Bengal Mahabharata

In the 21st century a battle of the Bengal is taking place as great as the Mahabharata war described in the classics. Unlike the Mahabharata the war is not between right and wrong or black and white. This was the age of 50 shades of grey. On one side were arraigned the mighty Kauravas who were numerous and on the opposite side one who looked like a Draupadi whom the Pandavas had deserted and only Kishore was there. The blind Dhritarashtra represents the equally blinded people at large. Sanjaya to fit into times has morphed into fake news mongers. Well exemplified by the IT cell of the Kauravas. The wife of Dhritarashtra who voluntarily blinded herself is well represented by the judiciary. The sins and omissions of the times have cumulatively turned into what is called as the election commission.

As far as the eye could see one does not find the cunning Krishna. But of course, Bhishma look like was very much there with a flowing beard and leading the battle himself. but unlike the much revered Bhishma for his statesmanship, the morphed one was known for his one-upmanship.  My eyes are blinded by a strong glare and I as change the angle I now could see the Shakuni. Duryodhan has metamorphed into the Bengal native and hoping to occupy the throne at the end of the battle. He even asked Draupadi to wear bermuda instead of a sari. He didn't feel sorry for saying this. 

On the other side is the lone female warrior. Is she the Draupadi or the Bengal famed Durga or the Kali herself? She was spewing fire and seen in a two-wheeler chariot. The battle looked totally imbalanced but never know with the women of this country. A docile Sita can turn into a fiery Kali in a trice. 

Oh! Who do I see praying? The Bhishma himself. Is he a little worried that the battle may not go his way? He has a knack of bonding with the electorate and comes out with riches. Before or after the battle he uses the riches to engage into horse trading. This was the modern version of Ashwamedha yagna when the horses for the courses are traded. The proof was in the wealth statement the elected representatives file before every election. Although the government has stated it was not their business to be in business, the elected representatives like to be in the business of things. In over a 5-year period they can amass wealth for their dynasty to come.

The Shakuni look alike declares that the battle has already been won, makes you wonder if the voting machines are under his control like the dices, he famously wielded in the Mahabharata classic. While the Kauravas in keeping with their reputation displayed a variety of asthras.

Draupadi aka Didi as she was fondly called now fired an intriguing letter to her brethren across the country calling for a unified battle against the Kauravas. That has the set the tongue wagging. Duryodhana announced the retirement of Didi once the battle got over. Others speculated that Didi is aiming high at the national level and was readying herself to take on Bhishma. 

Along with the temperatures the battle was heating up. Another version of the modern Chanakya who was on the side of the Didi had declared that he would take sanyasa from electoral politics should the Kauravas get a 3-figure result. One hopes he knows his mathematics, even though he might engineer results favourable to the Didi.

On the sidelight to add a flavour of comedy, as is wont in Tollywood movies, a thespian tried to replicate his disco dancing of his younger days but his joints got dis-jointed. Before the sport star could take his yo-yo test for fitness his heart left him in the lurch and it was back to the good old IPL for him now.

With the government putting breaks on the OTT platform in terms of content the live battle has substituted for real entertainment for the masses who are now able to enjoy the tandav performed by those at the electoral front in the battle.

Rest of the story "break ke baad."