Indian Readers discussion
This topic is about
The Difficulty of Being Good
COZY READS - IND. REGIONAL.TRANS
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The Difficulty of Being Good - Sri, Aparna, Gorab, Indrani
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I mean there's a column below the title saying this topic is about book/author where you can add the book.
then this discussion will show up with the book/vice versa.
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What a pity, I've read it in January but I will follow the discussion. It will be interesting for me because in the book he makes also examples with Indian politicians or two rich brothers, I don't recall now their names. So sometimes for me it was boring because I didn't know these people. I was however able to understand why he talked about them, but not who they were or what they did.It's a good book, I'm sure you will enjoy it.
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I saw your review and have been very curious to read it. Please enrich our discussions by joining in Dely.
Without reading the book, wild guess - the two rich brothers you are talking about could be Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani.
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Didn't find anything new or eye-catching in the central story of Mahabharata.
Halfway through prelude, and finding it very interesting already. So the build up is immaculate!
Gorab wrote: "Without reading the book, wild guess - the two rich brothers you are talking about could be Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani. "Yes, I think those are the names.
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https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."
Thank you. But it is showing now. Perhaps the app doesnt show.
Started reading the first chapter ...recap of Mahabharata...will read more and update tonight at my time...never read a non - religious account of this epic more...excited :D
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Ya the app doesn't show.
But still there is a problem. This discussion thread doesn't appears on the book page. I remember while creating threads in RP, the thread used to appear at the bottom of book page... scrolling down after all the user reviews.
Its specific to threads created only in IR. Works fine with other groups.
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If you've read any version of Mahabharata, the recap doesn't adds anything new.
What all you've read related to Mahabharata?
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thanks again :)
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Gorab wrote: "Aparna wrote: "Started reading the first chapter ...recap of Mahabharata...will read more and update tonight at my time...never read a non - religious account of this epic more...excited :D"If yo..."
I recently read jaya by devdutt pattaniak...loved it ....yet to read parva and yuganta...
Yes the initial recap doesnt have anything new in it.
I got caught up with all the readathon frenzy., will pick this up on monday , so that i can read and ponder at liesure :)
Want to join but packed up to the neck. 😁
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Neck reminds me of that other book Resh :P
How far have you guys progressed? Let me see if I can fit it in too... I am assuming this is going to take a while to read..
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Chapter 1 on Duryodhan is yet to come.
Please join in. This is the kind of book you wouldn't want to read alone.
Gorab wrote: "I'm still on Prelude. Around 5%.Chapter 1 on Duryodhan is yet to come.
Please join in. This is the kind of book you wouldn't want to read alone."
yes.. the debates would be enjoyable.
Got out my lovely hardcover, admired it, opened to see the print, loved it even more.... that's about it till now! :PWill start today! ;)
Aparna wrote: "Started reading the first chapter ...recap of Mahabharata...will read more and update tonight at my time...never read a non - religious account of this epic more...excited :D"I happily skipped that recap. With several years of having the story being narrated by my grandfather and having read several books on the subject, I think I am quite aware of the broad story line. :)
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Will start today! ;)"
Envy envy envy raging envy!
Indrani wrote: "How far have you guys progressed? Let me see if I can fit it in too... I am assuming this is going to take a while to read.."I thought the same but it wasn't a difficult or challening read. It won't talk about the Mahabharata as we usually think, but it focuses only on Dharma and its meaning. I found also the language of the author easy and flowing (and I'm not an English native speaker) and this helped a lot. The author is also repetitive but in a good way. Only the second last chapter was really too repetitive for me. He already said everything so that chapter was really a useless addition.
Srividya wrote: "Got out my lovely hardcover, admired it, opened to see the print, loved it even more.... that's about it till now! :PWill start today! ;)"
Lol
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I wasn't sure of this, and hence to check this claim, tried searching on internet (wrong step!). And here I am after wasting a couple of hours on ages of characters, still clueless!
Gorab wrote: "Srividya wrote: "Got out my lovely hardcover, admired it, opened to see the print, loved it even more.... that's about it till now! :PWill start today! ;)"
Envy envy envy raging envy!"
