Karna: The Common Man Poem by Ajit Das

Coming out of mother's womb,
you met the fate that awaits one born
out of wedlock even today.
Not cradled in her lap, but abandoned
in a basket, adrift on a river,
picked up, raised by a charioteer
of low origin - thus began the story
of rejection through the whole life
without any of your fault.

Though gifted with superior skills
in archery, you had to fight
for recognition, acceptance;
in return, there were curses, insults
for your inferior birth.
You got no chance to contest
with princely disciples of Drona,
had to withdraw at the last moment,
when you were all set to hit
the target at swyambara.

Was it a divine design
to dupe you on your charity,
take away kavach kundal,
defuse your lethal arms,
reveal the secret of your birth
at a crucial moment, making you
vulnerable, weak in determination?
But you refused to be lured
by your natal mother,
declined to switch over,
betraying loyalty and trust.

Knowing well that you were doomed,
you entered the battlefield,
fought valiantly, met the tragic end,
unarmed, at the wheel of the chariot
sunk in the earth.
You died with grace, quiet dignity.
And your saga lives on.
You're the quintessential common man
fighting against prejudices, injustice,
ever seeking recognition of innate talents.
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*Karna: born of unwed Kunti, discarded, brought up
by a charioteer of low origin
*Drona: Dronacharya, the military arts teacher of
Pandavas and Kauravas of Mahabharata
*Swyambara: in ancient India a ceremony in which
the bride chose her husband herself
*Kavach Kundal: mythical biomechanical armour
Karna was born with