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Shakuni : Master of the Game
Threatened by the formidable Kuru dynasty, the kingdom of gandhara is forced to marry off its princess to the blind king of Kuru, Dhritarashtra. Enraged by this defeat, shaken, the heir to the gandhara kingdom, vows to seek revenge. He uses the Kauravas and Pandavas as Pawns in a cleverly crafted game of deceit and destruction and watches as the mighty Kuru kingdom crumbles. Told through the gripping perspective of shakti, this retelling of the Mahabharata asks the burning question –was shakuni really the vilest of all villains or the victim of a grave injustice?.
- GenresMythology
296 pages, Paperback
Published April 15, 2019
30 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 3, 2020
I know "Shakuni" from Mahabharata and "Manthara" from Ramayana, these two are always portrayed as darkest or the most wicked minds of their time. You will find good and bad of all other characters, be it Duryodhana, Karna, Ashwatthama or Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Vali. I feel even storyteller needed an antagonist for such epics, so 99.99% times you will find these two characters in negative color only. Have you thought what was their thought process behind their actions. I haven't encountered a book on Manthara yet bu in Shakuni this was given in finer details.
I won't take you through the story, as usual, instead let me give you situations to visualize
1) Assume your beloved sister is at the age of marriage. You are looking for a good candidate. But some powerful guys come to your father and forced your father to give your sister's hand in marriage to a blind guy.
2) Assume you love your sister's eyes as she sees and tells you how she sees the world. Now she has wrapped the cloth around her eyes for the rest of your eyes.
3) After all these sacrifices she is married to a person who lost kingship due to his blindness to a weaker candidate
Can you tell me what would be your reaction? Unless you are a saint or insane you will be disturbed and shocked. So was the case with Shakuni.
If you think he was all evil and coward. Have you ever thought about how he was able to manage his kingdom staying away in Hastinapur. Well, that required good governing policies and implementations. Coming to cowardice he did encourage and plotted the skirmish within the family, but when the time came for the war he didn't run away. He was there with his nephew. Read the book to know the exact character of Shakuni.
The book is written nicely with author's imaginary skill which has capabilities to neutralize one of the sinister characters from Hindu mythology. Language usage is good for regular readers. The pace of the book is medium to fast. A good choice for a long trip.
Detailed review link - https://chevusread.blogspot.com/2019/...
I won't take you through the story, as usual, instead let me give you situations to visualize
1) Assume your beloved sister is at the age of marriage. You are looking for a good candidate. But some powerful guys come to your father and forced your father to give your sister's hand in marriage to a blind guy.
2) Assume you love your sister's eyes as she sees and tells you how she sees the world. Now she has wrapped the cloth around her eyes for the rest of your eyes.
3) After all these sacrifices she is married to a person who lost kingship due to his blindness to a weaker candidate
Can you tell me what would be your reaction? Unless you are a saint or insane you will be disturbed and shocked. So was the case with Shakuni.
If you think he was all evil and coward. Have you ever thought about how he was able to manage his kingdom staying away in Hastinapur. Well, that required good governing policies and implementations. Coming to cowardice he did encourage and plotted the skirmish within the family, but when the time came for the war he didn't run away. He was there with his nephew. Read the book to know the exact character of Shakuni.
The book is written nicely with author's imaginary skill which has capabilities to neutralize one of the sinister characters from Hindu mythology. Language usage is good for regular readers. The pace of the book is medium to fast. A good choice for a long trip.
Detailed review link - https://chevusread.blogspot.com/2019/...
April 19, 2020
Well shakuni was kind off interesting character in the whole mahabharata..
After seeing the name of the book I wanted to read it...
And finally I did it...
This book shows shakuni's point of view.. Like what he thought about others and everything..
Many times I felt its and image clearing book... (like these maligned cricketers and actors write these days)
I heard someone say for the first time that vidur was cunning and planned things and played games..
But if we think from duryodhana's or Shakuni's perspective they will definitely find others evil and planning against them..
This one was good attempt..
But I am not truly convinced and also I am not on shakuni's side after reading this...
Many acts which were actually done by shakuni are shown as not done by him..
So that's what made me think it's image clearing book...
Like blaming others for our wrong doing...
Just coz we were wronged doesn't give us a right to inflict wrong on others...
After seeing the name of the book I wanted to read it...
