Ahalya

‘Ahalya, Draupadi, Kunti, Tara, Mandodari – each of the Pancha Kanyas is fascinating. Ahalya’s story has been told and retold several times, sometimes with varying accounts across texts. What was her relationship with Gautam and Indra? What was her crime? How was she redeemed? Why is she among the Pancha Kanya? There have been modern retellings and interpretations too. Koral Dasgupta’s wonderful retelling adds to this corpus, with a lyrical and poetic quality. The image that will remain with you is of the Mist. That’s the reason Ahalya, and this rendition, is so enthralling’ BIBEK DEBROY

‘“Go woman, find your world yourself. The joy you seek deserves to be discovered.” Armed with this advice, Ahalya sets off on her life’s journey. The magical and thought-provoking adventure that follows will intrigue and mesmerize readers’ – CHITRA BANERJEE DIVAKARUNI

'Koral Dasgupta’s evocation of Ahalya ,the first of the Pancha Kanyas, the five virtuous women from Indian myth, is an enigmatic tale about purity, chastity, seduction, and redemption, told from the perspective of the eternal feminine' NAMITA GOKHALE

'This is one unique take on an age old tale. Brilliant and intriguing' ANAND NEELAKANTAN

'In this original and spirited interpretation of the tale of Ahalya, Koral Dasgupta gives voice, character, and agency to an enigmatic and fascinating female figure from ancient Hindu lore, while exploring and seeking to resolve the proverbial and vexing tension between asceticism and sensuality' PHILIP LUTGENDORF