A Session With Devdutt Pattanaik at Jaipur Literature Festival 2019

Jaipur Literature Festival is India’s biggest literary gala. It is the place where assembles India’s and World’s biggest names from the field of art and literature.

One such name is Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik. Trained in medicine he has worked health and pharma industry for 15 years and eventually started writing articles on Indian mythology which gradually became his full-time passion.

His session was dedicated to his recently launched book Shyam: An illustrated retelling of the Bhagavata. I attended the Jaipur Literature Festival 2019 on Friday 25th Jan just to witness Devdutt’s session. I and many other fans were highly excited to watch and to listen to their favorite author.

Hindu God Mughal Venue

Mughal Tent in JLF 2019

The beauty of India lies in unity in diversity, and its best example was seen in Devdutt’s session which was based on one of the prime Hindu deities, Lord Krishna and was held in the Mughal Tent.

Introduction of an author by an author

Ira Mukhoty Introducing Devdutt Pattanaik

The session was commenced with the introduction of Devdutt by a renowned writer and author Ira Mukhoty. Ira has penned down some really good books on powerful women of India’s myth and history.

Her recently published book “Daughter of the Sun: Empress, Queens, & begum of the Mughal empire is highly praised by readers.

It’s Time for Devdutt Pattanaik

Devdutt Pattanaik at Jaipur Literature Festival 2019

Ira Mukhoty beautifully introduced Devdutt and handover the session in hands to continue.

He said Namastey, and while everybody was expecting him to start his session, Devdutt played a famous song from Bollywood’s magnum opus Mughal-E-Aazam and the song was Mohe Panghat Pe Nandlal Ched Gayo Re.

Wasn’t that unexpected?!

Well, “that’s how unexpected things happen when you are talking about Krishna”, said Devdutt.

Devdut started speaking on the various aspects of Lord Krishna, but his major focus was on telling the meaning of Shyam. He spoke of various stories from his books and discusses them in an interactive way.

Personally, I loved the way he kept the session balanced between fun, laughter, and learning.

Who is Infinite Being? Why The Infinite Becomes Finite?

Devdutt Pattanaik Explaining The Difference Between Finite and Infinite at Jaipur Literature Festival 2019

The discussion started with the concept of differentiating between Infinite and finite. Author of Shyam explained how almighty, the infinite becomes the finite for us and for our betterment. He said “Infinity has neither gender nor the agenda. It is pure love.”

He further explained the concept of Avatar, by giving an example of Lord Ram and Krishna who are the mortal forms of Lord Vishnu. Ram does not know he is Vishnu while Krishna knows; the act of self-actualization leads us to become Shyam.

Self-Actualization Paved The Path of Becoming Shyam

Illustration of Krishna From Shyam by Devdutt Pattanaik

Self-actualization is having the knowledge of who we are what is another person. Devdut digs slightly into the psychology and gives us the mental status of Kansa and Duryodhan.

He explained Krishna never saw Kansa and Duryodhan as his enemy. Krishna rather has sympathy for both of them. According to folk retelling, Kansa was rejected by his mother on his birth, he was raised without mother. While Duryodhan though has both parents but he has a father who cannot see him, and a mother he chose not to see him by a binding fold on her eyes.

He explained how a child without the love of and care of parents can grow normally?

Krishna understands this, thus he is self-aware. He not only thinks about himself but he also understands other’s situation. That’s what he tries to teach us, we should stop being self-centered and should also think about others, their problems, and their situation.

Session Where Laugh and Learning Runs Parallelly

Shyam As Shyama - Are Krishna and Kali One or Different?

One of the best parts of the session is that Devdut also included various folk stories where Krishna is considered as the form of Goddess Kali while Radha is the form of Lord Shiva. He said that Krishna is called Shyam and Goddess is called Shyama, therefore, people often compare and try to connect Krishna and Kali.

The way Devdutt carried his session was spectacular. His way of narration was so thrilling that I got Goosebumps literally. Well, that’s the sign of a good storyteller.

The Conclusion

Devdutt Pattanaik at Jaipur Literature Festival 2019

After an hour, it was a time when the session came to its end. It summed up with the question and answer.

It was a memorable experience listening and watching my favorite author live. The cake got cherry when I got an autograph by Devdutt on my copy of Shyam: An illustrated retelling of the Bhagavata.

It was an amazing experience being a part of the spectacular literary gala. The session was a perfect blend of fun, laughter, and learning.

If you have not visited JLF 2019 yet, do not miss it. Expect the unexpected at Zee Jaipur Literature Festival 2019.