Page 251 - DENG503_INDIAN_WRITINGS_IN_LITERATURE

Unit 30: Mahesh Dattani: Final Solution—Plot Construction

religious identity and markers of other men as Bobby and Javed are revealed through a handkerchief Notes
knotted to go over a men's head in lieu of a cap on other head covering. It can be argued that
anyone may wear a handkerchief over their heads. However as the text establishes once the
poison of communalism is in the air no rationalizing is possible. Ramnik Gandhi the secularist
tries to assert a commonality in a conversation with his daughter's friend's father. "…You must
visit us when you are in amargaon. Yes… Mr. Noor Ahmad, Mr. Noor Ahmad, I'm Ramnik
Gandhi. I… (Distinctly speaking it crt) Ramnik Gandhi (making a joke of it). No relation to the
father of the Nation of course. It is a common surname.…Why even in your own community…tells?
(Act one) In this phone conversation he also makes it clear that despite not being overtly linked to
the 'Mob' outside the idea of separation and difference is deeply enternalised with in most of us.
A door separates the Gandhi family from the Mob outside and when Javed and Bobby knock on
the Gandhi door seeking refuge Gandhi does save their lives and lets them in. Again however the
action of the text undercuts the overt meanings of the secularist. As Ramnik lets the outsiders in
his mother is thrown back into the post and all the injustices ever done to her are re-invoked.
"Why did he do it? Oh G Why do I have to suffer? Did not he have any feelings for me? I just
wanted them to be my friends. How could he let these people into my house? Oh I hate this world!
They pilled his grandfather. (Act one) Aruna, unable to effectively stand up to her husband asserts
her unquestioning belief in right/wrong if the men were being chased to be killed they must have
done something wrong. This is a comfortable perspective from the center of society born of an
assurance of security in being part of a dominant position is threatened that Aruna faces the
insecurity of suddenly being de-centered of being part of a minority instead that this faith is
Shaken. Rammik clearly acts of a personal motivation-his sense of guilt is the driving force behind
his conscious and structured liberalism which becomes opponent when he blurts out to Aruna. "I
have to protect them'. I need to protect them"! I need to protect them" [Act one] The subtext is clear
- the home/family/society/Nateori are firmly Hindu, the two young men literarily and
metaphorically the outsides, the transgressors. The daughter, Smita is immediately sent inside to
her room by her father, the tolerant insider who alone has the power to save the two men from the
intolerant outside. The construction of the other is emphasized also by the obvious image of the
sexual threats posed by the 'other'- when Smita comes out of her room and greets the two by
name, her entire family against is aghast. Ramnik despite his tolerant image is extremely
uncomfortable by with the ideas of his daughter knowing the socially personally - Aruna : You-
you know them? Smita : I know why they are. Ramnik : Why didn't tell us? Smita : I was too
confused. Hardika : Where did you meet them? In college? Smita (unsure) well yes Ramnik: when
done that mean Aruna: Stop her studies! From now on she can stay at home! Ramnik: Where did
you meet them? Smita: I told you. Hardika: But they are not from here. What were they doing in
your college? Bobby: It's all right. Let me tell you. Smita (angrily) No! Ramnik (sternly) For God's
sake! Tell us how you know these boys! (Act two) Ramnik only calms down when Smita tells him
that she knows the two because Javed is her friend Tasneem's brother and the Bobby is Tasneem's
fiance. As Smita says "Bobby comes to college quite often to meet Tasneem. She … they used to go
out quite often... there is no harm in that. They are getting married any way. Ramnik No, there is
no harm in that. (Act two) Where is there no harm? In Bobby going out with Tasneem because they
are engaged? Or because he is involved with somebody from his own community and therefore
safe? The question remains unanswered.
Ramnik is a progressive secularist- not only does he save Javed and Bobby from the mob. He also
forces his wife Aruna to serve them water a gestate she makes only when convinced that they
would not actually drink it. After they do the contaminated glasses are picked up gingerly and
kept separately from the other glasses in the kitchen. Ramnik also resents the alliance that Javed
and Bobby built up in his home against him. Ramnik do not get so defensive 1st man (taken aback)
I…. I am not being detersives. All I said was we are not thirsty. Ramnik: How dare you suddenly
join forces? in my house. 1st man : I do not understand Ramnik you have finished college while

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