Is Karna Relevant today?

Like I said in my last post, I just finished Mrityunjaya. But I’m talking about it again, because I don’t think I did a good enough job talking about it. I don’t think enough words exist to describe the man, the being and the enigma that was Karna, Shivaji Sawant comes close.

Describing the factual events of his life are informative, but there is so much more to this character than just his life story? He is an inspiration and a way of life. He can show you the light in your moment of darkness. I know Im elevating him to a God like status, and maybe I just haven’t had a religious awakening yet, where I have found that kind of faith in an entity. I think what makes Karna special, is that inspite of being the son of the Sun God, he is still a human, a living being, his qualities are still achievable, still possible. They come from witin his self, his own character, his own doing.

It makes me wonder, are the qualities that defined the man irrelevant today?

 In a world where means of strengthening our bank accounts cause us sleepless nights and control of oil resources drive nations to war, has selflessness lost its meaning? Billionaires can give their second and third billions away, how many will give away that first billion? Or every last cent? If someone asks me for my  most coveted asset or something that defines me, will I be able to just give it away with the same calmness and fortitude as Karna gave away his impenetrable armour and flesh earrings? Do I have that mental strength and lack of attachment to anything?  Which brings me to my next point..

How important is our word in today’s world?  If I give you my word that I will make something  happen,  how far will I go to complete it ? Are empty promises the norm now? What do I stand for? And how does that define me? Politicians to public, CEOs to employees, husbands to wives…we just make promises, promises of world peace, prosperity and fidelity. Isn’t  a moment of weakness only as strong or weak as our resolution and mental strength? Does momentary happiness or a trivial conquest justify breaking a vow or a ending a pact?  If at a crossroad of Pursuit of happiness and Doing the right thing, do you know what you will choose?

These values stand true for our society as a whole, and us as individuals. Is it possible for us to make it through the world and succeed ( with whatever definitions we might hold for success) with these virtues? Or don’t we stand a chance in a society driven by other factors? I can see glimpses of such people in the world ( mostly through other books). But these are people who succeeded in one of the chosen paths. You can be spiritual guru or a world leader, can you be both? Can you become a King and a Hero of charity?

Having said all of that I wonder if the qualities that define Karna were developed within him towards a greater quest. Was he challenging all the insults, questions, hurt by becoming super human in his spirit, was that his way of showing the ignorant world ( albeit subconsciously) that no amount of insulting his ancestry ( charioteer’s son) or questioning his worth as a King ( being a non-Kshatriya)  could break him and that he could overcome them with such staunch endurance?  Or was he just born with a character of steel and a heart of gold?

What do you think?

***Ater I read the book, I had a pit in my stomach, my heart sank into the deep trenches, but I wanted to keep it that way. The moment that you feel when you are a part of the book and the writer is talking to you, that moment is special, never give it away.

When I started this blog originally it was thoughts like these that I wanted to express. But I’ve realized that while different genres invoke different thoughts and feelings, its books like these that you want to carry with you forever.