Department of Sanskrit, UBH

"Sir!"

Abhijit's concentration was interrupted. Suppressing the annoyance, he lifted his gaze, adjusting his specs. "Yes?"

"New books have come for the central library." The guard informed. "Shall I...?"

"Send in." Abhijit casually ordered and returned to the documents on his table. The ultramodern laptop gifted by one of his ex-students remained closed as usual. He could not become a tech-savvy person yet, perhaps due to age and a natural attraction for older conventions of pen and paper.

Two people came in with two huge boxes of books. One of them put a copy on Abhijit's table.

"This is for you, Sir."

Abhijit looked at the men once and then at the book. The title and the cover itself made him frown.

"Duryodhana: the real hero", said the title. And on the cover it was apparently a good king doing charity to his people. Abhijit's glance slided down the cover and there it was. Amitabha Banerjee, the mastermind behind the book.

The senior professor immediately felt reluctant. "This is the book you brought for the university library?"

"Will send around 15 copies to Sanskrit department's collection too, Sir." The man grinned in excitement. "It's a new bestseller on Mahabharat. Will be helpful for Sanskrit students."

Abhijit raised his hand. "No need. My students have nothing to learn from this book. Rather they might end up unlearning whatever they have studied till date. You keep it in central library only."

"Ok Sir. And please post a detailed review once you finish reading the book!" He said. "Author Banerjee has specially requested you to give a honest review."

"Me?" Abhijit gritted his jaw as he remembered Amitabha well, a former assistant professor of this university only.

"Would your author be able to bear with my review if I really give a honest one?" He smirked.

"Sorry Sir, didn't get you?"

"Nothing." Abhijit controlled himself. "Take all the books to the library. We don't need extra copies here."

"Ok Sir." They nodded and left. Abhijit closed the documents he was working with. A new and serious concern had triggered him. He felt a weird unease as his eyes fell on the book in front of him.

Kinshuk! Kinshuk Chowdhury! The only way to prevent this!

Abhijit took a deep breath and leaned back on his chair, his finger pressing on the buttons of the intercom.

"Tell professor Chowdhury that I'm calling him."

***

Classroom of M. A. final year, Sanskrit department

"Rubbish!" Labanya frowned. "How do such books get published and sold?"

"Which book?" Kadambari leaned forward.

"This one. Amitabha Banerjee's new release." Labanya said with a face as if she had just tasted a bitter food. "Just opened the book and I couldn't even go to the second page!"

Kadambari picked up the book fallen on the table in front, and casually turned a few pages. The book was really irritating. She looked up and saw that Labanya was still fuming.

"Calm down, Labi, this author's book will be like this only." Kadambari patted Labanya's back. "You cannot expect anything better from him."

"Who buys such books full of lies, Bari? Is there no one who knows the truth of Mahabharat?"

"No one knows what the truth is." Sritama intervened. "We have not seen Mahabharat ourselves. And what we read is written by the winners, i.e, Pandavas."

Labanya pursed her lips, glaring at Sritama.

"For your kind information, Pandavas did not write Mahabharat. Maharishi Vyas did. And he was not just a sage, he also was the grandfather of both sides."

"Oh really? You want to say Vyas alone wrote so much? Huh!" Sritama mocked. "Several other Brahmins must have helped. And given Yudhishthir's devotion to the sages and Brahmins, who can say whether he bribed them or..." She shrugged, smirking.

Kadambari glared at her. "If Yudhishthir bribed them to write history, why didn't he delete the entire dice game thing?"

"I don't want to argue with blind fans." Sritama snapped. "You keep believing whatever you wish. Live in a fool's paradise. But please don't bash a renowned author unnecessarily."

"Unnecessarily? Don't you feel ashamed to call yourself a student of Mahabharat?" Labanya roared like a hurt lioness. "Have you even read the book? Have you seen how much wrong information and false characterization has the author shown here? Is this our real epic?"

"I read it fully and loved it." Sritama said. "What is wrong with you two? It's just a fiction, not the original. Why are you taking this so seriously?"

"Because Mahabharat is a serious thing for me, not just a timepass like you guys." Labanya snapped. "And people aren't simply allowed to write anything in the name of fiction! It's our history. Not just a novel to make fanfictions of our choice!"

"It's not anything. It's a thoroughly researched humanized take on the epic. Our learned professor keeps saying that you two have potential to research on the epic. I wonder how you fail to see the research behind this well-written novel!"

"Swiping Yudhishthir and Duryodhan's characters is not research, Sritama. It's plain propaganda. To demean the hero and to hail the villain."

"Hero?" Sritama mocked. "Yes, definitely! The husband who can gamble away his wife, the king who can rule on the power of his brothers, if he is the hero, then what's defination of evil?"

