Prema Nandakumar's illuminating discussion on Sri Aurobindo's Savitri

Spotlight: A MAGIC BOX OF STORIES 20 Sep 2008 - The Statesman
The most precious asset of the series is the outstanding transcreation of the Sanskrit text by Prof. Lal... A review by Shekhar Sen. Prof. P.Lal - Mahabharata Katha Series:

Prema Nandakumar's introduction to the Savitri Katha is highly illuminating, though a trifle too long. Underlining the existence of a Savitri Parampara in Indian culture, she shows how Savitri has become “a role model for womankind” and how her five dharma vachanas in conversation with Yama “make a compendium for faultless living.” She has brought out the Vedic connections, referred to the Puranic versions and to the English versions of Romesh Chandra Dutta and Toru Dutta.

Her discussion on Sri Aurobindo's Savitri, arguably his greatest work, is short but illuminating. The highlight of her introduction is the section describing the Savitri traditions of women in Tamilnadu and her discussion on the Savitri Paadam (a Tamil masterpiece translated into English by her) indicating how the story has integrated “with the everyday life of women as homemakers.”