Page 258 - DENG503_INDIAN_WRITINGS_IN_LITERATURE
P. 258
Indian Writings in Literature
Notes from prejudice and the idea of being different is rooted in his mind. Even without the interrogative
of Hardika Javed replies, "Those are our own people." The young Smita represents the dynamism
of new generation and she behaves like the instruments of solution in the play. She is neither
rebellious nor apprehensive. The third act in Final Solution can be appreciated as turning point in
the play. Being disgusted with the apathy of Aruna, Javed admits that he is a professional 'rioter'
and he is engaged in riots for the sake of money. Ramnik, who earlier offers him job, now doubts
his intentions.
Dattani through the cross examination of Javed and Ramnik tries to reflect on the roots of motive
behind the passion for communal violence. Ramnik survives in conflicting situation, his external
and internal self divides. Earlier he presents himself liberal minded but he is too governed by the
passion for religions fanaticism. He also doubts on Javed and his doubt anguish then the infliction
of rioters. He admits, "You would have let the mob kill me. And you wouldn't have minded he
had died as well. You don't hate me for what I do or who I am. You hate me because I showed you
that you are not as liberal as you think you are."
Dattani treads the ground that the real problem lies in the attitudes. In the present scenario of
communal tension Hardika's memory shifts to the past and she recalls her own past how she used
to visit the place of Zarina, her friend. Simultaneously javed's helplessness assumes the proportion
of resentment leading to destructive anger. He cries out. "Don't we all have anger and frustration?
Am I so unique? Now that I am alone…. I hate myself. It was different when I used to attend the
meetings. I was swayed by what now appears to me as cheep sentiments. They always tackled
about motherland and fighting to save our faith and how we should get tour of their for everyone
of ours." It is not a question of society and community but of the identity of the individual Javed's
resentment is that every time, he is caught in suspicion and his best intentions are worst-treated.
The different questions asked by chorus are the questions associated eternally with the national
identity of the minority who have to take recourse to cornaival to protect their interest. In all
vehemence, he interrogates- What must we do? To become more acceptable? Must we lose our
identity? Is that what they want? Must we tolerate more? Does our future lie in their hands? Is
there anyone more unsure more insecure than us, or what a curse, if is to be less in number."
In Final Solution, anger is not an expression of aggression but a method of self-defense. Javed
offers his services to Aruna and tries to help her by filling the bucket of water but it was of no
avail. Aruna tries to maintain balance with her modesty but her broken and incomplete statements,
signify the conflict of her mind how it was different for her to compromise with Javed. In spite of
her apparent sympathy she says, "We don't allow anyone to fill our drinking water. No outsider."
"We bath our God with it. If has to be pure. It must not be contaminated." Smita is a foil to Aruna
and she condemns the prejudice of her mother. She tolerates Javed and Bobby without any fear
and doubt. Smita is the voice of true liberatism and irraticates her. She many not be a fundamentlist
but is rigid and has no confidence to go beyond accepted ideologies. She is not ready to compromise
with her sanskars. She accesses Smita. I shudder to think what will become of your children what
kind of sanskar will you give them when you don't have any yourself? It's all very well to have
progressive ideas. But are you progressing or are drifting? God knows, I don't want all this
violence - for so many generations we have preserved our sanskar because we believe it is the
truth…. I shall uphold what I believe is the truth." Smita, is confident that religion is a matter of
personal faith and the conflict emerges out of prejudices. To sustain faith in religion. The power of
soul is essential.
Dattani through Smita establishes that no religion can serve without the acknowledgment of faith
of others. The solution lies in the recognition of similarities and not in identification of differences
and discrimination. She exhorts, "We would never have spoken about what makes us so different
from each other. We should have gone on living our lives with our petty similarities. The fanaticism
of her mother was a burden to the spirit of humanity and compassion. Smita in order to restore the
252 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY