Kunti often conjures the image
of a mother who sacrifices everything for her children. A mother who lives just
for her children. The mother, epitome of love. No weonder the young Arjuna considered his
mother Kunti as equal to God. Arjuna on hearing a passing remark by his
mother "share equally with your brothers" chose to share his wife
with his four brothers. Such was the stature in which she was held.
Kunti
on her part really enjoyed all the adulation and played the role of the all
suffering mother. She used drama and guile to ensure her children stayed with
her. During
the Kurushetra war she never bothered to tell Arjuna that her words "share
equally with your brothers" meant that not only his step brothers
Yudhistira & Bhima and half brothers (born to Madri) Sahadeva &
Nakula, but to Karna also.
Karna knew that the kingdom and
Draupadi was his if he accepted Kunti's story. After hearing Kunti, Karna does
not despise or judge her. Karna accepts her as she is: a human being with all
inherent frailties and weaknesses. He forgave her and gave her a promise that
no harm would come to her 4 children and she would still have 5 children at the
end of the war.
Even
this noble gesture does not open Kunti's eyes. It took several more lives till
she finally speaks the truth.
Kunti
lives her whole life in deception while appearing to be the all suffering mother.
Her children worship the false image she creates. The image projected to
protect her interest even at the cost of her children's life.
Kunti
justifies all her actions in the name of family harmony. The actions in
the end destroy the very family it was meant to protect.
The
story ends with Yudhistira cursing Kunti that from now on no woman will be able
to carry such a secret. Kunti bows her head and walks into vanavasa.
The story that begins with the
image of a loving mother ends with a shamed mother. The neglected son ends by
forgiving and blessing the mother while the upright son curses her.
Such is life. A life in which
mothers act to protect their self interest. A life where a mother pits one son against another. A life where a mother take away from one child what is
his and gives it to another and neglects the third.
A life where
the wronged son forgives and the blessed son curses.
3 comments:
Please do let me know what you think about my article.
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Excellent.thought provoking. kunthi- one of the most important,highly misunderstood charecters of the epic,Mahabharatha. maybe along with Draupadi ,the real cause itself for the war.... had to be contented with a husband who couldnt create children, had to play second fiddle to Gandhari in hastinapur. lonely even when her children became the greatest men. let out her closely guarded embarassing secret just to save one of her children. all when her children won the war couldnt rejoice it due to the havoc already created. yes, controversial at the same time respectful charecter from the best ever screenplay ever written, the Mahabharat!! well done devin, keep the good work going. waiting for more....
Thanks for the feedback Sreeraj.
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