Paper no 202: Indian English Literature : Post-Independence
Personal Details
Name: parmar vishwa vijaysinh
Roll No: 27
Paper No : 202
Paper Name: Indian English Literature : Post- Independence
E-mail id: vishwabaparmar3536@gmail.com
Std: MA (sem-3)
College : Department of English ,Mkbu
Subject : Religious and Communal Tensions: ' Final Solution '
Table of Content:
• Mahesh Dattani 's Introduction
• Final Solution Introduction
• Religious and Communal Tensions
• Dattani's Portrayal of Communal Discord
• The Role of Chorus
• Impect on Individual and Collective Identity
• Conclusion
Religious and Communal Tensions: 'Final Solution'
Mahesh Dattani's :
Mahesh Dattani is an Indian director, actor, playwright and writer. He wrote such plays as Final Solutions, Dance Like a Man, Bravely Fought the Queen, On a Muggy Night in Mumbai, Tara, Thirty Days in September 2007 and The Big Fat City. He is the first playwright in English to be awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award.
Dattani makes a bold move when he chooses to address the issues concerning gender discrimination. His writings then become important when you wish to explore how deeply certain stereotypes are rooted in society.
Dattani is a graduate in history, Economics and Political Science. He completed his post-graduate in Marketing and Advertising Management because he wanted to become a copywriter. He worked with the Bangalore Little Theatre, where his first role was in Utpal Dutt's Surya Shikhar.
After reading Edward Albee's play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? early in his life, he became interested in writing. He was also influenced by Gujarati playwright Madhu Rye's Kumarni Agashi and developed an interest in play writing.
Final Solution Introduction :
Mahesh Dattani's best narratives, Final Solution. Using various character depictions, the dramatist conveys his emotions the riot, where the actual offender and religious extremists are essential players in sustaining the situation.
The situation has deteriorated and in the name of "Dharma," Karma has changed. To preserve and uphold the sanctity of religion, they have engaged in violence without pausing to consider that they are also "humans" with the same rights as everyone else, without distinction based on their way of life or customs.
• Religious and Communal Tensions :
Mahesh Dattani's play Final Solutions explores the communal tensions between Hindus and Muslims in India through the lens of a Gujarati family over three generations. The play highlights how past traumatic events can influence attitudes today, and perpetuate a cycle of distrust and violence between religious communities
Communal tension and communal harmonyare such terms which are familiar to everyone in India.Communal harmony is seen sometimes in many things between a Hindu and a Muslim but sometimes it shows its absence. Mahesh Dattani, has mentioned about both communal tension and harmony beautifully in his play Final Solutions. The plays of Dattaniemerged as the fresh arrival in the field of Indian Drama in English at the end of the twentieth century and they have won the hearts of the people not only in India but throughout the world. The plays of Dattani deal with the contemporary issues of the Indian Society and they are wriiten in such a manner that they can be staged anywhere in the world as they have a universal appeal.
Communal riot is such a war which is actually not fought between two different nations, rather it takes place between two different religious groups. Dattani focuses mainly on the communal disharmony between the Hindus and the Muslims. The play talks about the condition of India during the post partition riots.
The play is about a Gujrati family where the head of the family is Hardika, who has a strong hatred for the Muslims because her father was killedby the minority people. She protests against her son when he gives refuge to two Muslim boys Javed and Bobby in her house.
Hardika: How could he let these people into my house?
Hardika: They killed his grandfather! (Collected Plays, 179)
The above quote shows the hatred of Hardika which she had in her heart for the Muslims. She says those things to her son Ramnik when he allows the Muslim boys Javed and Bobby to stay in their house.
The story of the play moves between the past and the present and vice versa. Hardika symbolizes the present whereas Daksha, symbolizes the past. Ramnik, son of Hardika, is a very liberal minded person and he doesn’t support the hatred of his mother towards the Muslims because he knew the truth which his mother was unaware of.
Hardika had the hatred for the Muslims because they killed her father but she did not know that her husband and father in law ruined the life of Zarine who was her friend when she was young.
Hardika’s father in law and husband had set the shop of Zarine’s father on fire and Ramnik knew this truth but he did not reveal this to his mother because he did not want his mother to suffer more. He just tried to atone the sins committed by his father and grandfather and hence proves himself to be a true secularist.Ramnik even thinks of giving a job to Javed so that he can earn his livelihood and in this way he can get rid of the guilt.
