Mahabharata Revisited: Myth, History, and Satire in Shashi Tharoor's The Great Indian Novel
Abstract
The Mahabharata, an ancient repository of enduring myths, holds relevance across time and space. Serving as a guiding light, it has empowered generations to navigate their individual traumas. Shashi Tharoor’s The Great Indian Novel, penned amidst a backdrop of political turbulence in 1989, unfolds as a captivating chronicle of personal ambitions, aspirations, and the ensuing frustrations, interlaced with biting satire. Drawing from prevalent Mahabharata myths, the novel intricately intertwines tales concerning India's postcolonial history, blending real-life figures from Indian history into mythological characters. Tharoor skillfully reimagines the epic's mythological narrative as India's historical saga, skillfully entwining history and myth. This deliberate fusion underscores the writer’s intent to converge seemingly disparate elements. As it traces India's struggle for freedom and the post-emergency era, the novel humorously satirizes both Indian statesmen and the oppressive British crown.
