Page 218 - DENG503_INDIAN_WRITINGS_IN_LITERATURE

Indian Writings in Literature Gowher Ahmad Naik, Lovely Professional University

Notes Unit 27: Girish Karnad: Nagmandla—Themes

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
27.1 Nagmandla—Themes
27.2 Summary
27.3 Key-Words
27.4 Review Questions
27.5 Further Readings

Objectives
After reading this Unit students will be able to:
• Examine the view of Karnad towards the marital relationship between Rani and Appanna.
• Discuss the themes of Nagmandla.
Introduction

The present unit purports to examine the view of Girish Karnad towards the marital relationship
between Rani and Appanna in Naga-Mandala. The conjugal relationship between Rani and
Appanna is lop-sided and imbalanced where the latter ignores the existence of the former as
human being. The position of Rani is analogous to that of slave and animals. She is subjected to
various forms of deprivation, violence and torture, and left with no choice and voice. The playwright
fuses energy in Rani to enable her to subvert the patriarchal value system which helps Appanna
subjugate her on various planes of life. He strikes a balance in their relationship by deconstructing
the patriarchal value system. Towards the end, Rani enjoys the status analogous to that of her
husband. Appanna also changes his attitude towards Rani by appreciating her beauty and
acknowledging her existence as human being. With this Rani finds a dignified position in the
conjugal life with voice and choice. Moreover, the play accommodates lover and concubine within
the fold of marriage. Now both the husband and wife live happily with their differences and
choices. The way the marital relationship fructifies exemplifies the vision of the playwright--the
vision of co-existence. As a humanist, the playwright underscores the human virtues such as love,
trust, tolerance, mutual understanding for harmonious and healthy human relationships.
Girish Karnad's deep-rooted humanitarian zeal impels him to give voice to the silenced majority
through his plays. His plays are filled with the deprived, dispossessed and down-trodden who are
subjected by patriarchy or upper class hierarchy. Deprived of decent and dignified life as human
beings, their position is analogous to that of slaves and animals in the contemporary democratic
and civilized world where the constitutional bodies like Human Rights Commission operate on
various levels with a view to ensure justice to those who are meted out injustice. Karnad not only
underscores their subservient and sub-human plight and position but also fuses in them energy
enough to protest against the life-denying system and to shift their position to the level of their
counterparts.
In the dramatic world of Karnad, women, within and without wedlock, are subjected to various
forms of deprivation, humiliation, violence and torture in almost every walk of life in one way or
the other. The playwright not only exposes the arbitrariness of the system where women are

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