And finally I did it...
This book shows shakuni's point of view.. Like what he thought about others and everything..
Many times I felt its and image clearing book... (like these maligned cricketers and actors write these days)
I heard someone say for the first time that vidur was cunning and planned things and played games..
But if we think from duryodhana's or Shakuni's perspective they will definitely find others evil and planning against them..
This one was good attempt..
But I am not truly convinced and also I am not on shakuni's side after reading this...
Many acts which were actually done by shakuni are shown as not done by him..
So that's what made me think it's image clearing book...
Like blaming others for our wrong doing...
Just coz we were wronged doesn't give us a right to inflict wrong on others...
May 2, 2020
Getting to the know "Mahabharatha" from the view point of shakuni was different, interesting and captivating. For lot of questions that shakuni asks answering was very difficult. Human has always been one sided (towards victorious side) while thinking on history seems getting proved here again.
Book starts with shakuni's story, talks only on the incidents where he was part of, gives his thoughts / deeds / justifications for some of the action / inability to crub certain deeds or happenings / questions that he has to the world today and completes the moment he passes away. The book was to the point, fast paced and crisp. I would not say the book is completely balanced, but it seemed neutral in maximum incidents.
"Mahabharatha is not fight between good and evil, till you think that way u will not understand mahabharath" is the big thought realization from this book. Lot of new perpective's are thrown into the incidents, in case you are staunch believer on kuru / pandavas the book might not suit you, since you will feel that author is living in dreams. If you are patient enough to read the other side of the story and try to understand, if you are kind of neutral and would want to know different perspective of a well know story, then the book will be a great though provoker. Go for it
Book starts with shakuni's story, talks only on the incidents where he was part of, gives his thoughts / deeds / justifications for some of the action / inability to crub certain deeds or happenings / questions that he has to the world today and completes the moment he passes away. The book was to the point, fast paced and crisp. I would not say the book is completely balanced, but it seemed neutral in maximum incidents.
"Mahabharatha is not fight between good and evil, till you think that way u will not understand mahabharath" is the big thought realization from this book. Lot of new perpective's are thrown into the incidents, in case you are staunch believer on kuru / pandavas the book might not suit you, since you will feel that author is living in dreams. If you are patient enough to read the other side of the story and try to understand, if you are kind of neutral and would want to know different perspective of a well know story, then the book will be a great though provoker. Go for it
June 17, 2019
The Wrong One Or The Wronged One?
Who defines the righteous? Who decides what is good and what is not? Who determines that one set of perspective is the right way of living while the other isn’t?
We have been fed over the centuries that Ram was the virtuous, while Ravana’s path not good enough to be followed; just as we believe that Pandavas won the Mahabharata because God supported them, no wonder Kauravas were destined to lose. We believe what we have been told again and again, over the years. How open would you be to accept the culprit as the victim in any of these epic tales?
Shakuni – Master of the Game authored by Ashutosh Nadkar explores the antagonist’s perspective, the dire situations that made him one of the greatest villains on Indian mythology. It compels you to understand the various perspectives that our eyes alone cannot decipher. The author dissects this complex character and presents it in a simplifies manner. The author has posed a question, if Shakuni was the wrong or was he wronged.
For me reading the story of Mahabharata from Shakuni’s perspective was an immersive experience. It helped me understand, what meets the eyes may not always be true. When one does something to hurt another, probably he would have been hurt enough to take such a step.
Well enough of gyaan, coming to the review. Needless to say, the book is extremely gripping. Though one may know the stories and incidents, looking at it from another perspective seems like a completely new story. Though the plot isn’t new, it shows a young and energetic Shakuni transforming into a corrupt man he dies as and how he was made to look like the vicious person, he wasn’t perhaps. The narration is so powerful, inspite of decades old training, you will feel for Shakuni and want him to win. Be it the description of the characters or scenes, it is engrossing. The author is nothing less than ‘Master of words’
My ratings: 4.5 out of 5.
Who defines the righteous? Who decides what is good and what is not? Who determines that one set of perspective is the right way of living while the other isn’t?
We have been fed over the centuries that Ram was the virtuous, while Ravana’s path not good enough to be followed; just as we believe that Pandavas won the Mahabharata because God supported them, no wonder Kauravas were destined to lose. We believe what we have been told again and again, over the years. How open would you be to accept the culprit as the victim in any of these epic tales?
