Is Vijay Tendulkar Kanyadaan A Journey from Ignorance to Experience. Elaborate in your own words
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Vijay Tendulkar’s Kanyadaan: A Journey from Ignorance to
Experience
Basanti Karmakar
Former Student
Dept. of English
University of Burdwan.
Vijay Tendulkar’s seminal play ‘Kanyadaan’ is a ruthless criticism of this caste-
ridden Indian society.But what is interesting is that Tendulkar highlights here caste
system,rather he pinpoints how all attempts of social amelioration prove fruitless in our
progressive post independent society.This article shows the predicament of Nath
Devalikar,the protagonist of this drama when he confronts hazards in real life in his effort
to abolish caste system.Side by side with this ‘dalit’ and ‘elite’ issue, this play also
shows foolishness of a theorist who keeps his daughter’s life at stake to prove the
supremacy of his theory.The play also obliquely hints at the pathetic condition of women
in a patriarchal society.
Vijay Tendulkar belongs to those avant- guarde group of dramatists who can
represent reality as it is. His plays become sharp criticism of Indian society and the
condition of women in such patriarchal society. They also deal with the complexity of
human relationships. Each of his plays contains a subtle critique of modern Indian society
,and a distinct character and message. ‘Kanyadaan’ explores the texture of modernity
and social change in India through marriage between two people of different castes and
backgrounds. It shows that what we assume as social and cultural progress in modern
India ,is nothing but a big hoax the play entitled ‘ Kanyadaan’ alludes to the traditional
hindu custom of marriage in our society-to give a marrigable daughter by one’s guardian
to an eligible young man who will give her safety and security in life.It is also desired
that the young man will prove himself a constant companion of this woman Naturally it
concerns much to the bride’s father about her daughter’s post-marriage life. The play
‘Kanyadaan’ is also about marriage, marriage between two persons belonging to
different cultures. the dramatist shows that to obliterate caste system, to uplift dalit
community ,such an inter-caste marriage can never be a solution.
The play opens in Nath Devalikar’s house where we meet Nath,an idealist
Gandhi supporter and an active social worker as well as an MLA is rebuking the irregular
transport system of post-independent India.From the beginning,it becomes clear that
Nath is very much idealistic.He is the father of Jyoti and Jayaprakash-who are also
nurtured by Nath’s idealistic philosophy.His philosophy is also based on democracy-both
in thought and deeds.This progressive person hates casteism and he takes an active part
to eradicate this social evil and to cause dalit upliftment.Nath’s wife Seva is also an
active social worker who works for the upliftment of women’s causes in society.
Nurtured in this situation , when Jyoti expresses her desire to marry Arun
Athavale, a dalit boy whom she has known for three months, Nath’s happy family gets a
sudden jolt. The family becomes divided in two opposite groups-one comprising Nath
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