is Karna a victim casteisn? give a reasoned answer. (mark 10)
Answers
Answer:
Before answering your question I would like to share my knowledge on "Caste System" in India. I have read it in Manorama year book a couple of years ago.
When the society was changing from Nomadic culture to a more civilized living, the society was divided into certain "Class" based on the role he/she was playing. Hence came our 4 basic "classes":
Brahmin - A knowledgeable person who teaches and performs devotional prayers for the well - being of a society.
Kshatriya - Any well - built person who protects the society. Usually, this person doesn't sleep during night and ensures safety to the citizens of that society.
Vysya - A person who is responsible for the economic growth of a society.
Sudra - A person who is not capable enough to carry out any of the above mentioned tasks and helps people to carry out them by doing their chores.
In the early civilization, there was no such thing called "Caste". It was only "Class"and a person has to earn that status. One cannot acquire that by inheritance. In order to earn that status, a concept called "gurukul" came into picture. When a person is of 4-5 years of age, he is sent to gurukul and is trained with all the 63 "Kala"(according to Hinduism, there are 63 types of education). He is not allowed to go to his place until he finish his education. Based on his performance and interest in certain subject, he is given a "class".
Hence, a Brahmin's son need not be a brahmin! He should earn that class!
Later on, people became selfish and possessive about their children and started declaring their off-springs as the same class they are!
Now coming to your question, Mahabharata happened right before the start of Kaliyug and end of Dwaparayug. The whole point of Krishna Avatar and the concept of Mahabharata war is to reduce burden on earth.
In Karna's case, though he was born to a demi - god and a kshatriya woman, he was raised by a Suta and hence he was also considered as suta. But he showcased the traits of a Kshatriya and hence lived a kshatriya life, though with the help of Dhuryodhana.
I strongly believe that we made castes are a form of inheritance. I read this whole point of "Class System" and totally fell for it. A "Class" is not inherited, it should be earned. Karna had earned it.