First, read this article by T. R. Ramaswami in the Mint on the battle of Kurukshetra. Then, there is this war of words started by a blogger called Eroteme.

Personally, I like Ramaswami’s article because it gives me a different set of things to think about with respect to the Mahabharat (and Ramayan). Sure, we all know the usual story and the date of its occurance and all that. But giving it a different line of thought makes it worth reading and I am glad Mint published it. As regards to its factual credibility, I am not too hung up on that. When I read The Mahabharat, I found it to be an interesting page turner and really racy. Eroteme might probably be right with all the factual references (although he does leave out conveniently Ramaswami’s point of the Kalat region in Baluchistan where a Dravidian language is still spoken), but for me Ramaswami’s version added more spice to the whole saga that is the Mahabharat.

All this aside, I highly recommend Ramesh Menon’s version of the Mahabharat. It is in-line for the contemporary reader and is laced with a lot of contemporary “values”, if you know what I mean.

Quiz time, ladies and gentlemen.

This time the theme is The Mahabharat.

Q1: On the first day of the war, both parties blow their respective conchs to indicate the start of the war. More of a war cry actually. Krishna blows the conch named Panchajanya. Name the conch blown by Arjun.

Q2: The battle of Kurukshetra had two invincible warriors. One was Bhishma. Name the other.

PS: The usual – No Googleing, no copying, no chits allowed.

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Answers appended:
1) Devadatta
2) Satyaki

PS: Judge’s decision is final. However, comments are welcome .

Chilli got the first one right – Full points to you and JK Steel Radials.