''Madhabi'' () is a 1983

Nepali Nepali or Nepalese may refer to : Concerning Nepal * Anything of, from, or related to Nepal * Nepali people, citizens of Nepal * Nepali language, an Indo-Aryan language found in Nepal, the current official national language and a language spoken ...

mythological Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narrat ...

novel by Madan Mani Dixit. It was published on 13 April 1983 by Sajha Prakashan, and won the Madan Puraskar (2039 BS) for the same year. It is a retelling of the story of Madhabi and Gallav from Mahabharata. Written in a grandiose setting, the novel depicts the economic, social and political conditions of Vedic Indian society three thousand years ago. The original story is told in Mahabharat to

Duryodhana Duryodhana ( sa, दुर्योधन, ) also known as Suyodhana, is the primary antagonist in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata.'' He was the eldest of the Kauravas, the hundred sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra and his queen Gandhari. Being ...

to teach him about the result of stubbornness and how it can destroy life. The book illustrates the evils of ancient Indian society, such as slavery and

patriarchy Patriarchy is a social system in which positions of dominance and privilege are primarily held by men. It is used, both as a technical anthropological term for families or clans controlled by the father or eldest male or group of males a ...

, and the helplessness of a woman in a patriarchal society and her exploitation by men. Madhavi is used by multiple men throughout the book, but is neglected towards the end. The novel is considered a classic in Nepali literature.

Background

Madan Mani Dixit, a journalist by trade, wrote the novel during the Panchayat rule in Nepal at a time when censorship was prevalent for writers and journalists. His newspaper ''Samikshaya'' was closed by the government. Dixit was dejected by the censorship and decided to self-immolate outside Narayanhiti palace on 16 December 1977 (1

Poush Poush ( bn, পৌষ; ne, पौष) is the 9th month of both the Bengali calendar and the Nepali calendar. It overlaps December and January of the Gregorian calendar. It is the first month of the winter season. This month marks the start of Wi ...

2034 BS) but on the day of the planned suicide, he could not follow through on his plan. He thought that the act of censorship was not a crime that he had committed, and as such he should not be punished for it, instead he decided to start writing the story of Madhabi and Galav. He completed the manuscript in December 1982 (

2039) and the book was published on 13 April 1983 (30 Chaitra 2039 BS) by Sajha Praksahan.

Synopsis

The book is based on the Udyoga Parva of Mahabharat. When Galav refuses to give g''uru-dakshina'' to his teacher Guru Vishwamitra, Vishwamitra asks for four white horses with black ears. The horses are required in order to organize a Mahayagya for the abolition of slavery. Galav reaches the court of king Yayati, who is famous for his generosity and asks for his help to find the horses. Unable to gain those horses for Galav, Yayati decides to give away his daughter Madhabi in marriage to Galav. Madhabi is the daughter of king Yayati and an

apsara An apsaras or apsara ( sa, अप्सरा ' lso ' pi, अक्चरा, translit=accharā) is a type of female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hinduism and Buddhist culture. They figure prominently in the sculpture, dance, literat ...

, and is born with a divine power to remain a virgin forever. Galav takes Madhabi to three different kings of whom Madhabi has sons with, and Madhabi is then able to become a virgin again. Galav asks for a horse in exchange of each son. When Galav returns to Vishwamitra with three white horses with black ears, Vishwamitra has a son with Madhabi for the remaining one horse. Their son, Ashtaka, goes on to become a great king, and Madhabi is sent back to her father. Yayati organizes a '' swayamvara'' for Madhabi, which Galav does not participate in. Madhabi, dejected by the neglect of Galav, decides to become a hermit and leaves for a forest. Galav also wanders through a different forest to find Madhabi.

Characters

The novel's main characters are: * Madhavi – Daughter of Yayati, the titular character of the book * Galav – Madhabi's husband and disciple of Guru Vishwamitra * Vishwamitra – Guru of Galav, a learned sage * Yayati – a powerful Chandravanshi king and Madhabi's father * Haryasva – king of Ayodhya * Vasumanasa – son of Haryasva and Madhabi * Divodasa – king of

Kashi Kashi or Kaashi may refer to: Places * Varanasi (historically known as "Kashi"), a holy city in India **Kingdom of Kashi, an ancient kingdom in the same place, one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas **Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi * Kashgar, a cit ...

* Pratardana – son of Divodasa and Madhabi * Ushinara – king of Bhoja * Sibi – son of Ushinara and Madhabi * Pramatak – nephew of Vishwamitra * Ashtaka – son of Pramatak and Madhavi, emperor of Champa mahajanapada

Awards

The book won the ''Madan Puraskar'' for the year 2039 BS (1982/ 1983). The award was presented in a ceremony on 11 October 1983 (25 Ashwin 2040 BS). In the acceptance speech, Madan Mani said "... Madhavi of Vyas, you have been rewarded only now after thousands of years because you no longer have to sacrifice any infant in ''Varunavali'', no need to be exchanged with horses, no need to obey Vishwamitra's orders and conceive a child with Pramatak and you don't have to leave room for the Galav's flowers in the garland you have weaved." The book also won the Sajha Puraskar in the same year.

References

Notes

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External links

Acceptance speech for ''Madan Puraskar''
{{Works based on the Mahabharata, state=collapsed Nepalese novels 20th-century Nepalese novels Novels based on the Mahabharata Madan Puraskar-winning works Sajha Puraskar-winning works 1983 Nepalese novels Nepali-language novels Nepalese mythological novels