Ghashiram Kotwal Vijay Tendulkar.

Hello Readers,
Here my View on the Play.

                                                                      

Introduction

                      The play Ghashiram Kotwal is a historical play. It is divided into 2 Acts. The each Act divided in small scenes. The play interprets the major theme of complexity, religiosity, sexuality, corruption and tragedy of political power. The native significance of the play begins with the title itself. The story of anonymous protagonist belongs to the history of Peshwas.

Theme :

                                                                        

                     It is a story of conflict between Ghashiram Savaldas a north Indian Brahman from Kanauj and Nana Phadnavis, the Chief Minister of Peshwas in Maharastra. The characters of the Nanasaheb, Phadnavis, Ghashiram, Gauri and their situations are all historical. The play Ghashiram Kotwal is a tragedy of power. A story shows an ideal person suffering due to his own faults. But the Tendulkar has tried to make a play not a piece of antique history but a reflection of ever operative mystery of life.

                          The play deals a tragedy of power and powerless behind manifestation of historical characters. The Ghasiram Savaldas is a poor Brahman from Kanauj. He comes to Poona for livelihood along with his wife and daughter. Since he gets no dignified employment to suit his caste, he becomes a servant in courtesan Gulabi„s house. In addition to the housework that he does for her, he also sings and dances when people come to enjoy her erotic songs and the dance.

                      Nana Phadnavis is an elderly person having several wives but no children. He is a lusty person. He was not satisfied with his own wives hence he comes to listen Gulabi‟s folk song. One day, Nana visits Gulabi and hurts his ankle while dancing, Ghashiram appreciates him. Nana feels flattered and pleased and offers him a necklace of pearls and leaves. Gulabi snatches the necklace from him and sends him out with the help of her thugs. Ghashiram feels hurt and insulted. Thus, Gulabi who once rescues Ghashiram persecutes him later and Ghashiram who remains in the position of the Victim feel helpless and powerless. The first disappointment in Ghashiram‟s life comes when he comes to Pune for making his fortune. But he suffers from unexpected humiliation at Pune. One day Ghashiram goes out. He feels tired and hungry. When Peshwa arranges a great feast in honor of Brahmans, he also visits there. But the soldiers do not allow him. Unfortunately some thief has stolen money in Pune.

                       The soldiers beat Ghashiram severely and arrested and imprisonment because he is wrongly accused thievery. Nobody listen his words, which was true. He tried to give true and honest explanation and clarification but no use. Ghashiram worried about his reputation. He worried about his wife and daughter that what they think about him. He was imprisonment for few days and release with warning.

Conclusion:

The play ends with the death of Gauri and rebellion of the Brahmans against the Kotwal. Nana ends the oppressive use of power and declares a three day celebration for the end of stigma on society. Ghashiram sorrow and inspiration is a lesson to the audience against going to extremes for achieving unlimited power and authority.

                         It is a demonstration of sorrow and suffering that awaited a person who had achieved through the wrong means. The play is a social satire. It projects the society that defends corrupts Nana and punishes the Ghashiram. Thus the play is a powerful satire on the power politics. Mr. Tendulkar once stated “My creative writing, including plays and films I have written, have mostly dealt or tried to deal with my contemporary social reality.

Thank You............

(learning)

Works Cited

learning, open school. 20th Century Indian Writing. 24 3 2018. 29 3 2018 <https://sol.du.ac.in/mod/book/view.php?id=854&chapterid=521>.