Karna was against apartheid of the Royal Kingdom n’ their entourage who right from birth humiliated him for being a Shudra Putra or a Suta Putra, an offensive term indicating racial profiling.
The Blue blooded guys looked down on their race and defined limits to their occupational and professional rights, including freedom of speech. Pretty much serfdom!
In 21st Century, in a country like India where the Epic originated, the Law elucidates, you could end up in prison for the rest of the life by merely using the “clan” word. Such was the dread! That model hasn't changed. So the other segment has to zip up and endure in silence for trepidation of repercussions!
Putting into perspective, imagine the kinda life Karna led right from being discarded at birth and the barriers at every step. As if he had no right to live being a Suta Putra. Before you judge Karna, fathom one's own self today in a verisimilitude of sitch.
For Karna, that speaketh of, at every step, every breath he took, every decision he had to make was toxic!
His merit was dishonored, skills purged, education denied. As if that weren't enough, incessant humiliation.
The injustice unto lower clans by virtue of Royal prerogatives was too much for him to take. Eklavya for instance, was shunned from practice of Archery. They took away his thumb!
Karna was given no opportunity to prove his worth ever.
He wasn't a lower clan guy either. He was divine. His point was there should be equanimity of laws, recognition of merit, liberty to choose your occupation and a coherent justice system. The Kshatriyas as they were called liked to decide everything for the hoipolloi. They called the shots. They controlled the bureaucracy of all, including Pandits in an autocratic law that they formulated.
On the other end, were the Pandavas who embraced the Royal Shroud of supremacy, availing the leverage of all benefits. Arjuna, who constantly boasted of his supremacy miffed Karna! He was of the purview others should be evaluated before reaching a judgement.
Education, Occupation, Profession should be based on Merit, not by virtue of what your race is. It should be your deeds, Karmas that should be the governing factor.
This systematic demarcation, isolation is ADHARMA!
Only Duryodhana stood by Karna, who incidentally was at loggerheads with Pandavas. And there's that loyalty, allegiant factor that defines a COMPLETE MAN! Karna picked his Dharma as per the loci of the vicissitudes of his life!
