The Mahabharata is an ancient Indian epic that Haimabati Sen reads at the age of eight as a part of her childhood education. Comprising almost 100,000 couplets, the Mahabharata is the longest epic poem ever written, and is considered by Hindus to be both a history and a text about dharma, which is hindu moral law. Acting as a source on the development of Hinduism between 400 BCE and 200 CE, the Mahabharata is considered one of the most important texts of both ancient Indian and world literature.
The main story of the Mahabharata focuses on two branches of a family, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, battling for sovereignty in the Kurukshetra War. Beyond this central story, this epic contains both mythological and didactic material and sets out with a primary mission to detail the codes of conduct for various individuals, including kings, warriors, those living in times of calamity, and people seeking to attain moksha, which is freedom from samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth.
The Mahabharata’s presence in Haimabati Sen’s text is consistent with her upbringing from both a religious and educational perspective. Coming from a Hindu family, it makes sense that Sen would read a text that details the evolution of Hinduism and how it developed in relation to other religions and events of the time. From an educational perspective, the Mahabharata is a critical text to study for its significant and wide-reaching impact on world literature. Additionally, given the length and complexity of the epic, the fact that Sen read it at such a young age is a testament to her intellect and appetite for learning.
Sources:
Mahabharata | Definition, Story, History, & Facts | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mahabharata. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.
Mahabharata - Ancient History Encyclopedia. https://www.ancient.eu/Mahabharata/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.