"Progressive" Thinking Regarding Heroes and Villains (was Another question re: Siitaa-Maata)

[Guest guest]

>

>Each has given a twist here or a twist there, as it suited their

imagination

>and pet predilections. In fact, there was an actor-producer--in Tamilnadu,

by

>name Mr.R.S.Manohar who specialized and enacted dramas depicting even

>villainous characters in our epics in glorious light based on one or the

other

>of these Ramayanas.

 

 

This sort of attitude seems to be more widespread in India than any of us

are comfortable in accepting. For example, my father used to tell me that

his English professor in college always glorified characters like Karna,

Duryodhana, etc and said that they were better followers of dharma than the

Paandavas. Of course, he would always refer to incidents like how the

Paandavas misled Drona, how Arjuna slew Karna when the latter was off of his

chariot, etc.

 

I really find these kinds of misconceptions to be completely distasteful and

offensive, and I think it is our duty to refute them whenever and wherever

they show up. It may very well be that this sort of "alternative" thinking

has its locus primarily in scholarly circles, but in my opinion that

shouldn't stop us from trying to speak up and represent the correct

understanding.

 

yours,

 

-- Krishna Susarla