Mysterious Time Traveler in Dwapara Yuga

Chapter 23: Ira's Revolutionary Vision for Kuntala Kingdom

The numerous reforms Ira proposed seemed like fantasies to many, but to her, they were simply practical steps to improve the standard of living and eradicate poverty. While the people in the Sabha and the palace servants admired her intelligence and inclusiveness, they were also amazed by her disregard for caste distinctions in helping those in need. However, changing the deeply ingrained conservative mindset of the Sabha members was no easy task.

When news of Ira's proposals reached other kingdoms, many dismissed her success in curing Cholera as mere luck. They believed she was too young and inexperienced to understand the complexities of governance. In Guru Drona's Ashram, the Kauravas were mostly skeptical, viewing the hierarchy as a fundamental part of their upbringing. Rajkumar Duryodhana thought her ideas were good but destined to fail due to the strict caste system. He also dismissed the idea of a Women's Army as a waste of time.

The Pandavas, while not entirely comfortable with mixing all castes, saw potential in her ideas. Rajkumar Yudhishthira believed that if Ira's proposals were implemented, they could greatly enhance the kingdom's prosperity. He expressed a desire to discuss her thoughts and understand how she conceived such ideas at a young age. When Arjun asked Yudhishthira about the Women's Army, he explained that while Hastinapur had female soldiers for the protection of the Maharani and other ladies, they were not organized into a separate regiment. Nakul humorously recalled his own childhood, prompting Arjun and Sahadev to tease him about stealing Bheema's laddus, which had inadvertently honed his agility in swordsmanship.

Meanwhile, Guru Drona, Mahamahim Bhishma, and Mahamantri Vidur thought highly of Ira, sharing Yudhishthira's sentiments. Karna felt proud of his sister for her egalitarian views and efforts to make opportunities available to all. Krishna, observing from Dwarka, believed in his daughter's determination and knew she would achieve her goals, despite the challenges. Krishna said to Balram, "My daughter has begun to pursue her dreams, and although it will take time, I am confident she will succeed because she is my daughter." As they were busy with the affairs of Dwarka-a newly established city after they escaped Maharaj Jarasandha of Magadha following his relentless attacks on Mathura with Kalayavan-Krishna created a separate place for the Yadavas. The city, built with the divine assistance of Lord Vishwakarma, now required their help to integrate and adjust the people to their new environment.

Objections arose regarding the inclusion of all castes in the Audit Ministry, particularly from those handling the treasury. Ira addressed these concerns by emphasizing transparency and accountability. She argued that if they were truly loyal to the Maharaja and the people, they should have nothing to fear. The Audit Ministry members would be chosen based on their exam scores, ensuring that talent, not caste, determined their roles.

Seeing Ira's persistence in implementing new policies, the corrupt official Allavandhan decided to handle the matter using both carrot and stick methods. However, he was unaware that Ira, a modern soul, was adept at managing underworld activities, making his outdated methods ineffective.

One morning, after returning from the temple, Ira noticed some people behaving suspiciously. To uncover their motives, she moved to a less populated area, pretending to follow a rabbit. The culprits, thinking they had an opportunity, revealed their intentions. They tried to manipulate Ira, suggesting that people of lower castes should not be placed in higher positions and that she should not force her father to implement such policies.

Ira decided to act, knowing that one cannot fish in clear water. She went to her parents, crying and asking if they were unhappy with her as a daughter. She questioned if she had made them do things they didn't want and if she was not a good daughter. Her tears, reminiscent of a rabbit with red eyes and a pink nose, tugged at their hearts.

The Senapathi of Kuntala, Rudhran, and the Mahamatri of Kuntala, Agasthya, were heartbroken seeing their beloved Princess cry. They had always wanted to implement Ira's ideas but were hindered by certain ministers. Realizing that someone had upset their Princess, they made eye contact, silently agreeing to deal with the culprit.

Their plan was to gather information from Ira casually. Seizing the moment, Ira eagerly shared every detail of what had happened, her tears flowing freely. When Senapathi Rudhran sought information about Allavandhan, Ira assisted him from behind the scenes, making the task easier. She effectively placed Allavandhan under scrutiny without alerting him. Upon discovering Ira's actions, Allavandhan lost his composure and ordered her kidnapping, instructing his men to lock her in a wooden shed in the forest and deny her food. However, Ira was already aware of this plot and had a counterplan. She instructed her loyal people to assist the kidnappers, making the abduction seem effortless. She packed enough food for her stay and informed Senapathi's people to seize the right moment.

When Senapathi Rudhran learned of the plot, he informed Mahamatri Agasthya, and together, they formulated a plan to eliminate Allavandhan by catching him red-handed. To ensure Ira's safety, they enlisted their sons, Karthigeyan and Aryan, who were five years older than Ira, to watch over her. They were instructed to protect Ira at all costs and eliminate any threat to her safety.

On the following day, Ira was prepared. A new maid arrived, claiming to have brought Narayan Prasad from the Purohit. Although the lie was obvious, Ira pretended to believe it. After consuming the Prasad, she pretended to fall unconscious. The maid, with the help of spies loyal to Ira, transported her from the palace to the forest and left her in the shed. Ira's people discreetly alerted Senapathi's team without raising suspicion on either side.

While outside the hut, Karthi and Aryan observed the kidnappers' movements, assuming Ira would be terrified upon finding herself in the shed. Meanwhile, inside, Ira was calmly eating an apple, acting as if she were on vacation. Allavandhan's major mistake was isolating her, underestimating her resilience.

The fiasco ended within twelve hours, with Ira found and safely returned. News spread about how the former Minister Allavandhan had resorted to kidnapping the Princess to thwart her policies. The people of Kuntala were enraged, and they punished Allavandhan by throwing stones at him. When Ira was brought back to the palace, the entire populace gathered to ensure their beloved Princess was safe. This incident showcased Ira's power both inside and outside the palace.

The opposition's voice dwindled, as speaking against the Princess now attracted scrutiny from both the Maharaja and the public. Outside Kuntala, the news of Ira's kidnapping due to a corrupt official's actions made people believe that her policies were indeed effective and threatening enough to provoke such a desperate act. Ira's bravery and determination became a hot topic in Aryavat, making her a mysterious figure everyone wanted to know more about.

For two years, Ira's persistence in implementing changes was known across Aryavat. When people discussed her, they saw her as a feisty and stubborn Princess, not traditionally ladylike. However, the common people fiercely defended her, believing that any mistake she made was for a good reason. Ira became synonymous with unwavering determination.

As Ira grew older, outsiders only knew about her bold actions in the Raj Sabha, fueling rumors. Instead of quelling them, Ira fanned the flames, believing that public awareness of the new laws would foster development and inspire others to seek necessary changes. After two years, Ira proposed a trial period for her reforms. If successful, they would be permanently adopted; if not, they would be withdrawn. This pragmatic approach aimed to demonstrate the potential benefits of her ideas, allowing for adjustments based on real-world results.