Connecting With the Mahabharata History| Geography | Archaeology | Culture | Art |

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Neera Misra, is a Student Emeritus of ancient civilization, cultural and Has An independent Research Scholar and Influencer, she is Founder- Chairperson of Draupadi Dream Trust, that creates a better understanding and appreciation of ancient Itihasa, especially of Vedic and Mahabharata period. A near fatal road accident in 2000 reconnected her to her centuries old links to Vedic Kingdom, Kampilya, famous as Draupadi's place of birth and Swayamvara. This drew her towards research on the historical and cultural legacy of ancient Bharata. A Post Graduate with English (Hons), Political Science, MA (Eng.P), PGD Business Administration, EDP, she is a Visiting Professor at universities, government and private institutes. After a 2005-06 Study on "Development Opportunities in Cultural Tourism", she convened many national and international conferences and positioned exhibitions.

Her first book in 2010, Papers on How Deep Are Roots of Indian Civilization, was followed by a limited edition Coffee Table Book Revisiting Draupadi in 2013. Since 2017, she has co-edited several books which include Indraprastha Revisited (2017), Draupadi and Her Panchala (2018), Felicitating a Legendary Archaeologist: B.B. Lal and Mahabharata Manthan (2019). Her edited book Ganga: The River of Sanatana Civilization was published in 2021. She contributes to a national magazine, journals and has given talks, as well as presented papers on her work at national and international forum.

Air Vice Marshal Rajesh Lal (Retired) was comissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1968 as a fighter pilot. Heught actively in 1971 war with Pakistan and headed an operational base during the Kargil war. A Qualified Flying Instructor, Production Test Pilot and a graduate of the National Defence College, India, he commanded a frontline MiG 21 Bis fighter squadron and two fighter bases. He held staff appointments at Air Headquarters level, and at the Ministry of Defence.

On his retirement from the IAF in 2006, he joined the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Akademi, Fursatganj, Raebareli, as its Chief Pilot. He retired from active flying in 2013 after having spent 46 years in aviation.

He has authored Glimpses of India: Some 5000 Years Ago (2017) and Still Researching at 96: BB Lal (2018). He has also co-edited Indraprastha Revisited (2017), Draupadi and Her Panchala (2018), Mahabharata Manthan (2 vols., 2019), and Felicitating a Legendary Archaeologist: B.B. Lal (3 vols., 2019).

The plan to write a Coffee Table Book 'Connecting with the Mahabharata' was an idea which we thought was most appropriate when we decided to honour Prof. B.B. Lal on completion of his 100 years of age and 75 years of his archaeological research, both events occurring this year in 2021. Prof. Lal's first set of excavations was at Hastinapur followed by Indraprastha in 1952-53, when he went on a journey to discover the historicity of Mahabharata. We felt that this would be the most appropriate gift for the occasion. The consolidated work of Draupadi Dream Trust on Mahabharata-linked topics, with leading scholars since 2008 helped in structuring the contents of this book.

The book is divided into eight sections that throw light on important aspects that are often missed in the multitudes of misperceptions created over almost 1000 years' neglect of our traditional knowledge systems. We have attempted to introduce readers to its storyline, the contents of the 18 parvas, connecting them to the vast geospatial landscape covered in the narrative. The book then highlights the significant locations and cities mentioned in the itihasa that were excavated by prominent archaeologists. Chapter 5 gives clues to Kurukshetra War's continuing date debate while Chapter 6 showcases some important inscriptions linked to Mahabharata. In Chapter 7, we display a select range of artworks through various historical periods that have kept us connected to our glorious past. The final chapter contains some little-known facts on this sacred book of knowledge, the Panchamveda.

This book is just a bird's-eye view of the huge volume of information of our ancient itihasa. Each topic is an ocean in itself and we hope this new perspective on Mahabharata will enthuse the scholars for wider and deeper research.

The Mahabharata is an epic of gigantic proportions, bringing to light the itihasa' (meaning 'as verily happened, 'that is the history') of a bygone era. We learn about the political and social systems that strived to re-establish good governance and righteousness. It was a society ruled by kings who put everything at stake to protect 'dharma'-the principles and values of life and society. It is, however, strange that for some inexplicable reason, this invaluable book of knowledge, unfolding the 'itihasa' of the maha-Bharata or the 'large-Bharata' nation, is denied a place of pride in most Bharatiya homes today. Like the Ramayana, the Mahabharata too is a narration essentially about war, status of women and the role of 'dharma' in times of family and political turmoil. The war in the Ramayana lasted for 40 days, whereas the Dharma Yuddha of Mahabharata ceased in just 18 days! Just as brothers and kin of the kings fought against each other in the Mahabharata, we find almost the same in the Ramayana where Vibhishana fights against his brother Ravana; Sugriva and Bali too are brothers but are at war with each other! In the epic of the Treta Yuga itihasa', the abduction of Rama's wife Sita becomes core issue, and in the Dvapara epic 'itihasa', it is wife of Pandava brothers, Draupadi, who is humiliated by the Kauravas, rendering the status of women to ignominy, that being supposedly one of the causes for the Kurukshetra War.

**Contents and Sample Pages**