"Stop right there!" Labanya calmly replied, raising a finger. "I call Dharmaraj Yudhishthir my brother. And no sister will tolerate a single insult of her brother! So better you stop here only."

"Neither do I have an interest in talking to you." Sritama twisted her lips and left for library.

"People are never going to understand that the bestseller book is an utter lie! What's the way, Bari?" Labanya sounded helpless.

"Someone needs to counter this, Labi." Kadambari softly commented. "Someone with Kinshuk sir's wisdom and Amitabha Banerjee's writing talent. Only such a person can bring a change to this! We have no way other than waiting for that author."

***

Shivam Housing Complex

Deepika lay down on her bed, pulling the new book to herself.

Amitabha Banerjee's books were never of her taste. Being a research scholar of Mahabharata herself, she had never liked Amitabha's interpretations on the epic. His website and lectures were enough to put her off. Still, Deepika felt a need to read his new book.

Before finding the correct medicine, it's always important to know about the disease itself. Deepika knew if she had to make readers aware of the true Mahabharata, first she had to know about the false misconceptions spread by authors like Amitabha.

She started reading, but could not continue for long. It was intolerable for her to see Krishna and Pandavas being degraded at every page and Duryodhana being glorified. Her eyes felt hot where Draupadi was shown comparing Bhima with Kichaka for 'lusting' after her. She closed the book after reading that Bhima was suggesting Draupadi to marry Kichaka instead of Yudhishthira.

How can people write such things?

Deepika fumed inside, but felt helpless. This book was a bestseller. Crores of readers were going to believe in this book because they had no knowledge of the real epic. What to do in this situation? Who would bring out so many people from these false beliefs? Who would protect the honour of real heroes?

What was the way?

She felt a cool breeze despite of the closed window. Someone whispered to her mind. "You are the way!"

Me? Deepika was shocked, and then she sighed. It was true that she was trying her best to dispel those misconceptions in her published papers and seminars. But she herself did not know when situation would change. She had seen even her fellow scholars having some stubborn beliefs that she could never agree with. How could ordinary people get convinced then?

This was not the right way! Her conscience reminded. More study was needed, and more effective way to deliver the correct knowledge to her students.

Yes, students! Only a good teacher can do what even a research scholar cannot. From now on, it would be her duty to change young students' perspective of Mahabharata through her classes.

Deepika's eyes stuck to the calendar. Twelve days more to go! The department of Sanskrit of UBH was drawing her like anything now.

As if she could not wait anymore!

As if that was going to be her battlefield!

***

Department of Sanskrit, UBH

"You called me, Sir?"

"Come, Kinshuk." Abhijit indicated him to take a seat.

Kinshuk sat in front of Abhijit, his eyes automatically fell on the book kept on table.

"Mr. Banerjee's book has come to our department also?" He muttered.

"This is what I need to discuss with you." The old professor said. "Have you read this book?"

Kinshuk shook his head. "No, but I can guess what can be inside it. My students are already highly reactive on this."

"What are they saying?" Abhijit leaned forward. "Your class, M. A. Final year, are currently studying Mahabharata from the beginning. I hope they at least won't get misguided?"

Kinshuk faked a smile. "They study the epic just to get marks, Sir. Not for imbibing the lessons inside. Rather the spicy internet lores and such fictions are much more interesting for them."

"I see. That seems natural, Kinshuk. But I have a firm belief that you can change this." Abhijit encouraged. "You are the only person in this department who has this rare power. I cannot trust anybody else."

"I'm trying my best, Sir." Kinshuk humbly replied. "Few of my students are really good and respectful to the scriptures. I have a strong hope on them."

"I understand that you are being cornered in the department." Abhijit sighed. "Your seniors are not in your favour. They are rather more active on spreading false theories to your students. Am I right?"

Kinshuk lowered his gaze, nodding subtly.

"I knew it. I feel bad for you, my boy. You are much more knowledgeable and wise than them." Abhijit said. "Just because of your inability to support the department's corruptions, you're suffering this."

"I don't mind it, Sir. This is Kaliyug and it's bound to happen. Their strong opposition only proves that I'm on the right path, doesn't it?" Kinshuk smiled. "I don't feel alone, Sir. Krishna is with me."

"He definitely is, Kinshuk. And I believe that he will send you all necessary weapons to fight this battle." Abhijit patted Kinshuk's shoulder. "Maybe a well-armed senapati too!"

"Krishna held reins of Kurukshetra once. He will do that again for this Kurukshetra of Kaliyug." Kinshuk said with confidence. "I can feel that he has my back. I shall win this battle. I have to!"
_______________________________________

Author's note: Deepika's entry in the university is going to happen soon, within 2-3 chapters. A new track will begin from there. I'll try to update regularly from now as the upcoming track is of my interest.

Please vote and comment if you liked it!