Karna

Who is the most tragic hero of Mahabharat? I don’t understand why people don’t realize that entire Mahabharat is full of tragic heroes who bore more Pain than Karna who lived all his life in Palaces and enjoyed Luxuries. His problems stepped from his ambitions not circumstances. When it comes to tragic hero we need to think only about those who did not invite tragedies but they came searching for them and though they were great but did not get their due. Bhishma pitamah was also not tragic hero in my opinion as he himself made wrong decision as he was never clear about what his duty was as a prince and a son. He chose being a son over a prince. His life was painful no doubt but he made those decisions on his own. Tragic hero has two elements, One he should have a tragedy beyond his or her control and second he must be a hero fighting for a just cause not for his own ambitions or false Dharma. Real tragic heroes were those who had no choices to make and were dragged or forced by others. Even they had choices to make they were trapped by already created circumstances that they couldn’t leave their duties. Vidur- He was no less than Pandu in valor or intellect. In fact he deserved to be king more than anyone else. But as he was son of a maid he always had to be under thumb of someone like Dhritrashtra. Vidhur had to always silently work to save Pandavas and Dharma even bearing insults of ‘Khatta’ from Duryodhana. A person of such caliber never got his due but he still overcame all those and kept himself and his dignity intact. Vidur is a true hero who did not forget his real duty and protected his state and its people. He neither did stop giving right advise to king nor did stop protecting Pandavas. He wanted good life for all others but sadly was neglected. It is a great tragedy for a society that a man of his stature had to be under rule of a man like Dhritrashtra and still work selflessly for greater god. Yuyutsu- What was his fault? He deserved same place as Dushashana or others. He was also son of Dhritrashtra but got neglected as again he was of lower caste and son of a maid. Dhritrashtra wanted a heir and as Gandari took long to give birth Dhrit used her but when he got it from Gandari then he left her. Yuyutsu even though lived in palaces but he was far worse than Karna in condition. He was left to fight in Varnavrat for six months alone even though he was defending Hastinapur boundaries. He then chose pandavas before final battle. One might argue that he still got to administer Indraprastha later and was a traitor but form his point of view he did not get his right place. What he did was right but he did not get love from his father and got tag of traitor for just being righteous? He is a hero to defy those who oppressed him and his rights and join the righteous camp where he knew he would never get throne and might be just any other soldier in future. It was Pandavas goodness that they finally made him administrator realizing his merit. Draupadi- Her life was most tragic beyond doubt. Full of humiliation and life in forests. She was just a tool for revenge in hands of her father and then became a pawn in dice game so that Duryodhana could insult others. And in popular perception she got tag of someone who rejected Karna and insulted Duryodhana. However, real MB says both were false. BORI had rejected Karna’s rejection and there is no mention of her calling Durydodhana son of a blind man. She bore insults and all hardships because those who were supposed to protect her like his father and husbands all failed. She is a hero to motivate Pandavas to fight for their right. Kunti- Her entire life was a tragedy where she spent in forests or was worried about her sons. Everyone shouts at her for leaving Karna but forget how difficult would it have been for a mother. She made sure that Surya protects here and even kept an eye on him through spies. Had she kept him then Pandu had not married her and Karna would have got tag of illegitimate son and more humiliation. She lost her husband, lived in forests and had to face constant threat. In the end lost many of her grandsons and saw so much pain. She did not chose any of that. In fact Kunti was also given in adoption to Kuntibhoj and his real parents did not even care for her pain. Yadavavs barring Krishna were not concerned about her at all. She is a great role model for all single mothers to fight for their right in society with prejudice against woman and the way she raised her sons including step sons to live as a unit