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Ahalya's Awakening
I searched all these years for myself—and I only found Ahalya, the woman I was supposed to be born as: unblemished, without any faults. I had no hala in me, no sin, no crime, no guilt. What I had done was to respond to the call of life within me…’
Ahalya. Created by Brahma; married to one of the greatest rishis of all time; desired by the king of gods, Indra. A woman maligned and cursed.
But who was Ahalya? What did she want? Did she have ambitions and desires?
In this sparkling retelling of the well-known legend, bestselling author Kavita Kané draws out the voice of a character that lacked one—even before she was turned to stone. Tracing her journey from a precocious child, to a studious and sheltered princess, to the loving wife of Rishi Gautam, Ahalya’s Awakening delves into the mind of a woman who yearns to control her own destiny. In her tale lies the story of every woman, even today.
Ahalya. Created by Brahma; married to one of the greatest rishis of all time; desired by the king of gods, Indra. A woman maligned and cursed.
But who was Ahalya? What did she want? Did she have ambitions and desires?
In this sparkling retelling of the well-known legend, bestselling author Kavita Kané draws out the voice of a character that lacked one—even before she was turned to stone. Tracing her journey from a precocious child, to a studious and sheltered princess, to the loving wife of Rishi Gautam, Ahalya’s Awakening delves into the mind of a woman who yearns to control her own destiny. In her tale lies the story of every woman, even today.
Kavita Kané is a former journalist and the bestselling author of five books. She is considered a revolutionary force in Indian writing because she has brought in feminism where it is most needed—mythology. Her five novels are all based on women in Indian mythology: Karna’s Wife (2013); Sita’s Sister (2014), on Ramayana’s most neglected character, Urmila; Menaka’s Choice (2015), on the apsara, Menaka; Lanka’s Princess (2016), on the female antagonist in the Ramayana, Surpanakha; and The Fisher Queen’s Dynasty (2017) on Satyavati, the grand matriarch in the Mahabharata.
After a career of over two decades in Magna and DNA, Kavita quit her job as assistant editor of Times of India to devote herself to writing novels full-time. With a post-graduate degree in English literature as well as in journalism and mass communication, the only skill she has, she confesses, is writing.
Passionate about theatre, cinema and art, she is also a columnist, a screenplay writer and a motivational speaker, having given several talks all across the country in educational and research institutes, corporate and management fora and literary festivals.
Born in Mumbai, with a childhood spent largely in Patna and Delhi, she currently lives in Pune with her mariner husband, Prakash, their two daughters, Kimaya and Amiya, two dogs Chic and Beau, and Cotton, the uncurious cat.
After a career of over two decades in Magna and DNA, Kavita quit her job as assistant editor of Times of India to devote herself to writing novels full-time. With a post-graduate degree in English literature as well as in journalism and mass communication, the only skill she has, she confesses, is writing.
Passionate about theatre, cinema and art, she is also a columnist, a screenplay writer and a motivational speaker, having given several talks all across the country in educational and research institutes, corporate and management fora and literary festivals.
Born in Mumbai, with a childhood spent largely in Patna and Delhi, she currently lives in Pune with her mariner husband, Prakash, their two daughters, Kimaya and Amiya, two dogs Chic and Beau, and Cotton, the uncurious cat.
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The story begin when Menaka starts telling the story of Ahalya, Rishi Gautam and Indra Shakra; to the new Indra - Nahusha (who desires to marry Shakra's wife Sachi)
Ahalya was born as Princess of Panchal, daughter of King Mudgal and Nalayani; and twin sister of Prince Divodas. Princes was named Ahalya by Rishi Vashisht (on Lord Brahma's suggestion) which means the beautiful one without blemishes. Ahalya was intelligent than her brother but was very quiet by nature (she had great will and patience). When the Prince had adventure in his blood Princess was driven by her curiousity. Her parents were more fascinated by her beauty than her intelligence.
Ahalya met Indra Shakra when she was trying to convince her mother to allow her to pursue her higher studies in Rishi Vashisht's ashram; Indra was trapped in her beauty. Indra wanted her, he wanted to marry her. So one day Indra professes his love for Ahalya and prop proposes to marry her for which Ahalya gently says no as she's not ready to wed anyone and desires to complete her higher studies. After repeated persuasion Ahalya was permitted to complete her higher studies in Rishi Gautam's ashram. Ahalya was sent to ashram to be protected from a war. There Ahalya gets to know Rishi Gautam is a believer of scientific reasoning and logic and not in rituals and yagnas.
