Stories of the Mahabharatha - Paperback

by P. J. Joseph (Author)

"Mahabharatha" is the greatest Indian Epic, which is the longest and the best of all the epics ever written anywhere in the world. It appeals not just to the people of one nation, or of one race, or of one religion, but it may be of interest to people of all nations, of all climes and of all times. It consists of 1000,00 four line stanzas equal to about eight times as much as Odyssey and Iliad, the Greek epics put together. No other poet in the world could sustain the height of their imaginative flight at a stretch so long as, the author of the Mahabharatha. Here is a summarised version of this long epic written in simple language, for the benefit of the children. Mahabharatha is a conglomeration of epic and didactic discourses written in nineteen books. It deals with not only war; but it also gives accounts on cosmology, theology and discourses on philosophy, law, religion and the norms of war. About the Mahabharatha it is said that what is found there may be found elsewhere; but what is not found there, you may not find anywhere else. All the possible ramifications of human thoughts, feelings and actions are dealt with in this voluminous book. But this book is a humble attempt to re-render the stories related to the main theme of the poem. What is left out is more than what is included so that the attention of the readers may not be diverted from the main theme.

Author Biography

Professor (Dr.) P J Joseph is the President of Toc H Institute of Science & Technology and Toc H Public School, Cochin. He started his college teaching career in 1965 and has been in the teaching field for nearly three decades. He was a member of the Board Studies of Mahatma Gandhi University and edited text books for the University. He was the Secretary of the Ernakulam District Committee of Kerala Association for Non-Formal Education & Development and a Member of its State Council. He was elected to the National Council of Indian Adult Education Association. He is the Founder Member of the Commonwealth Association for the Education and Training of Adults founded in 1986. He got actively involved in the Total Literacy Project of Ernakulam District, launched in 1988. He became a Member of the State Level Academic Core Group for the Total Literacy Project of Kerala, India, launched in 1990. He got deeply involved in the Slum Rehabilitation Programme of Alwaye, India. He is one of the Founder Members of Kerala Counsellors Forum started in 1992 and was its Vice President. He is a Founder Member of the Association for Environmental Protection. His name appeared in the International Directory of Environmentalists, published from USA, jointly by World-wise and Friends of the Earth in 1992. World Bank engaged his services for the survey of Adult Education for a Review of the World's Experience in Literacy, on 1998. UNESCO Institute of Education, Hamburg, Germany enlisted his name in the UNESCO/UIE Exchange Network of Experts for promoting Adult Literacy, in 1999. Kingston University, U.K conferred International Visiting Fellowship on him in 2007. 'The Confederation of NGOs of Rural India' conferred on him the Award of 'The Servant of the Poor', at their National Conference held at Bangalore, India in 2012. 'The Indian School Psychology Association' conferred 'The School Psychology Services Award 2012' on him for his 'Services and Contributions to the Promotion of School Psychology' in India. He was conferred 'Edupreneurs Award 2013' by the Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development, Govt. of India, at the meeting of the Entrepreneurs in Education held in New Delhi. He presented Papers at various International Conferences abroad. His articles have been published in Local, National and International Journals. He has published a few books including four travelogues in Malayalam and three books of simplified versions of classical stories in English.