I know.... that's why I mentioned it! :P
Gorab wrote: "Chapter 1 says : "Yudhishthira, was born a few minutes before Duryodhana."I wasn't sure of this, and hence to check this claim, tried searching on internet (wrong step!). And here I am after wast..."
I don't think that is true, although many people have written it or rather interpreted it that way based on what I feel is wrong understanding of the facts.
From what little I know, Duryodhana and the whole of Kauravas were born at the same time where the womb of Gandhari as precipitated into an earthen pot (symbolism or real, I am unaware) split into 100.
Kunti uses the mantra shared by the saint only after that, if I am not wrong and begets her three while Madri begets her two.
However, there isn't any such thing as exact time that is mentioned in the Mahabharata or even the fact that one brother preceded the other... I guess it is interpretation that was made later on the belief that Yudhisthira was the rightful king. Mahabharata introduces the duality of right, as in both the correct ideals and the rights of a person, from the very beginning. Reading it carefully, you will find that some of what Duryodhana claims is not all that wrong in terms of 'having a right to it' but unfortunately the whole thing is couched within a moral right and wrong, where I guess Yudhisthira scores or if you want a typical religious interpretation, where god is on his side rather than the other.
Not sure if this makes sense... all I wanted to say was that there is no such reference in the actual text...
Gorab wrote: "Chapter 1 says : "Yudhishthira, was born a few minutes before Duryodhana."I wasn't sure of this, and hence to check this claim, tried searching on internet (wrong step!). And here I am after wast..."
I have looked in my edition of the Mahabharata and the birth of Duryodhana is described before the birth of Yudhisthira so I think he was born first? I don't know because there isn't written the exact day or time when he was born. Also because in the same time Pandu was away with Kunti and Madri and my book describes first one event and in the next chapter the next event but without adding an exact timeline.
Srividya wrote: "From what little I know, Duryodhana and the whole of Kauravas were born at the same time where the womb of Gandhari as precipitated into an earthen pot (symbolism or real, I am unaware) split into 100. "
In my edition there is written that Duryodhana borns first and after him the other 100 brothers from this stone-womb that splits, so he should be the first-born of the Kauravas.
Sri, have you read the full Mahabharata? Sadly I could find only an abridged edition but I hope it is faithful, at least with the most important events.
Inasmuch as twins or in this case 100 children are born at the same time and maybe a second or so before or later, it is said that Duryodhana is the first born of the Kauravas. Dely, you are right when you say that the birth of the Pandavas occur after that of Duryodhana, although an exact date is not mentioned or even the timing as such.
I have the original Mahabharata with me in English, which i do consult from time to time. The one that has been translated from the original epic. However, I haven't read it in full. My readings have been either C. Rajagopalachari's Mahabharata, which is quite comprehensive in its narration or a few other treatises that look into select events and describe it in full. Also, I had the added benefit of listening to these stories multiple times from my grandfather who had studied it quite deeply.
However, I feel that most books that claim to tell the story of Mahabharata usually do it fully and are quite faithful to the original text inasmuch as they can be. However, in some areas, like in this present book - differences in interpretation occur.
Here again, I think the interpretation is such because it is felt that the older son should succeed and if Yudhisthira is the oldest, his claim to the throne is strongest... a popular law of succession of property and title, read backwards to an age where it may or may not have existed in the form as it is today.
Gorab wrote: "Chapter 1 says : "Yudhishthira, was born a few minutes before Duryodhana."I wasn't sure of this, and hence to check this claim, tried searching on internet (wrong step!). And here I am after wast..."
Was it only a few minutes? I was under the impression that Gandhari/Dhritarashtra were very unhappy when they heard aboout Yudhisthira's birth. Gandhari sort of forced labour and gave birth to a ball.. some sage then came on and broke the ball in 101 pieces and put them in jars of ghee and thus after some time kauravas were born.. very gruesome story this..
Wow.. I never noticed Duryodhana being born before Yudhisthir in any of the versions I read :(
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Gandhari conceived first, and Dhritrashtra was hopeful of having the eldest child of the next gen as his own. But due to some reason her pregnancy lasted for 2 years and Yudhisthira was born before that. Causing dismay again to Dhritsrashtra.
The way Kauravas were born - same as Indrani described. Read this version and its possible variations in Jaya by Devdutt.