Shakuni – Master of the Game authored by Ashutosh Nadkar explores the antagonist’s perspective, the dire situations that made him one of the greatest villains on Indian mythology. It compels you to understand the various perspectives that our eyes alone cannot decipher. The author dissects this complex character and presents it in a simplifies manner. The author has posed a question, if Shakuni was the wrong or was he wronged.
For me reading the story of Mahabharata from Shakuni’s perspective was an immersive experience. It helped me understand, what meets the eyes may not always be true. When one does something to hurt another, probably he would have been hurt enough to take such a step.
Well enough of gyaan, coming to the review. Needless to say, the book is extremely gripping. Though one may know the stories and incidents, looking at it from another perspective seems like a completely new story. Though the plot isn’t new, it shows a young and energetic Shakuni transforming into a corrupt man he dies as and how he was made to look like the vicious person, he wasn’t perhaps. The narration is so powerful, inspite of decades old training, you will feel for Shakuni and want him to win. Be it the description of the characters or scenes, it is engrossing. The author is nothing less than ‘Master of words’
My ratings: 4.5 out of 5.
July 11, 2020
Shakuni - Master of the game by Ashutosh Nadkar is the story of great Indian epic Mahabharata from Gandhara raj Shakuni's point of view.
The story starts with the marriage of Shakuni's beloved sister Gandhari with the blind king of Hastinapura Dhritarashtra. With hatred in the heart for Pitamah Bhishma and Kuru dynasty, Shakuni vows to take revenge for his sister's forced marriage which eventually leads to the great war of the Kurukshetra. As the story unfolds you will get to know more about the characters in-depth. Shakuni's perspective on this epic is really provoking and sometimes questions the deeds of the legendary humans and great warriors.
I got to know various facts in this book but some seemed to be folklore presented only to make Shakuni's character strong. The author narrated the story beautifully from Shakuni's point of view. It is well-paced, gripping and insightful. The thought-provoking questions by Shakuni in this book really questioned whether he was the only one who was responsible for the war? Or rather it was consequences of the deeds of the Kuru dynasty men and women? Shakuni, the cunning, treacherous and deceptive man as described by everyone was really the vilest of villains in this epic?
To know more grab your copy today.
The story starts with the marriage of Shakuni's beloved sister Gandhari with the blind king of Hastinapura Dhritarashtra. With hatred in the heart for Pitamah Bhishma and Kuru dynasty, Shakuni vows to take revenge for his sister's forced marriage which eventually leads to the great war of the Kurukshetra. As the story unfolds you will get to know more about the characters in-depth. Shakuni's perspective on this epic is really provoking and sometimes questions the deeds of the legendary humans and great warriors.
I got to know various facts in this book but some seemed to be folklore presented only to make Shakuni's character strong. The author narrated the story beautifully from Shakuni's point of view. It is well-paced, gripping and insightful. The thought-provoking questions by Shakuni in this book really questioned whether he was the only one who was responsible for the war? Or rather it was consequences of the deeds of the Kuru dynasty men and women? Shakuni, the cunning, treacherous and deceptive man as described by everyone was really the vilest of villains in this epic?
To know more grab your copy today.
Read
September 2, 2020First thing I admired about this book is that it make us to realise wrong's done by other characters like bhishma, yudhishtra, Dronacharya, kunti, Arjuna and others
Moreover the author has created an impact such that we may feel sorry for sakuni. And loved the way he(sakuni) compares himself a warrior in his own means.
Some parts of story like explaining the birth of Pandavas made me uncomfortable.
Overall a not a superb read but can try it once.
Moreover the author has created an impact such that we may feel sorry for sakuni. And loved the way he(sakuni) compares himself a warrior in his own means.
Some parts of story like explaining the birth of Pandavas made me uncomfortable.
Overall a not a superb read but can try it once.
July 9, 2019
THE Mahabharata, we tend to see the epic from one point if view. This version not only broadens the perspective of the reader, but also raises questions that are right in front of them but are ignored because it's all about heros and villans. There are no heros and villans in Mahabharata, but meere pawns. That's what this book was able to show. I enjoyed it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2019
diffrent shade of mhabharta
May 30, 2022
Ashutosh Nadkar
Shakuni - Prince of Gandhara, has always been known to be a villain in Mahabharata. He was known to be the cause of the Pandavas to loose everything in their possession during the renown Game of Dice.