After the war Ahalya was to return to her palace and her swayamvar was planned by her family. Ahalya was not very happy with this news as she now loved Rishi Gautam who she knew she cannot wed. When Indra realises Ahalya does not desire to marry him he was very raged and decided to win her hand after completing the swayamvar task. Unintentionally Rishi Gautam had completed the task assigned for Ahalya's swayamvar. Rishi Gautam and Ahalya were married happily when Indra fumed in haterad and jealousy.
Story keeps going with Ahalya and Rishi Gautam and their for kids (3 sons and a daughter) and Indra with his Indrani (Asura Princess Sachi). Gurukul, new students, new book, kids, chores all this kept Ahalya and Rishi Gautam were very busy with their life and this sometimes made them unhappy. Ahalya revisits her palace to attend her brothers wedding, where she is realises she is nothing but a disappointment (by her mother's words). Helping Gautam with his work and life Ahalya had left back her desire - her education.
Time had created large gap (of love) in Ahalya and Gautam's life and Indra who noticed this gap took a chance to make space for himself. He enters Ahalyas' bed disguised as Gautam, Ahalya had realised him being Indra but her loneliness makes her move closer to Indra who was like Gautam. Rishi Gautam catches them in a private moment and curses Indra for his deed (at this moment Ahalya realises Indra never loved her, what he had for her was nothing but lust). Ahalya and Rishi Gautam realize they both have failed eachother and their marriage. Rishi Gautam leaves her with a blessing/curse of finding herself. Ahalya was mediated to stone and was revived when Prince Ram touches her for seeking her blessings. When Rishi Gautam had come to take her back Ahalya had not returned because she thought they had changed as people.
Ahalya was born as Princess of Panchal, daughter of King Mudgal and Nalayani; and twin sister of Prince Divodas. Princes was named Ahalya by Rishi Vashisht (on Lord Brahma's suggestion) which means the beautiful one without blemishes. Ahalya was intelligent than her brother but was very quiet by nature (she had great will and patience). When the Prince had adventure in his blood Princess was driven by her curiousity. Her parents were more fascinated by her beauty than her intelligence.
Ahalya met Indra Shakra when she was trying to convince her mother to allow her to pursue her higher studies in Rishi Vashisht's ashram; Indra was trapped in her beauty. Indra wanted her, he wanted to marry her. So one day Indra professes his love for Ahalya and prop proposes to marry her for which Ahalya gently says no as she's not ready to wed anyone and desires to complete her higher studies. After repeated persuasion Ahalya was permitted to complete her higher studies in Rishi Gautam's ashram. Ahalya was sent to ashram to be protected from a war. There Ahalya gets to know Rishi Gautam is a believer of scientific reasoning and logic and not in rituals and yagnas.
After the war Ahalya was to return to her palace and her swayamvar was planned by her family. Ahalya was not very happy with this news as she now loved Rishi Gautam who she knew she cannot wed. When Indra realises Ahalya does not desire to marry him he was very raged and decided to win her hand after completing the swayamvar task. Unintentionally Rishi Gautam had completed the task assigned for Ahalya's swayamvar. Rishi Gautam and Ahalya were married happily when Indra fumed in haterad and jealousy.
Story keeps going with Ahalya and Rishi Gautam and their for kids (3 sons and a daughter) and Indra with his Indrani (Asura Princess Sachi). Gurukul, new students, new book, kids, chores all this kept Ahalya and Rishi Gautam were very busy with their life and this sometimes made them unhappy. Ahalya revisits her palace to attend her brothers wedding, where she is realises she is nothing but a disappointment (by her mother's words). Helping Gautam with his work and life Ahalya had left back her desire - her education.
Time had created large gap (of love) in Ahalya and Gautam's life and Indra who noticed this gap took a chance to make space for himself. He enters Ahalyas' bed disguised as Gautam, Ahalya had realised him being Indra but her loneliness makes her move closer to Indra who was like Gautam. Rishi Gautam catches them in a private moment and curses Indra for his deed (at this moment Ahalya realises Indra never loved her, what he had for her was nothing but lust). Ahalya and Rishi Gautam realize they both have failed eachother and their marriage. Rishi Gautam leaves her with a blessing/curse of finding herself. Ahalya was mediated to stone and was revived when Prince Ram touches her for seeking her blessings. When Rishi Gautam had come to take her back Ahalya had not returned because she thought they had changed as people.
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