The Great Epics And Tales - 1605 Words

Mythology is one of the most interesting parts of a culture. It reveals customs, history and traditions like no other. Above all it defines the way of living and reflects the mentality of an entire civilization. Almost every society in this world has faced sexism in one form or the other. Some societies chose to fight it and bring a change. On the other hand there are a few societies where sexism became a way of life. It is instilled in the minds of the people and passed from one generation to another. It is not questioned. Instead, It is accepted. Can mythology have a role in this acceptance of sexism in a society? Like everything, blind faith in the great mythological epics also comes with a price. We fail to realize that the great epics†¦show more content†¦It is disheartening that on one hand India is coming forward as one of the most progressive nations when it comes to science and technology while on the other hand choice is still a luxury for the women of this society . Sexism in the modern Indian society is a result of centuries of acceptance and ignorance. Particularly in this society Sexism takes its roots from mythology and ancient tales of the kings and the queens. The two of the most powerful mythological tales of all time, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, aid in the heightened levels of sexism. When I was a kid, Amar Chitra Katha was my only source of mythological knowledge except some short and inspiring stories by my grandmother. I never looked at these tales from a point of view as different as this. But when I come to think of it now, I believe I am enlightened and I feel empowered. I believe Mahabharata is one of the greatest stories ever told.It is the tale of the five Pandavas and the one hundred Kauravas , two groups of cousins who fought each other in war to rule the Bharata kingdom with its capital as the â€Å"City of the Elephants,† Hastinapura , which lies along the shore of the Ganga river in north central India. After losing his kingdom and all his wealth in the game of dice against the kauravas ,Yudhishtira, the eldest of the Pandavas gambled himself, his brothers and finally their wife, Draupadhi.( Can you believe it!). Shakuni (maternal