Ashoka : Royal Insecurities

                 Chakravarty Samrat Ashoka : an engaging enough serial, despite beginning to drag a bit. The two characters of Sushim and Ashoka, in their early adulthood are seen sparring in a decathlon style competition. The one who wins, will be declared the heir apparent to the throne of Magadha. Some interesting thoughts and themes criss cross the current narrative. Issues of Cast, lower cast in particular, such as "Tuchh Prani" Ashoka's, royal lineage, kinship, meritocracy, sense of entitlement, intrigue, conceit etc are all interwoven cleverly, as is the case in most historical dramas. 

                 But the one theme that binds me to the story is the one about Insecurity. So, Helena, the White skinned Macedonian, daughter of Seleucus Necator, is insecure about almost everything in life. Consequently, she spends her time scheming away against the State! Her son Justin's love-interest is Rani Noor, daughter of the Persian, Mir Khurasan, married to Bindusar! She is understandably insecure about her illicit relationship with Justin, who is about to enter into a matrimonial alliance with Agnishikha, while battling the greater insecurity about the claim of her son Siyamak to the throne of Magadha. The Maharani, Charumitra, is so insecure that she practices black magic to keep her tormenting demons at bay! 

                   There are several such insecure characters in the serial, but the one that takes the cake is Sushim's! The one character who really has no reason to be insecure, is actually the most insecure! He is insecure because of a deep realisation about his own inadequacies. The eldest son of King Bindusar, the son of Maharani Charumitra, he is actually accomplished, hard working, talented and a champion, twice over! Qualities that are admired even by his otherwise critical kid brother Siyamak! There is romance blooming for him in the shape of an aptly named Princess, Ahankara! He could win the championship on his own steam, but resorts to dubious methods to cheat and craft a victory for himself! 

                    Why does he do that? Why, because he is plagued by insecurity; lacks self-confidence, imagines himself to be in danger of loosing to "Tuchh Prani" Ashoka, is vulnerable, susceptible to flattery, spends all his time trying to anticipate and plan for slighting his competitors rather than building on his own competencies, suffers from low self esteem and self doubt and will stoop to any depths to realise his ambitions! This all pervasive flaw is his undoing and he emerges as a ruthless, cruel and self serving creep. He fritters away his natural advantage of succeeding to the throne by virtue of the Law of Primogeniture, largely because of his cheap conduct and arrogant behaviour! Whereas Ashoka, despite being a total stranger to Pataliputra, slighted by the Oligarchs and the ruling elite, retains his composure & confidence, is compassionate & brave, has a never-say-die attitude and keeps rising every time he is made to fall by his crafty opponent! 

                     The competition is still not over, but Ashoka is already the winner!