Mahabharat is as we know, one of
the two epics of the Indian history. The other being Ramayana. Undoubtedly
Mahabharat is more detailed and complicated of the two. With so many characters
and situations Mahabharat clearly stands out as the best literary work by the
Aryans.
Starting with the Aryan invasion
into the Sindhu Ghati (Indus Valley) it describes the growth and expansion of
the Aryan empire in India and completes with the end of the greatest dynasty of
the yog – The Kuruvansh.
This kuru dynasty was bestowed
with great warriors and rulers including Raja Bhaghirath who was responsible
for bringing the Holy River Ganges to the planet earth from the heavens; Raja
Bharat after whose name the country was christened as Bhaarat; Devarath, the
son of river Ganga who was trained by Guru Bhraspath himself in the heavens and
finally the Pandavas lead by Yudhisthir followed by his grandson Parakshit (son
of Abhimanyu) who apparently was the last king of the dynasty.
All these characters and many
more like Vasudev Krishna, Guru Drone, Dhritrastra, Panchal Raj Shakuni,
Duryodhan, Anga Raj Karna etc make this epic memorable and fascinating.
Of all the characters mentioned
above, the one that interests me the most is Sut (schedule Caste) Putra Karna.
He was brought up by a chariot driver who worked in the royal family. Karna
from the very childhood realised that he was bestowed with divine powers and
was destined to achieve great heights. Unfortunately he was born in an era when
cast was based on birth and not on ability. He suffered a lot of mental pain
and agony as he would never get a chance to brush his talent of archery as no
pronounced teacher would teach him for him not being a Kshatriya. Left with no
other option he tricked Guru Parshuram to teach him the art of archery by
convincing the Guru that he was a Brahmin. But that was soon disclosed and Guru
Parshuram disbanded him. Thus he had yet another abrupt end to his education. After
this he tried a number of times to showcase his talent but was never awarded a
chance again due to cast distinction.
All this had created such an
impact on his mind and soul that now he would do anything to get the due
respect. At this juncture came a turning point in his life. There was once an
archery competition organised by the royal family and all the royals were
invited to exhibit their talent. Karna with great enthusiasm and zeal went to
take part but Maha Mahim Bhishm restricted him from doing so stating that a
Sudra could not take part in such a competition with the royalties. Duryodhan accompanies
the greatest opportunist and strategist, Panachal Raj Shakuni cited the
opportunity recognising that karna had great powers and roped him in by backing
his strengths and bestowing him with the throne of Anga. Karna hungry for
respect as he was, got so obliged by the gesture that he wowed to stay loyal to
Duryodhan through all thick and thin.
From this point on Karna just had
one point to prove – Great warriors are not born only in the families of
Kshatriyas but even a Shudra like Radha could give birth to the greatest Archer
of all times. To prove this right the only way he could think of was to fight
and defeat Arjuna – the acclaimed Ace archer of the Kuru dynasty. And he knew,
he shall get many chances to do so being in the good books of Duryodhan who was
more than eager to cross swords with his cousin Pandavas. Hence knowing that
Duryodana was not the right person to be a successor to the throne he supported
him incessantly. And as is said –
‘kajal ki kothri mein kaam karoge, to kalit to lagegi.’
Karna as well on many occasions commited
deeds that his soul would not permit him to do but he had to for the sake of
his friendship with Duryodhan who gave him respect by giving him the
opportunity to be a ruler of Anga. Thus
Karna, for respect, lost his soul in the bargain. He was so keen on getting the
due admiration that he overlooked everything else. He would not even listen to
the suggestion of his parents and his loving wife who tried a lot to persuade
him for staying away from Duryodhan. But to his credit a man with so much
capabilities, if does not get an opportunity to exhibit and get the due respect
for the same such repercussions are obvious.
Indeed he got a few opportunities
to fight Arjuna in the due course but either Guru Drone or Paitmah Bhishma would
intervene and stop the rivalry. This would increase his frustration and anger
even further.
And finally the Great Fight ‘Mahabharat’
was scheduled between the Kauravas and the Pandavas to be fought on the battle
ground of Kurukshtra. Karna took it to his stride and was ready to contest
Arjuna for one last time as he was determined for bloodshed. Now came a bigger
twist. Kunti the mother of Pandavas discloses that Karna is not a shudra by birth
but a Kshatriya. Surya Putra Karna was born of the womb of Kunti with the blessings
of Lord Sun. But as this happened when Kunti was still unmarried, she abandoned
Karna fearing the embarrassment from the society.
This was the biggest turnaround
and the most interesting point in the life of Karna from my point of view.
Kunti gives him an option to join Pandavas assuring him that Yudhisthir along
with his brothers would accept him as the eldest Pandav and he would become the
King after the battle. Wow dream come true. Karna has got a the fairy tale
ending to his sorrows. All his life he wanted the repect that a Kshatriya King
gets. All his life he hated himself for being a Shudra and wanted to be a
Kshatriya and here it was – he is a Khsatriya Born of a Kshtrani Kunti. Now he
has no reason to be sad. He can live his dream. The flip side – now he has no
reason to fight and kill Arjuna. He wanted to do so just to prove that a Sut
Putra can be better than the best Khsatriya. But he is not a Sut putra so even If
he kills Arjuna he would not be able to prove anything. So happy ending all is
good now. Pandavas along with karna can go and defeat the kauravas and Karna
would be the biggest Ruler of the Bhaarat Varsh.
Karna now has no identity. He is
not a Radheya, not a sut putra which he was all his life. He is confused, he
know not what to do.
Why? For reasons best known to
him. He desides to fight on Duryodhan’s end and wants to kill Arjuna his own
younger brother because he has gone so far in the rivalry that he cannot back
out? What the hell.
I just don’t understand Karna as
a character. When we started he sounded a very strong guy fighting the odds of
the society to gain his place and by the end he is a card board figure who has
lost his soul and is merely following orders of Duryodhan.
What a waste of a talent.
