I started with this line as a story to my now 7yr old LO, a month back while telling bedtime stories. I have told about many personalities, epics, space, Bharathiyar stories and songs. None of the topic exceeds more than 2 days. Sometimes the whole epic cut short to 30 mins or 45 mins, Silapathigaram- another epic in tamil, was told in 2 days. Like every kid, my kid is fond of Hanuman, so Ramayana stories went on board for 3 days.
I knew Mahabharata is not one of this kind, that can be finished in short. Not because this epic is so vast and has several stories interleaved with many characters. It is because Mahabharata is a story for life. The world even now, after so many thousands of years finds the problems we face and the dharma to be followed on every situation of life in Mahabharata. And everyone of us can relate to a character in Mahabharata and our day to day struggles, pain and emotions.
But I knew that was too much for kids to think or carry in their mind for days. And discussing for many days they might lose interest. So I decided to tell my kids or should I say, introduce them to the characters of Mahabharata.
Unexpectedly, starting off with Karna, we went a little overboard for a week. What could it be, to talk about Karna for a week?
Yes! We read, discussed and did learn more about Karna.
My favorite characters in epics or novels usually will be a strong headed, optimistic women Characters. I mostly never fall for any heroic or stunning male. ( I think the scarlet Pimpernel is a big exception,😊 because of the way we read it or because of the lovely teacher who inspired when reading, may be.. exceptional)
Talking about Mahabharata, no character in the epic can be termed as ‘perfect’ or the so called real optimistic character any fictional story usually has.
Initially I thought I loved Draupadi, then it moved to Arjuna, then to Krishna and finally, not the least Karna.
And now reading lot about Karna I give up. Yes Mahabharata is not about a flawless hero, all bad antihero and a female lead to make it a fiction. But it’s a lesson all along. And every character in the epic teaches something for life!
And the reason for this post. Having read a lot about Karna, and as I start to explore on more about other characters, I thought why not to write about it. As discussions, and as stories, you can find some articles henceforth on my blog about Mahabharata.
