Citadel of Love

by Pratibha Ray

Based on folklore, legends and myths, and backed by meticulous research, Citadel of Love is set in Odisha of the thirteenth-century—considered the state’s golden age, when the Konark temple was being built under King Narasimha Deva’s patronage.A modern-day foreigner, Charles, arrives with his fiancée to study the Konark region. As he discovers palm leaf manuscripts and records tales that were handed down generations, he begins to have strange experiences. A woman’s statue, in particular, haunts him till he is transported to a time when she was alive and the Konark complex was under construction. Two mystical love stories of the past unfold, even as new romance blooms in Charles’ life.Surreal, mysterious and often bordering on the magical-real, this is a tale of passion that spans centuries.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Indian Literature

Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Pratibha Ray is an Indian academic and writer. Her search for a "social order based on equality, love, peace and integration", continues, since she first penned at the age of nine. She wrote for a social order, based on equality without class, caste, religion or sex discriminations which are so common in India.

She was formerly a professor in Education and former member of Odisha Public Service Commission. She is one of the leading fiction writers in India writing in her mother tongue Odia. She has several novels, travelogues, short story, poetry and essay collections to her credit. She is the recipient of the Jnanpith Award for her contribution to Indian literature, the Moorti Devi Award, the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Padma Shri given by the Government of India.

Reviews

[Rajat Ubhaykar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book a day before my visit to Konark and was suitably rewarded. The author Pratibha Ray has done a great job of collecting the folklore and myths surrounding Konark in the form of a surreal novel that flits between 13th century Odisha and the present. However, the book is eventually let down by its cardboard characters and repetitiveness. Also, Ray makes the mistake of disregarding the cardinal tenet of creative writing i.e 'show, don't tell'.

[SRUTHI VIGNESHIKA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles, a foreigner visits India and stays near Konark temple in Odisha for his research. He finds both the sculptures in Konark and the women in India astounding. He falls in love with Prachiprava, a history student who came to study about the ruined temple. Charles befriends so many people here and one such old woman on her death bed gives Charles a manuscript which is about the construction of the Konark and about the King who ruled during that period. After reading the manuscript, Charles started seeing only one woman in all the sculptures - Chandrabhaga. The woman from 12th century is rumored to be roaming in the temple at midnight to save the temple even today. Charles was haunted by her.
This is an amazing and beautiful book. I now have this urge to visit this place at least once in my lifetime. The connection developed between the characters were strong. It was so well written and it never felt like a translated work. Such a perfection. The book explains the culture, religion, social life and political strength of India in 12th century. I learned so many things. The two timelines one which says about the story of Chandrabhaga and Kamala Maharana and the other which tells about Prachiprava and Charles both were correlated finely.

⭐ It is said that the artists from world were called to construct this temple which is built in 16 years. So for 12-16 years the artists left their old parents or a newly wedded bride in their home. Inspired by this huge sacrifice by the artists, the King also undergone celibacy during those years. I mean can you imagine? Comparing this with the current political leaders 🤣 I was just awed.
Do pick this book, you will definitely travel between those pillars of Konark which is going to stay with you forever in your heart ❤

[Swagata Tarafdar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have visited Konark temple many times, but was unaware of the history of it's construction. This book fills that gap. The religion, social life, political life of that period... everything has been depicted beautifully in the form of a story.

A visiting foreigner finds continuity of Indian tradition and culture from the time of Konark till date. The characters are all virtuous and stand by their values and ideals.

Overall, it's an enjoyable read!

[Mehetab · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only thing I really liked about the writing was the detailed presentation of the artwork in the Konark temple. However constant glorification of the suffering of the marginalized group (economically, socially, especially Odia women) by the author was obnoxious. Additionally, the presentation of the story itself left much to be desired. Many times, it seemed like the author almost set the story in an exciting direction, before abruptly steering away to a somewhat duller storyline.

There are better Odia books to be read.

[Bihipa Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have visited Konark once before but Pratibha Ray with her magical re-telling of the history of King Narasimhadeva and the artisans' story into the building of the Sun temple, makes me want to visit it again... The writing is so surreal that I regret being not present 700 years back to see the Sun temple in its full glory and not just the ruins that it is now! I miss witnessing the 52 ton manget plate that once adorned the top of the temple making the Sun god stay afloat in mid-air...or the navagraha slab that once adorned the top of the front door of the temple, which later, no matter how much the English tried, couldn't be taken away...or the indoor of the temple which now remains sealed and filled with sand forever...I want to see Chandrabhaga's statue waiting by the door for her husband's return with a renewed meaning this time...

And when you are totally under the spell of a 13th Century Konark, where you believe, even today at midnight, the artisans' spirits come and try to resurrect the temple and you can hear the sound of chisel on rocks, Pratibha Ray throws the crude reality of the 21st Century at you! The artisans' spirits become mere smugglers who have been smuggling parts of the priceless Sun Temple for years!

A beautifully written novel! It has the power to make you feel nostalgic about an era in history which you haven't even read about! The book paints a beautiful picture of Konark's history and tells a story of passion that will stay with you long after you have finished the novel!

The only con of this book is the harshness of the recent times that she has potrayed. A rape and murder of a young girl who was all excited to get married the next day or the duplicity of a family in deceiving a guy and marrying him off to their niece who was a minor or the betrayal of a friend in selling a girl to five guys and stuff, were not needed! The story is too innocent and pure for these! A 4 out of 5!

