Mritunjaya: The story of Karna. By:Shivaji Sawant

Time spent reading: 15hrs.20 minutes

When you read of the tragic heroes, the long lonely battles and heart wrenching tragedies you think of Shakespear or some dark Russian drama. Close to home perhaps lies the story of a tragic hero which has been passed down from generation to generation from the time story telling first started.

This version of the story by Shivaji Sawant is specially applauded by many experts. So here I am giving my two cents on it though no body asked for it, but it is my right.

A big part of Mahabharata, the story of Karna is relatively unknown, while the original story revolves around the Kauravas and Pandavas both of whom think that they been wronged. The true victim of the story seems to be Karna. Abandoned by his mother at birth this exceptional character learns about his identity only to lose it all when as it comes to late

My review

We as Indians have heard stories from Mahabharata right from the time, we come to grasp the idea of channeling a thought. The character of Karna had never been nothing more than a glancing mention. Shivaji Sawant has taken this extraordinary character and written a beautiful story. A tragic tale of a hero on the wrong side of history. The writer does and exceptional job to successfully narrate the story of valor, bravery, loyalty, coming of age all in a single book.

One question which kept haunting me and pulling at me as soon as I put the book down. I kept asking myself would the story of the Mahabharata, changed if the story of Karna which ran parallel to it had not happened? Is it a story that needed to be told? My answer is NO. Karna was never the leader or the instigator of anything, he never did anything that would have altered the course of the subsequent war. He never stopped Duryodhana from doing what he knew was wrong or go to the Pandavas when he knew he had leverage over them. He could have easily stopped the war from beginning considering the influence he has over the Kaurava prince or late on when he had learned about his influential position in the Pandava camp, he did nothing to stop the war.

What he gained by sparing the life of 4 out of the 5 Pandava brothers or why in spite of having prior knowledge of his defeat, he engaged in an open battle with Arjun befuddles me. I am sure the writer has some bigger message in the story, just like most stories of yore. I am however unable to point my figure to it. May be someday when the penny drops, I will come back and write about it.