Karna “The Unsung Hero of Mahabharata: The Voice of the Subaltern”

Kapoor, Kajal

doi:10.21744/ijllc.v2i4.280

IJLLC

2016

DOI: 10.21744/ijllc.v2i4.280

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Karna “The Unsung Hero of Mahabharata: The Voice of the Subaltern”

Kajal Kapoor

Abstract: My research paper entitled 'Karna-The Unsung Hero of Mahabharata: The Voice of the Subaltern' appealed me a lot personally, as though this paper I did not just get the pleasure of reading several books but also got chance to do research on the greatest epic Mahabharata. Mahabharata is considered the greatest epic among all the grants and holy book, however, seeing it through the eyes of Karna, is entirely different as he is not just the greatest archer but also the unsung hero whose life is not less than any i… Show more

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2021

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Re-inventing Karna of the Mahabharata with a Renewed Perspective- A Review of Literature

Bharathi¹,

Manjula

2021

IJMTS

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Purpose: A casual look at the phenomena around us gives us a certain image, a certain perspective. When we have an insight into the same through a prism of investigation a new image, a new perspective emerges. The epic Mahabharata is so full of players who mesmerise the casual and serious readers alike. The plot is thick with kings, ministers, commanders, courtesans, mentors, soldiers, etc. Birth, lineage, warfare techniques have a role to play in deciding one's status in that setting. A character in Mahabharata that has been wronged vehemently from the social perspective and of relative deprivation is Karna. Design / Methodology/Approach: The Review of Literature is carried out with the secondary data gathered from educational websites and written publications. The research will be conducted using Research Journals, Doctoral Theses, and websites. This qualitative research is carried out by examining and interpreting existing knowledge on the subject utilising the keywords “Adroitness, Deprivation, Karna, Kunti, Values” found in online articles, peer-reviewed journals, publications, and a range of related portals. Findings/Result: Karna had asked his mother to officially identify him as her son even in his final moments. During his funeral, the Pandavas learned the heinous truth about their kinship. Krishna tells Kunti that Karna was a hero who died as a hero. Despite the fact that the world is full of greed, power, and betrayal, only Karna has chosen the path of righteousness. The only way to kill Karna was to take away all of his righteousness. Karna received legitimacy during his death, something he had desired his entire life. He'd finally earned his rightful place. Originality/Value: This paper makes a sincere study of Karna a major character in The Mahabharata, the of whom is not available anywhere else in the world in any literature as Ramdhari Singh Dinakar opines. He exemplified the finest attributes of courage, honesty, friendship, benefaction, austerity, oblation, and emancipation of the oppressed. When pushed to their limits, all of these characteristics combined and manifested in Karna. Karna cultivated all his attributes by acquiring balanced knowledge in meditation, weaponry, and scriptures. Karna sprouted in secret, like a forest flower. Paper Type: Exploratory research paper.

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Re-inventing Karna of the Mahabharata with a Renewed Perspective- A Review of Literature

Bharathi¹,

Manjula

2021

IJMTS

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An Exploration of Karna’s Last Days through the Prism of Aristotle's Hamartia

Bharathi¹,

Manjula

2021

IJMTS

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Purpose: The Mahabharata by Vyasa and the Iliad by Homer both have a surfeit of Heroes. The two great heroes are Karna from the Mahabharata and Achilles from the Iliad. They have a few things in common as their lives are heavily influenced by fate. As fate is inescapable, they confronted their death head-on. The figures of Karna and Achilles stand out dramatically in both Indian and Greek mythology respectively casting everyone else in the gloom, thus making both the masterpieces incomplete without these heroes. Though these spartan heroes were invincible due to their origin, they lay their lives in Kurukshetra and Trojan wars respectively. They decided to be glorious despite knowing the fact that they would die in the battle. Few characters in the ancient literature have been drawn with such perfect skill and insight into human nature as Maharathi Karna, a character who has never been truly understood, has been continually misinterpreted despite the completeness, candor, and clarity of the amazing Epic in providing us with specifics of his existence. The most important aspect of his life narrative which is often overlooked or glossed over by modern writers which has far-reaching implications is that Karna was born out of wedlock and so cast away at birth. His adroitness and the values he lived and loved for standing him in good stead for a hero. Design / Methodology/Approach: The paper is prepared by accumulating secondary data from educational websites and written articles. The study shall be carried out with the use of Research Journals, Scholarly Books, Doctoral Theses, and websites. This qualitative research is carried out by studying and interpreting the existing knowledge on the subject using the keywords “Karna”, “Epic”, “Tragic flaw”, “Battle”, “Loyalty” which are accessible in online articles, peer-reviewed journals, publications and a variety of related portals. Findings/Result: Karna's entire life was spent trying to figure out who he was and to find an answer to the same. Karna's life also shows us how life is full of unrelenting choices; the options being limited. Friendship with someone who has aided at times of need and to whom one has sworn lifelong loyalty and friendship is admirable, but there must be a fine line drawn between this duty and other, more important responsibilities. Karna is, without a doubt, a figure who, in Aristotelian terminology, possesses the classical features of a tragic hero, as well as a figure with a great deal of literary potential. Originality/Value: This paper attempts to make a sincere study of Karna as a tragic hero under classical examples of Aristotle's ‘Hamartia’ where a hero wants to ‘Triumph’ but while doing so he commits an intentional error and ends up achieving exactly the opposite with disastrous results. The story of the life of Karna is pre-eminently great nevertheless fate and destiny played an unwarranted and calamitous game facilitating the reader of the Epic to identify himself or herself with the Tragic Hero. Paper Type: Exploratory research paper.

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Karna “The Unsung Hero of Mahabharata: The Voice of the Subaltern”

Cited by 2 publications

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Re-inventing Karna of the Mahabharata with a Renewed Perspective- A Review of Literature

Re-inventing Karna of the Mahabharata with a Renewed Perspective- A Review of Literature

An Exploration of Karna’s Last Days through the Prism of Aristotle's Hamartia

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