[Saravanan Mani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Either the era/context it was written in or the ideas being lost in translation, this ends up being a flat, uninteresting story which ends up outright racist, sexist and xenophobic at times. The worst parts of the book justify child marriage, and paint it in the same celebratory brush of Indian exceptionalism and golden past fantasy, while simultaneously gesturing at the cruelties of Indian life, unwittingly sequestering the latter as a modern phenomenon. The best parts of the book shows a lovely view of the konark temple and the details of the sculptures. For that, it gets 2 stars

[Bhabani Sankar Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Other than covering the History of Konark and Odisha of that time, it also covers various other themes like Indic Society vs Westernism, Feminism vs Traditional Loyalty, Sacrifice and Valor. Though it does covers problems of women in Indian society, it doesn't conclude that the cult of the west is a solution.

[Tizalibn]

good

[Anil Nanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent

[Piyush · Rating 5 out of 5]

कोणार्क

अप्रतिम
कथा चक्र ने आखिरी तक बांधे रखा।
शब्द में बयान नहीं कर सकता।?
ण ण ण ण ण ण

[Parag Raipuria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone has recommended me this book knowing that we have plans to visit Konark Sun temple. Book is upto the par, but not my genre.

[Ekamra Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of Odisha folklore that has been put together in the form of a running novel. The story illustrates the greatness of the Konark Sun Temple and the glorious past Kalinga had. We do not consider this novel among the modern-day writings, nor is it a classic. The book struggles to bring up the genuine emotion of each character and, in the end, just to make it emotional, hurriedly kills a few.

We were a bit disappointed with the narration and could not connect to the characters.

EBR

[Adisha Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pratibha Ray

Citadel of Love, Silapama in Odia, provides you a beautiful layout of Odisha in the 13th century as well as the British era. It absorbs you in such a manner that you feel like you have been transported to the 13th century and witnessing the building of the world famous Konark temple.
Those 1200 artisans never found the recognition that they deserved, and many other people without whom Konark would never have stood up could never get their share of appreciation. Silapadma provides every single of them all the respect that they couldn't get.
It also embraces several sacrifices that have been made on the part of the families of the artisans, as well.

The incomplete yet complete love stories of Chandrabhaga and Kamal Maharana and Charles and Prachiprava soothes your mind and calms your senses. The unconditional love of King Narsimha and Silpa teaches you the essence of 'unconditional love'. The innocence of Chittropala and Dharmananda beguiles you too.

Silapadma is a work of fiction but it made me think that there might be a chance that these would've occurred in reality. Throughout the book I could feel the pain of Chandrabagha. I got anxious too to know what was stored next in the palm-leaf manuscripts.

The souls of Chandrabhaga and Kamal Maharana and that of Prachi and Charles must still be hovering today around the ruins of the Konark !!

Thank you Pratibha Ray Ma'am for such a jewel in the treasure of Odia literature. My gratitude to Monalisha Jena Ma'am for translating the book in such a beautiful manner.

With the beautiful backdrops, the scenes, the sacrifices and the blend of love, hatred, sympathy and understanding, Silapadma simply hypnotises you.
Silapadma immortalises the sacrifices of the artisans and their families, the love of the several incomplete lovers and enthralling works of Konark.

[Ved Prakash · Rating 5 out of 5]

ओड़िया साहित्य अकादमी सम्मान प्राप्त नॉवेल "शिलापदम्" का हिंदी अनुवाद है ये।

लेखिका ने ह्रदय रूपी आँख और कान से कोणार्क को जैसा देख पाई और उससे आती आवाज़ को जैसा सुन पाई , उसी को साहित्यिक रूप में प्रस्तुत करने का प्रयास किया है। ऐतिहासिक तथ्यों को भी सम्मिश्रित किया गया है लेकिन मूलतः यह साहित्यिक कृति ही है।

एक लोकल रिसर्च स्कॉलर लड़की और एक अमेरिकी यायावर आर्किटेक्ट द्वारा कोण���र्क पर शोध किया जा रहा है। इन दोनों की मित्रता, जीवन की परेशानियां, लाइफ को लेकर पूर्व और पश्चिम की सोच में टकराव और कोणार्क के आस-पास बसे लोकल लोगों के भीतर कोणार्क को लेकर प्रचलित मान्यताओं का सिंबॉलिक और हिस्टोरिकल इम्पोर्टेंस को बखूबी बुना गया है।


कोणार्क को देखते हुए लेखिका को कुछ यूँ अनुभव होता है -

"अपूर्णता में पूर्णता भारतीय संस्कृति की विशेषता है। जगन्नाथ जैसे बिना बाहु के भी महाबाहु हैं, अपूर्ण होकर भी विश्वव्यापी हैं .... वैसे ही कोणार्क खंडहर हो सकता है मगर वह फिर भी अति मनोहर है, पूर्णता एवं महिमा से भरपूर है। कोणार्क प्रेम का मंदिर है। त्याग की पूजावेदी है। उत्सर्ग एवम् पवित्रता का अमित स्मृति सौध है। एकाग्र साधना का पुण्यपीठ है।"


1200 मुख्य शिल्पियों ने 16 वर्ष तक घर संसार त्याग कर इस अपूर्व शिल्प को जन्म दिया था। इस नॉवेल में इस मंदिर के निर्माण से जुड़े शिल्पियों के प्रेम, विरह, त्याग और बलिदान को चित्रित किया गया है। उड़ीसा के गोल्डन ऐज को भी चित्रित किया गया है तो वर्तमान की दुर्दशा को भी उकेरा गया है।

मैथुनरत चित्रों के लिए भी कोणार्क जाना जाता है। लेखिका ने इस विषय को भी समझने का प्रयास किया है कि इन मूर्तियों का क्या महत्व है और ये क्यों गढ़े गए होंगे।

[Alpha Sahoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

[Bhuban Patra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read Shilapadma, I was a bit disappointed with the translated version.