princess to a kotha. The first wife delivers her son at her maika. When she brings him home, hero goes off to personally deliver his princess’ son. Another historical mixup: Mastani’s son was born in January 1734 and Kashibai’s in August 1734, both under personal supervision of the Peshwa’s mother Radhabai.    The princess earns the ire of her saut, the Peshwa’s brother and their compatriot Chitpavan Brahmins, all rooting for his first wife. Now the Chitpavan Brahmins have a curious history:   Virtual anonymity until Balaji Vishwanath (Baji Rao’s father) left the Konkan and made his way into royal service. Once he was appointed Peshwa, his fellow Chitpavans flocked to ...

                                                             Mythological thrillers fly bookshelves as rewriting/ reviewing of history becomes a national preoccupation.   On TV, it commands TRPs, rules the box office.   It is the new gold.      Is it not time to be super-careful, not to go astray, as happened with the instance of Jawaharlal Nehru? It is only positive that as a people, we have become conscious of our past and want to know more about it. But some standards and authenticity must be a pre-requisite, not swept to the wayside in search of TRPs. An old wives’ tale insists the Mahabharata should never be read at home, like the Ramayan is.    Reason:   it will only create quarrels within the family.   For what is the Mahabharat, but an unending rendering of family wea...