Is Truth Doomed to be Outnumbered & Silenced?

When a lone warrior stands against a corrupt system, does he stand a chance? When the forces of deception unite to silence the voice of truth, is there any hope for justice? Will Kaliyuga be an endless repetition of Abhimanyu’s fate — where the righteous are cornered, outnumbered, and ultimately crushed?

The Mahabharata, a mirror of existence, asserts that whatever is in it can be found in real life, and whatever is not in it does not exist at all. This declaration is not just poetic but profoundly prophetic.

One of the most harrowing episodes in the epic is the murder of Abhimanyu, the valiant young warrior who was lured into the Chakravyuha and mercilessly slaughtered by seven veteran warriors who abandoned all codes of dharma to eliminate him.

Abhimanyu’s fate was not just a tragedy — it was a message. It was a warning about how the world treats those who dare to stand alone against the tide of deception, oppression, and falsehood. And history has repeatedly proven that this was not just an incident of Dvapara Yuga — it is the grim reality of Kaliyuga.

The Modern Abhimanyus: Truth in Chains

Throughout history, and especially in today’s world, truth is not merely suppressed — it is hunted. Those who dare to expose uncomfortable realities, challenge powerful regimes, or question the status quo are isolated, demonized, and often destroyed.

Julian Assange: The ‘Digital Age Abhimanyu’

Perhaps no modern example illustrates this better than Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks. Like Abhimanyu, Assange walked into a labyrinth designed to destroy him — not a battlefield of warriors but a web of political conspiracies, secret intelligence networks, and global power structures.

He exposed classified government documents, revealing war crimes, illegal surveillance, and political betrayals — the kind of uncomfortable truths that the ruling elite would rather keep buried. Instead of being celebrated for his courage, he was cornered, labeled a criminal, and thrown into solitary confinement, denied basic human rights.

The seven Kauravas who killed him were replaced by governments, intelligence agencies, corporate interests, and media propaganda machines, all working in unison to destroy one man who dared to reveal the truth.

Edward Snowden: Exile for Telling the Truth

Edward Snowden, another whistleblower, exposed the mass surveillance programs used by governments to spy on their own citizens. The revelations shook the world, yet Snowden was forced into exile, living as a fugitive for telling the truth.

Is this not the fate of every Abhimanyu who enters the Chakravyuha of deceit? Are we not living in an era where truth itself has become a liability, and those who defend it are treated as criminals?

A World Where ‘Adharma’ is Institutionalized

The Mahabharata teaches that dharma is fragile, and it is the duty of every generation to protect it. But in Kaliyuga, it seems that adharma is not just thriving — it is institutionalized.

Media Manipulation:
The modern equivalent of Dronacharya and Karna weaponizing their expertise against Abhimanyu is today’s media, where truth is twisted, narratives are controlled, and those who expose reality are vilified as extremists or traitors.

Judiciary & Political Systems:
In many nations, laws are not designed to protect justice but to serve the powerful, ensuring that those who expose corruption find themselves behind bars, while the perpetrators roam free.

Corporate Control:
Major corporations suppress dissent, fire employees who speak up against unethical practices, and monopolize information to control public opinion.
 

• • Manipulation of Rules:
    The Kauravas violated ethical norms to eliminate Abhimanyu. Similarly, governments and corporations frequently exploit loopholes, bend laws, or create new regulations to silence critics and evade accountability.
    
    
  • Public Indifference:
    Abhimanyu fought alone because no one came to his aid. In today’s world, apathy among the masses allows injustices to persist unchecked. Social media algorithms prioritize sensationalism over substance, drowning out voices of reason and responsibility.
     
  • Fear & Intimidation:
    The fear of retaliation discourages many from supporting truth-tellers. Whether it’s threats of lawsuits, imprisonment, or character assassination, the tools of intimidation remain potent weapons in the arsenal of adharma.

Does Truth Have a Future in Kaliyuga?

If the lesson from Abhimanyu’s story is that truth will always be outnumbered and silenced, does that mean there is no hope? Will every era be ruled by deceit, where those who speak up are eliminated while the corrupt thrive?

Not necessarily. The Kurukshetra war did not end with Abhimanyu’s murder — it ended with the destruction of adharma itself. For every Abhimanyu who falls, there must be an Arjuna, a Krishna, and a Yudhishthira who continue the fight.

History has also shown that despite every attempt to suppress the truth, it eventually prevails.

• Galileo was imprisoned for proving the Earth revolved around the Sun, but today, his discoveries are accepted facts.
   
• Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat, but her defiance sparked the Civil Rights Movement.
  
  
• Nelson Mandela was jailed for 27 years, but he emerged to dismantle apartheid.

The real lesson from the Mahabharata is not just that truth is attacked — it is that truth, when defended with conviction, always finds a way to win.

Final Thoughts: Will You be a Silent Spectator or a Warrior for Truth?

Will we continue to let adharma dictate the rules of the game? Will we watch as another Abhimanyu falls, or will we ensure that this time, the war doesn’t end with his death — but with the downfall of those who orchestrated it?

History will remember those who stood for truth — but only if they choose to fight.

Will you ‘fight’ for dharma, or will you ‘stand by’ and let another Abhimanyu fall? The choice is yours.

Image (c) istock.com