Marginal Communities In the Mahabharata DOCX

Title	Marginal Communities In the Mahabharata
Author	Manav Kambli
Pages	11
File Size	37.2 KB
File Type	DOCX
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Manav Kambli HUMCUS202 LE201276359 Assignment 02 The Issue of Marginalization Abstract From the wide corpus of Brahminical literature available to us, the Mahabharata is perhaps the most comprehensive; in terms of inferential data one can gather, in order to determine certain facets of mainstream Brahminical society. We cannot classify the Mahabharata as a generic piece of literature- it is far more, and examined academically, perhaps far less. This paradoxical statement is made because of a particular reason; Number one, it is an Epic- very much a compendium of Mythopoetry; and number two, the nature of its vastness makes it a rich pool of information hidden in strands of cultural and more importantly, storytelling code- indeed, one must be extremely careful when attempting to make defnitive conclusions. This introduction is provided because this paper chooses the Mahabharata to make certain observations, and based on those observations, make certain conclusions. This paper attempts to observe the depiction of marginal societies in the Mahabharata; but, it attempts to go one step beyond- an inferential analysis as to deciphering the reasons for depictions in that particular manner. The few determinants which will be expressed will undergo thorough scrutiny; and ample proof will be provided for the same. The question, simplistically put- "Why these societies are depicted the way they are?" will be answered. The paper will be divided into sections; Section I outlines the various societies depicted in the Mahabharata; and consequent categorization. Section II elaborates on their depictions and origins. Section III deals with the analytical part, and attempts to answer the question discussed in the abstract, and section IV is the conclusion. Section I: Trifecta; Marginal, Peripheral and Mainstream Note: System strictly refers to the Societal system. For the sake of clarity, this paper will begin to defne the terms "Marginal", "Peripheral" and Mainstream. This paper includes the term peripheral because there is that particular distinction we need to make when we tabulate the entirety of entities in the Mahabharata. Some sections of society hang in the balance (for example, when we mention "Sairandhris" and so on) and need to be properly distinguished as such. The defnitions provided below will be contextualized in the latter half of this section. Let us begin with the marginal. 1. "Of, relating to, or situated at a margin or border." 2. "Limited in extent, signifcance, or stature." 3. " Occupying the borderland of a relatively stable territorial or cultural area." 4. "Close to the lower limit of qualifcation, acceptability, or function." (Merriam- Webster, 2013) These defnitions are the barest literary ones, and yet, one can divine meanings from these- none of them seem to have necessarily have a neutral defnition, so to speak- save for number one. Defnition Three even pertains to societies, referring to...