However, was Shakuni truly a villain as he has been portrayed throughout the history?
This is the story of Shakuni and his POV of the Great War that has change the history, has left me with awestruck and pondering with unanswered questions...
A simple story of Shakuni yet utterly gripping. I finish this book in two days with my mind left in mayhem. Certainly a good read if you are able to open yourself to know and devour the least known characters of the Mahabharata, the untold story of perhaps who consider them as least important role but the truth is way beyond that - I am sure know, each and every character on the Kuru Dynasty has their roles played well.
Was all that has happened a genuine game of fate or was preplanned?
"I do not know if the gods chose sides in that epic battle. Bhisma, Drona and Karna lay dead, each killed when unarmed, unprepared. No Pandava had the ability to bring those Kaurava warriors down while they still carries their weapons. Why were they killed when they were armourless, unguarded and vulnerable? Did Krishna master their destinies?"
Shakuni - Prince of Gandhara, has always been known to be a villain in Mahabharata. He was known to be the cause of the Pandavas to loose everything in their possession during the renown Game of Dice.
However, was Shakuni truly a villain as he has been portrayed throughout the history?
This is the story of Shakuni and his POV of the Great War that has change the history, has left me with awestruck and pondering with unanswered questions...
A simple story of Shakuni yet utterly gripping. I finish this book in two days with my mind left in mayhem. Certainly a good read if you are able to open yourself to know and devour the least known characters of the Mahabharata, the untold story of perhaps who consider them as least important role but the truth is way beyond that - I am sure know, each and every character on the Kuru Dynasty has their roles played well.
Was all that has happened a genuine game of fate or was preplanned?
"I do not know if the gods chose sides in that epic battle. Bhisma, Drona and Karna lay dead, each killed when unarmed, unprepared. No Pandava had the ability to bring those Kaurava warriors down while they still carries their weapons. Why were they killed when they were armourless, unguarded and vulnerable? Did Krishna master their destinies?"
May 20, 2020
This book by #ashutoshnadkar published by @juggernaut.in is an amazing book that will give you a new perspective. Though there are certain things that the author mentioned which I didn't felt were true.
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But overall, I liked how the author crisply narrated his journey. The journey of #gandhar raj Shakuni. The way the author expressed his emotions and described his character is commendable. .
Still, I don't feel, he was a bad man. There is some more truth that is yet to be discovered. Well well, The engaging and crisp writing style of the author forms a vivid picture of Mahabharata in front of us.
With interesting dialogues and strong characters, From the description of Gandhar to BhishmaPita, to Hastinapur, this book has it all.
It's an interesting book that you'll love if you want to learn more about #mahabharata.
.
But overall, I liked how the author crisply narrated his journey. The journey of #gandhar raj Shakuni. The way the author expressed his emotions and described his character is commendable. .
Still, I don't feel, he was a bad man. There is some more truth that is yet to be discovered. Well well, The engaging and crisp writing style of the author forms a vivid picture of Mahabharata in front of us.
With interesting dialogues and strong characters, From the description of Gandhar to BhishmaPita, to Hastinapur, this book has it all.
It's an interesting book that you'll love if you want to learn more about #mahabharata.
November 8, 2022
Was Shakuni the villest of villains in the epic? Is Vidura the most pure hearted knowledgable gentleman the history ever witnessed? If the Pandavas were the noblest of men, what virtue led Vidura to pledge his wife? Is Draupadi the only wife of Pandava brothers? Is it fair for mighty Bhishma to corner Gandhara and marry Gandhari to blind Dridrashtra? Was Vidura partial towards Pandavaas especially Yudishtra? Why is the world completely unaware of the fact that Shakuni was against Draupadi's humiliation? Is it fair for Drona to claim Ekalavya's thumb and sought war against Panchala purely for personal rage?
Everything is fair in love & war, Shakuni had his bit of fairness!
Everything is fair in love & war, Shakuni had his bit of fairness!
June 11, 2020
Does Shakuni deserve a better mythological image?
