Book Review : 'The Making of Bhishma' by Kamesh Ramakrishna

Kamesh Ramakrishna’s ‘The Making of Bhishma’ is part of the book, ‘Fall of the Kurus’, which had its own appeal. The book refused to have the same gods, the same Gandhrvas, and even the same magical weapons. But, it probably has the truest story, which we probably had read but never understood it, in its true essence.

From the simplest of things, like what Bhishma could want in terms of how he runs his kingdom and probably to what he could desire as a man. Bhishma, who is lying on his deathbed with an arrow lodged in his lungs, recounts his part in the retelling of the striking epic. The entire episode of how he grew up in the kingdom of Hastinapura to how he became the regent of the Great War. 

He was the son of Shantanu and Ganga, and in his adolescent years, itself he had to survive his mother’s suicide. His mother walked into the Ganga and disappeared into the deepest portion of the river. 

This was followed by his father falling for a Naga girl, Satyavati, due to which, his son decided to give up his kingdom. It was the vow, Satyavati had wanted from him, as she was going to marry King Shantanu. But, she conveniently forgot to mention that she herself had a son, from a previous relationship with Sage Parashara. Satyavati has two sons, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya with Shantanu. And it falls on Devavrata to actually help in bringing them up. 

Today, Devavrata Bhishma, who is lying on his deathbed with an arrow lodged in his lungs, recounts his part in the retelling of the striking epic, the Mahabharata to Yudhishthira. The whole episode, of how he grew up in the kingdom of Hastinapura to how he became the regent of the Great War.

He was the son of Shantanu and Ganga, and in his adolescent years, itself he had to survive his mother’s suicide. His mother walked into the Ganga and disappeared into the deepest portion of the river. This, she had done because of Shantanu, following the Kavi Sangha’s laws, in bringing them up. 

Unfortunately, when 16 year old Chitranghada disappears into the forest, it is up to Devavrata to look for him. So, he goes into the forest, and ends up meeting Amba there. But he had to return home, and told Satyavati, a made up story of Chitrangada meeting his end at the hands of Gandaravas.

Vichitravirya also dies soon, but not before he marries Amba’s two younger sisters. He does not have children, but a plot is in play with Satyavati and her brother, Shukla, who is the leader of Hastinapura’s society of poets.

Tragedies continue in Bhishma’s life.

He also has to deal with Shikandin and his death, how did it happen?

Kamesh Ramakrishna

Shikandin is the heir to a very important person, does he discover it and who is his mother? Why and who kept, the whole thing a secret from him? Would his life be different if Amba had stayed on with him? Family disputes, fights for who would get what, love, resentment, jealousy and drama is what the Mahabharata contains, but all that would be in the next four parts.

This story is the one, for all those who have ever wondered what and why it happened. If you have questions, then this book probably has the answers to them, all. 

You can find the Bangalore Deccan Chronicle of My Review of 'The Making of Bhishma' by Kamesh Ramakrishna, right here.

 You can Buy the Book, right here.