Honour, Choice and Conflict: Pune Revisits Karna Through Rashmirathi

Pune, 14th January 2026: On a lazy Sunday afternoon around 4.30 pm, nearly 25 people—aged between 12 and 77—came together at Monalisa Kalagram, a cultural space in one of Pune’s upscale neighbourhoods, to discuss a book written almost 75 years ago. Rooted in the Mahabharata, an epic over 5,000 years old, Rashmirathi by Rashtrakavi Ramdhari Singh Dinkar drew this diverse audience at a time when reading habits, particularly of classical Hindi literature, are steadily waning.

The epic poem re-examines the life of Karna, among the Mahabharata’s most layered and conflicted characters, delving into themes of honour, loyalty, social injustice, inner strength, friendship, and moral dilemma. Organised by the city-based poetry collective KavitaKAFE on January 11, the discussion raised searching questions: Was Karna a victim of social prejudice? Could he have chosen to part ways with Duryodhana? Does dignity outweigh righteousness? And does Rashmirathi depict Krishna as compassionate or strategically calculating in his engagement with Karna? Participants also reflected on aspects of Karna’s character that resonated with their own lives or ideals.

The evening opened with a short flute recital by Pune-based artist Avikal, creating a contemplative atmosphere. The session’s special guest, Sunil Deodhar—author, poet, essayist, translator, and broadcaster—remarked that as long as society remains essentially unchanged, the events of the Mahabharata will continue to recur. What is considered right in today’s world, he observed, often mirrors what was deemed right in that ancient era as well.

Deodhar also shed light on historical and geographical references from the epic, explaining the significance of Karna being called Angaraj—the king of Anga—and how present-day Bhagalpur corresponds to the ancient Anga region. He further spoke about the five villages the Pandavas asked of Duryodhana as a final attempt to avert war and their present-day equivalents: Indraprastha (Delhi), Swarnaprastha (Sonipat), Panduprastha (Panipat), Vyaghryaprastha (Baghpat), and Tilprastha (Tilpat).

One participant remarked that Rashmirathi remains timeless because it reshapes Karna’s image, offering a perspective that differs significantly from his portrayal in the Mahabharata. While many admired Karna’s virtues—his generosity, loyalty to Duryodhana, sense of duty as a son, ambition, and resilience—others reflected on his flaws. The discussion acknowledged that Karna’s life was shaped as much by his admirable qualities as by his difficult choices, inner conflicts, and moral dilemmas, making him a deeply human character rather than a one-dimensional hero.

According to participant Subash Sangam, Karna is neither a hero nor a villain but one of the many layered figures in the epic. “The characters of the Mahabharata live on through each one of us,” he said, adding that at different points in a single day, people embody Arjuna’s focus, Draupadi’s anguish, and Karna’s unresolved fears rooted in past experiences.

Several participants expressed empathy for Karna, recalling the injustices he faced—Indra seeking his armour and earrings in disguise, Parashurama withdrawing his guidance upon discovering Karna’s perceived social identity, and Kunti abandoning him at birth only to later seek his help. At the same time, many felt that his silence during Draupadi’s disrobing was a moral failing that could not be overlooked.

Among the youngest attendees was Anabiyah, a 12-year-old participant whose father is a poet. Encouraged by her parents, she attended as a listener, driven by curiosity to learn more about Rashmirathi and to hear the perspectives of others.

Lisa Pingale, founder of Monalisa Kalagram, said the space encourages art and literature to be lived, questioned, and experienced across generations. When an epic like Rashmirathi brings people of varied ages together to reflect on dignity, choice, and inner conflict, she noted, it reinforces the continued relevance of Hindi literature.

Since its inception, KavitaKAFE has aimed to nurture a genuine interest in reading and writing Hindi literature. “At a time when books are increasingly read on Kindles and lives are dominated by phone screens and reels, the response to a timeless Hindi classic like Rashmirathi was overwhelming and deeply heartening,” said Garima Mishra, founder of KavitaKAFE.

The event was supported by The Bharatiya Frequency and Ridaan Array.