A lot has been written earlier on mythology and characters. I think since the creation of Ramayana, Mahabharata or Gita, the formal / informal sequence of writing about his story and characters started and thousands of books have been written so far. But Ashutosh’s book looks somewhat different from them all. The reason for this is lively writing and an entirely new view of the subject. Read the Full Review
here
A lot has been written earlier on mythology and characters. I think since the creation of Ramayana, Mahabharata or Gita, the formal / informal sequence of writing about his story and characters started and thousands of books have been written so far. But Ashutosh’s book looks somewhat different from them all. The reason for this is lively writing and an entirely new view of the subject. Read the Full Review
here
May 17, 2020
This is my first book about an particular mythological character based book. I really enjoyed the book and it really made me look in a different aspect. From reading this book i really started liking shakuni and hated the other characters. I was in dark regarding the deeds kf the main characters which even some i knw didn't made me think wrong but it indeed was wrong and im absolutely justifying everything and every deed done by shakuni a lot. Loved the book to the core and hoping more ❤️
June 3, 2021
It is always a wonderful feeling to read any book on Mahabharata and it is even more exciting to read the story from shakuni’s perspective .Shakuni the man who the world knows as the most vile person has truly his own reasons for setting the stage for the war .The Author aptly quotes in the conclusion that various people had their own motives for joining the war and that he was not solely responsible.Who will judge who is right Kauravas and Pandavas?
February 7, 2020
महाभारत के सम्पूर्ण धटनाक्रम एवं पात्रो को शकुनी की दृष्टी से देखना वाकई एक नए नजरिए से इस महागाथा को समझना है | पुस्तक शुरुवात से ही अपनी पकड़ बनाए रखती है, अंग्रेजी भाषा अथवा मूल हिंदी भाषा में इस पुस्तक को पढ़ना दोनों ही समान अनुभव देती है, अंग्रेजी भाषा के पश्चात अपनी मातृभाषा 'हिन्दी' में पढ़ना एक शानदार अनुभव रहा।
October 18, 2020
Ashutosh Nadkar has done a fantastic job. He really dazzled me with his incredible, descriptive yet brief way of telling things. Nothing new till midway in the book however it picks up afterwards. The last chapter is pivotal in all the other chapters and it really makes the reader question the unanswered. Its 4 star book guys i dont know why goodreads isn't letting me select any other except 1
January 6, 2021
I was mesmerized by the cover of the book. Yes, it does tell us how Shakuni was a victim of a grave injustice, but I somehow felt that the story was not apt in certain places of the book, such as the incident at the house of wax, etc.
July 24, 2024
Okayish book
POV of Shakuni in Mahabharata war.
Not so gripping, misses out on important points, ameture writing, nothing fancy.
Could have stressed on strategies, mind games, etc but just lays out same old Mahabharata epic.
POV of Shakuni in Mahabharata war.
Not so gripping, misses out on important points, ameture writing, nothing fancy.
Could have stressed on strategies, mind games, etc but just lays out same old Mahabharata epic.
Read
June 12, 2020An interesting take on the most intriguing villain of all time.
Despite Mahabharata being a known story the book is actually a page turner !
Despite Mahabharata being a known story the book is actually a page turner !
October 24, 2020
This book will challenge you to develop a different mindset towards Mahabharata.
June 11, 2021
A new perspective
This novel surely gave us an insight and new perspective on a character from the great epic that we all dislike: Shakuni.
This novel surely gave us an insight and new perspective on a character from the great epic that we all dislike: Shakuni.
May 12, 2022
A very good intriguing and thought provoking book on the most cunning and important character in the epic "MAHABHARAT" named SHAKUNI, who gets credit to play and important role in the epic.
Currently reading
July 7, 2022I am currently reading this book
January 6, 2024
Well crafted, but ends like pause in the play.
April 27, 2020
This book is the ultimate joy for people who want to have an alternate perspective. Pandava's who were portrayed as noble also carried out injustice in several ways. Gandhara was a small kingdom compared to Asthinapura. Bhishma was never ready to accept the refusal of alliance from Gandhara. Every noble character in the Mahabharatha carried out injustice to one another. Since the entire Mahabaratha was said in the perspective of Pandava's, we always believe that Gaurava's were the actual antagonist of the story. It's actually not entirely true. Except the incidence happened to Panchali, the total blame can be put on to each side. Only thing I felt reading in this book was, an injustice against a woman is the highest form of injustice.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews