Suyodhan/Duryodhan - (Mahabharata Reloaded)

One of my colleagues at work, (who is fondly called as Rambo), brought up this really interesting topic about the Mahabharata during one of our chats at work. Now, the Mahabharata has fascinated most of us since childhood, and the topic does bring back fond memories of the colorful characters splashed across our TV screens every Sunday by Mr. BR Chopra.
Getting back to Rambo, he enlightened us by mentioning a chapter in a CBSE textbook regarding the Mahabharata from Duryodhana's point of view. He mentioned that the chapter nearly convinces us that the Kauravas were more 'rightful' than the Pandavas.
He also brought to light the fact that the real name of Duryodhan was infact Suyodhan. This fact got me thinking more than what he said about the 'rightful' Kauravas & Pandavas.
On checking Google, I found my answer in Wikipedia, it says: "He is actually named as Suyodhan which means a great warrior, he changed his name to Duryodhan which means impossible to conquer, many people have misconception that he is been called as duryodhan because of his misdeeds"
For a long time (before Google, Wikipedia and the Internet in general), our knowledge of history has come from our history text-books. I could never really trust my history text books, because a quote I had heard in my early days, always crossed my mind: "History is written by the victors"
I guess, had the Kauravas, won the war, we would have had read a different version of Mahabharata, or seen a different interpretation by Mr. BR Chopra.
While searching for my answer to Suyodhan's roots, I came across many articles claiming that the Kauravas were the real good guys, etc. I came across the names of a few books, which put across the views of the losing side, ‘Duryodhan’ by Kaka Vidhate, 'Mrityunjay' (another book on my Mahabharata hero Karna), etc.
Now, history tells us that the Pandavas were bound to win the war because they were on the side of truth, (dharma). The online articles ask us to take a closer look at what actually happened in the war. Each one of the Kaurava commanders were killed rather than defeated (‘hatya’ as they call it as opposed to ‘vadh’).
1) Bhishma was killed when he refused to fight Shikhandi
2) Drona was mercilessly beheaded after he laid down his arms on hearing the false news of his son’s death.
3) Karna was defeated when he was without his weapons trying to get his wheel out of a ditch.
Till now, we generally accepted all this, since, our books told us that the Pandavas were 'right'. Our history regards him as a villain and the instigator of the war. Whereas, the articles tell an interesting and often, heart-touching tale of Duryodhan, a prospective (and maybe, even rightful) emperor wronged by fate, his father, his friends and his dear ones, leaving him to wage a lonely battle to get what he regarded as rightfully his in life.

Now, after reading all this, the only thought that comes to my mind is, SO WHAT?? One side was right and one was wrong (Kauravas or Pandavas), or maybe both sides were wrong (in their own ways). The story served its purpose- Good over Bad. It is meant to teach us something, and it does. Though Pandavas' actions are still not highly appreciated by everybody, and thats why Ramayana is considered a more revered book than Mahabharata. In Ramayana, one kills a demon, in Mahabharata, one kills humans, ones own brothers.
We are forgetting the purpose of these texts in our lives. These were not written to prove who is right or who is wrong, but to guide us in our life by making the right choices. It shouldn't matter whether the Pandavas were right or wrong. What they did was ultimately shown as good or bad. We need to pick up the good points of each individual and mould it into our character. (For example: Karna's generosity)
I am fortunate enough to look at these things the way i am looking now. But many of us do not want to budge from our stands ,and perceive things from a narrow point of view. Its views and opinions like these which lead to communalism, conflicts and religious fundamentalism.

I guess its never too late to be human, all we have to do is open our eyes....

P.S: I do intend to read the book ‘Duryodhan’ by Kaka Vidhate and 'Mahabharat ki ek Saanjh' by B.B.Aggarwal soon