Radheya (Marathi, Paperback, Desai Ranjeet)

Radheya (Marathi) by Ranjeet Desai tells the tragic and heroic tale of Karna, one of the great heroes of the Mahabharata.

Summary Of The Book

In Radheya, author Ranjeet Desai explores the eternal of question of doing what is right versus carrying out one’s duty, told through the eyes of Karna. Set against the backdrop of the Mahabharata, Desai attempts to make readers aware that although winning is usually the goal in every war, one should also be ready to face defeat.

Through Radheya, readers will learn about Karna and the circumstances which earned him a memorable place in the Mahabharata. From early on, Karna was deprived of familial love. Throughout the course of his life, he suffered at the hands of others. He also felt discarded by his own mother Kunti and was also ridiculed by many because he was born in a lower class. Since Karna’s foundation years were so tumultuous, his immense strength was reduced and he often felt lonely.

Nevertheless, through Radheya readers can visualize the development of Karna’s individuality and how he came to earn the title of fearless warrior. This novel is essentially a written tribute to the hero Karna who fought against his own family members while remaining loyal to his friend. Through Karna’s decisions and actions, Desai brings to life the impending dualities of life such as victory and defeat, and doing what is expected versus doing what is right. Through Karna, Desai has tried to universalize the “karma katha”.

This text was originally written and published in Marathi, in 1976.

About Ranjeet Desai

Ranjeet Desai was an acclaimed Marathi writer, who hailed from Maharashtra, India.

During his lifetime, he had authored numerous short stories, collections, plays, and movie scripts. Some of these titles were Gandhali, Kamodini, Mekh Mogari, Sneha Dhara, and Raja Ravi Varma. He also wrote movie scripts like Rangalya Ratri Ashya, Nagin, and Sawal Maza Aika.

Desai was born in the township of Kowad which is located in the Kolhapur, Maharashtra. He received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to literature. These were the Maharashtra Rajya Award in 1963, Hari Narayan Apte award in 1963, Sahitya Akademi Award in 1963, and the Padma Shri in 1973. Ranjeet Desai passed away at the age of 63, in Mumbai.