Gorab wrote: "I never read Duryodhan elder than Yudhisthir... All that I've read, Duryodhan and Bheema are almost same age...Gandhari conceived first, and Dhritrashtra was hopeful of having the eldest child of..."
+1
I will recheck Jaya once more
Indrani wrote: "Wow.. I never noticed Duryodhana being born before Yudhisthir in any of the versions I read :("As I said, elder or same or younger isn't really given in a clear format. But there are two opposing views, depending on the interpretation and original work that the person has read.
I also felt that Yudhisthira was the elder one.....
You both are right. Just checked the original text, Bhima and Duryodhana were born together and Yudhisthira is the eldest.
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But I can't help to delve into details when its about Mahabharata :)
Almost done with Chapter 1. Its going to be a long and thoughtful read.
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"Lord Layard goes to the extent of saying that those who work too hard and excessive hours may improve their own income, but they create a problem for the others, who feel dissatisfied.
The rat race forces people to spend less time with their families and in community activities, and reduces the overall contentment of the community.
Hence, he makes a bizarre suggestion—tax those who work too hard. This will, he feels, tame the rat race, reduce envy, and improve overall human happiness."
Philosophically, agree with this sentiment. But have many logical issues with this kind of a setting. Isn't it like shooting on your own legs?
If benefits tend to get "equalised", whats the motivation for hard working people if they don't get that extra earnings out of their extra effort? So this philosophy wants them not to be that hard working and thereby contribute to overall contentment of community?
Gorab wrote: "By the end of Chapter 1, "Lord Layard goes to the extent of saying that those who work too hard and excessive hours may improve their own income, but they create a problem for the others, who feel..."
I do find this argument quite ridiculous.. sorry.. can't believe such a lack of freedom that one can't even "work" hard.. and also harder workers pay more tax anyway.. this is like saying we were happier as apes in caves.. I mean this reverse journey to contentment.. while I am not at all against people working less to be with their family, and wont dream of taxing them for that, but the folks who want to work hard should be left alone to do so too (and the harder workers would solve their family problems)
also contentment depends on personal nature, right?
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It might be just another way of getting more tax amount and justifying it by wrapping it up in philosophy :D
Regarding man in the cave, reminds me this quote from Hitchhiker's galaxy :
“For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much—the wheel, New York, wars and so on—whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man—for precisely the same reasons.”
And yes, its not really contentment if it is forced!
Reading chapter 1..lots to ponder ...Duryodhana's envy is described so aptly..., loved the analogy of game of dice and life.
Indeed isnt this true '"The mahabharta sees a vice behind every virtue , a snake behind every horse , a doomsday behind every victory , an uncompleted ritual behind every completed sacrifice "
Indrani wrote: "Gorab wrote: "Chapter 1 says : "Yudhishthira, was born a few minutes before Duryodhana."I wasn't sure of this, and hence to check this claim, tried searching on internet (wrong step!). And here I..."
I have heard this story too...
Gorab wrote: "Ha ha ha... if this is the only logic for taxation, I agree it is stupid. But somewhere I believe there must be many more reasons for such a tax structure and not just for biasing against hard earn..."Loved that quote...its absurd but true :D
Gorab wrote: "Ha ha ha... if this is the only logic for taxation, I agree it is stupid. But somewhere I believe there must be many more reasons for such a tax structure and not just for biasing against hard earn..."Love the dolphins quote.. and of course nothing can be apt for everyone.. every law would have that flaw
Aparna wrote: "Reading chapter 1..lots to ponder ...Duryodhana's envy is described so aptly..., loved the analogy of game of dice and life.
Indeed isnt this true '"The mahabharta sees a vice behind every virtue ..."
Liked this line much... need to start soon
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(view spoiler)
Only found one strange statement - that there are indeed versions of Mahabharata where Draupadi was saved by cosmic balance and there was no role of Krishna during the vastra haran episode.
Blurb:
In his new book, Gurcharan Das turns to the Mahabharata in order to answer the question, 'why be good'', and discovers that the epic's world of moral haziness and uncertainty is closer to our experience as ordinary human beings than the narrow and rigid positions that define most debate in this fundamentalist age of moral certainty.