‘ছোটোদের মহাভারত’-এ ‘বড়ো’-দের বিষয় : উপস্থাপনের কারিগরি/ The ‘Adult’ Elements in Children’s Mahabharata: The Techniques of Representation

Abstract

The great Indian epic Mahabharata is not only a highly complex text but also an immensely vast one, comprising nearly one lakh shlokas and eighteen parvas (sections). This combination of complexity and volume often makes it intimidating for readers—especially younger audiences—to engage with or remember the epic in its entirety. Nevertheless, in Indian society, and particularly in Bengal, familiarity with the Mahabharata is considered essential from an early age. Over the centuries, various Bengali translations and adaptations—dating back to the 14th century—have made the epic more accessible. However, these traditional readings were not age-specific. When Bengali writers began incorporating the Mahabharata into children's and young adult literature, they were compelled to modify or omit many elements from the original. These included depictions of sexuality, violence, philosophical and ethical dilemmas, as well as issues of caste and class—components integral to the epic’s narrative fabric. Given that these so-called "adult" themes are central to the Mahabharata, the task of retelling the story for young readers posed a significant challenge. To preserve the essence of the epic while making it age-appropriate, writers developed unique and subjective storytelling strategies. Rather than removing these themes entirely, they often reinterpreted or reframed them in ways deemed more suitable for younger audiences. The aim of this paper is to explore how selected Bengali writers have addressed these complex elements in their retellings of the Mahabharata for children and young adults, and to examine the narrative strategies they employed to balance fidelity to the original with accessibility and appropriateness for a younger readership.