Page 270 - DENG503_INDIAN_WRITINGS_IN_LITERATURE

Indian Writings in Literature

Notes Hardika, the grandmother, is obsessed with her father's murder during the partition turmoil and
the betrayal by a Muslim friend, Zarine. Her son, Ramnik Gandhi, is haunted by the knowledge
his fortunes were founded on a shop of Zarine's father, which was burnt down by his kinsmen.
Hardika's daughter-in-law, Aruna, lives by the strict code of the Hindu Samskar and the
granddaughter, Smita, cannot allow herself a relationship with a Muslim boy.
The pulls and counter-pulls of the family are exposed when two Muslim boys, Babban and Javed,
seek shelter in their house on being chased by a baying Hindu mob. Babban is a moderate while
Javed is an aggressive youth. After a nightlong exchange of judgements and retorts between the
characters, tolerance and forgetfulness emerge as the only possible solution of the crisis. Thus, the
play becomes a timely reminder of the conflicts raging not only in India but in other parts of the
world.
Self-Assessment
1. Fill in the blanks:
(i) Bobby and Javed, present the future with ............... and Aruna.
(ii) Hardika's daughter-in-law, Aruna, lives by the strict code of the Hindu ............... and the
grand-daughter, Smita cannot allow herself a relationship with a Muslim boy.
(iii) Zarine, her son, ..............., is haunted by the knowledge his fortunes were founded on a
shop of Zarine's father, which was burnt down by his kinsmen.
(iv) Babban is a ............... while Javed is an aggressive youth.
32.2 Summary

• Final Solutions has taken the issues of the majority communities in different contexts and
situations. It talks of the problems of cultural hegemony, how Hindus had to suffer at the
hands of Muslim majority like the characters of Hardika/Daksha in Hussainabad.
• The scenes of the play take place inside and outside Ramnik Gandhi's house where Ramnik
has given two Muslim boys shelter from the violent mob outside. The mob is in the form of
a chorus, changing its guise into Muslims and Hindus through masks and songs. Inside, a
Hindu family is sharply divided over giving shelter to the unknown Muslim youths in the
midst of communal frenzy and violence.
• The play now assumes a wholly different perspective even as the familial tensions continue
within the home and are set off by communal tensions outside. The outside (Babban and
Javed) is in a sense allowed entry, after severe resistance from within (Aruna and Hardika)
and then begins the extortion of the fragile familial ties. Several scenes establish the bond
between Aruna and Smita, with Ramnik, the father often being made to feel isolated.
• The play moves from the partition to the present day communal riots. It probes into the
religious bigotry by examining the attitudes of three generations of a middle-class Gujrati
business family, Hardika, the grandmother, is obsessed with her father's murder during the
partition turmoil and the betrayal by a Muslim friend, Zarine.
32.3 Key-Words

1. Communal riots : Violent public disorder, engaged in by a significant proportion of the
community, and endorsed by a majority of the same community.
2. Candour : The quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech.

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