Mahesh Dattani’s Final Solutions offers a profound exploration of religious and communal tensions in India, with a specific focus on Hindu-Muslim relations. Through a layered narrative, Dattani examines how historical grievances and contemporary biases collide, revealing the deep-rooted nature of communal discord and its impact on individual and collective identities.
The play centers around the Gandhi family, whose lives become entwined with Javed and Bobby, two Muslim youths seeking refuge during communal riots. The interactions between these characters reveal the complexities of prejudice and fear that perpetuate communal tensions. Dattani traces the origins of such discord through Hardika (Daksha), the matriarch, whose memories of past injustices against her family by a Muslim man shape her present-day biases. This cyclical nature of historical grievances underscores how unresolved trauma continues to influence individual attitudes, preventing reconciliation.
Dattani employs the chorus as a powerful theatrical device, embodying shifting communal identities and the volatility of mob mentality. The chorus's transformation from Hindu to Muslim crowds underscores how easily public sentiment can be swayed, often incited by fear and political manipulation. By doing so, Dattani critiques the societal structures that enable and exploit communal divides, emphasizing the dangerous potential of mob violence and collective hatred.
The play also delves into the psychological toll of communal conflict on individuals. Javed’s bitterness and rebelliousness reflect the alienation and marginalization faced by many Muslims. Ramnik Gandhi, in contrast, grapples with guilt over his family's complicity in past injustices, embodying a conflicted desire for atonement and a struggle to transcend inherited prejudices. This interplay of characters highlights how communal discord not only fractures society but also shapes personal identities in profound ways.
Through Final Solutions, Dattani calls for introspection and dialogue, advocating for empathy as a means to bridge communal divides. By confronting the biases and traumas that sustain religious tensions, he emphasizes the possibility of change and reconciliation. Ultimately, Dattani’s portrayal of communal discord serves as both a mirror to society’s flaws and a plea for understanding, offering a path toward healing fractured identities and fostering collective unity.
Dattani’s Portrayal of Communal Discord
The play is set against the backdrop of communal riots and revolves around the interactions of the Gandhi family and two Muslim youths, Javed and Bobby, who seek refuge in their home. Through this premise, Dattani portrays the deep-rooted mistrust and stereotypes held by individuals on both sides. The character of Hardika (Daksha) embodies historical trauma, having experienced personal losses due to communal violence. Her bitterness and prejudice towards Muslims reflect how past grievances influence present-day attitudes, illustrating how communal tensions are often passed down through generations.
The younger generation, represented by Javed and Bobby, highlights the challenges faced by minorities in a society shaped by communal divides. Javed’s bitterness and rebellious behavior stem from experiences of alienation, discrimination, and the pressure of fulfilling societal expectations of "loyalty" and "identity." Bobby, in contrast, strives to assert his individuality and resist being stereotyped, embodying the desire for human connection beyond religious identity.
The Role of the Chorus
One of Dattani's most effective devices in depicting communal tensions is the use of a Greek-style chorus. The chorus shifts between representing Hindu and Muslim mobs, symbolizing the volatile and easily manipulated nature of public sentiment. The faceless, ever-changing mobserves as a reminder of how communal hatred can be inflamed and exploited by political and social forces, leading to violence and societal fracture.
Impact on Individual and Collective Identity
Dattani shows how communal tensions impact both individual psyches and broader social structures. Characters such as Ramnik Gandhi grapple with inherited guilt over his family's past actions, reflecting the complex interplay of personal responsibility and societal pressures. His internal struggle to atone for past wrongs contrasts with his family's reluctance to confront uncomfortable truths, mirroring broader societal dynamics that prevent healing and reconciliation.
Final Solutions delves into the psychological and emotional toll of communalism. It portrays how individuals are shaped by, and contribute to, collective fears and prejudices. The play also emphasizes the necessity of introspection, empathy, and dialogue to break cycles of violence and mistrust.
Conclusion :
Through Final Solutions, Mahesh Dattani offers a nuanced critique of communalism and its destructive impact on society. By examining the lives of individuals caught in the web of prejudice, he emphasizes the possibility of change and reconciliation through empathy and open communication. The play remains a compelling reminder of the need to confront and dismantle communal tensions for a more unified and understanding society.
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