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 There is a folk version of the Mahabharat in which Sakuni, the maternal uncle of Duryodhana and his 99 brothers and sister Dussala, is presented as the main reason for the ultimate ruin of the Kauravas. We have many folk versions like Alli-Arjuna, Pavalakkodi, Vatsala Kalyanam and many others, which may not have sanctified authority but all the same, quite interesting.
Political pressure resented
It is said in this folk version of Bharatham that Sakuni the Gandhara prince (now Kandahar in Afghanistan) had many brothers. None of them could forgive Bheeshma for having arranged the marriage of their sister Gandhari to the blind Kaurava prince Dhritarashtra of Hastinapura. They resented the political pressure subtly forced on their father by Bheeshma that resulted in this marriage.
Gandhari blindfolds herself
Their only sister Gandhari had to blindfold herself in order to deny herself the pleasure of sight that was congenitally denied to her husband. She was such a virtuous wife. The brothers argued with their sister that she would be of greater service to her husband if she kept her sight and be the eyes of her husband. It was logical; it was practical. But, Gandhari, the lovely princess, would not agree and preferred to play the role of the blind leading the blind.
Mean snide remarks
Everytime the Gandhara princes looked at their only sister, who chose self-imposed blindness, they were filled with intense sorrow. The only way open to them was to throw snide and hurtful remarks, as often as it was practicable, at the selfish, unforgivable political pressure forced on them. These taunts continued for a long time even after the birth of Duryodhana and his siblings until one day the Kaurava heir-apparent, in a fit of uncontrollable rage, threw all his uncles into prison and promptly forgot all about them.
Tragic pity
The tragic pity was that the Gandhara prisoners were even denied food and water. Now and then some kindly prison warden taking pity on them offered some food and water surreptitiously. He need not have been afraid at all for Duryodhana never came that way. But then, to feed hundred healthy princes was beyond him and, therefore, the food offered by him was too meagre to appease the hunger and thirst of all brothers.
 Vengeful practical plan
The brothers seethed with impotent anger but could not do anything else. So, they decided that they would pool together the food given to them and give it to one of them so that he could live, hope for early release and better times, and then wreak vengeance on the Kauravas. Their choice fell on Sakuni for they knew that he was the cleverest and most cunning amongst them all and would effect the planned for revenge.
Death of the Gandhar Princes
Sakuni had no other choice. The brothers denied themselves the luxury of food selflessly. They grew thinner and thinner, became terribly emaciated, and in course of time, all of them died. Duryodhana was informed of the tragedy. Gandhari was also informed of this. She was greatly shocked and distressed. She had been thinking that her brothers had returned to their home. She had missed them very much but Duryodhana told her that State affairs called them back. She believed him.
R Srinivasan
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