final solution
Volume : 1 | Issue : 10 | October 2012
ISSN - 2250-1991
Social Science
Research Paper
Mahesh Dattani’s ‘Final Solutions’: A Quest For
Solutions To The Communal Problems In India
*Mosarraf Hossain
* Fazila Manzil (flat-4/B) Aman apartment, 21/49, kuttitola, Malda-732101
ABSTRACT
India is a country of communal diversity. The existence of such society demands mutual understanding among its religious sects. But more than once the harmonious chord has strained and a series of communal riots has maligned her history –in the recent decades the rot is a bit speedy. Wherein lies the solution to such communal problems? Probably, Mahesh Dattani, the first Indo-English playwright to win the prestigious Sahitya Academy Award in 1998, might have had one in his mind. The present paper is a humble endeavour to analyze Dattani’s play ‘Final Solutions’ (1992) and unearth the touching issue of schism in relationship due to misunderstanding between the two major religious factions- the Hindus and the Muslims.
Keywords : Schism, Assam riot, identity-crisis, prejudice, circuitous hatred, solutions
‘Final Solutions’ by Mahesh Dattani is a play which frames the time and its burning problems. In this play particularly the issue of communal harmony is raised and what takes the play to a different level is that the playwright tries to cater a solution to the problem by bringing the followers of the two religions on an even keel. Whether it remains a conjecture or whatever, is a different matter altogether, but, no doubt, Dattani tries. In
‘The Shadow Lines’, Amitav Ghosh failed to reach any solution of the raging problem of the divide between the Hindus and the Muslims, in ‘Riot’ Shashi Tharoor struck at the root of the problem and in ‘Train to Pakistan’ Khushwant Singh concludes with a ghastly scene of death where two minds of two different religious sects though got united in love but in reality could not. In the conclusion of this play by Mahesh
ISSN - 2250-1991
Social Science
Research Paper
Mahesh Dattani’s ‘Final Solutions’: A Quest For
Solutions To The Communal Problems In India
*Mosarraf Hossain
* Fazila Manzil (flat-4/B) Aman apartment, 21/49, kuttitola, Malda-732101
ABSTRACT
India is a country of communal diversity. The existence of such society demands mutual understanding among its religious sects. But more than once the harmonious chord has strained and a series of communal riots has maligned her history –in the recent decades the rot is a bit speedy. Wherein lies the solution to such communal problems? Probably, Mahesh Dattani, the first Indo-English playwright to win the prestigious Sahitya Academy Award in 1998, might have had one in his mind. The present paper is a humble endeavour to analyze Dattani’s play ‘Final Solutions’ (1992) and unearth the touching issue of schism in relationship due to misunderstanding between the two major religious factions- the Hindus and the Muslims.
Keywords : Schism, Assam riot, identity-crisis, prejudice, circuitous hatred, solutions
‘Final Solutions’ by Mahesh Dattani is a play which frames the time and its burning problems. In this play particularly the issue of communal harmony is raised and what takes the play to a different level is that the playwright tries to cater a solution to the problem by bringing the followers of the two religions on an even keel. Whether it remains a conjecture or whatever, is a different matter altogether, but, no doubt, Dattani tries. In
‘The Shadow Lines’, Amitav Ghosh failed to reach any solution of the raging problem of the divide between the Hindus and the Muslims, in ‘Riot’ Shashi Tharoor struck at the root of the problem and in ‘Train to Pakistan’ Khushwant Singh concludes with a ghastly scene of death where two minds of two different religious sects though got united in love but in reality could not. In the conclusion of this play by Mahesh
References: WORKS CITED: | 1. Dattani, Mahesh. Collected Plays. India: Penguin, 2000. | 2. Naik, M.K. & Shyamala Narayan. Indian English Literature 1980-2000:A Critical Survey. N.Delhi: Pencraft International,2001. | 3 Ghosh, Amitav. The Shadow Lines. New Delhi: Ravi Dayal Publisher,1988, | 4 .Bhagat, Chetan. the 3 mistakes of my life , A Story about Business, Cricket and Religion. New Delhi: Rupa & Co. 2008, 223-224. | 5. Malgonkar, Manohar. A Bend in the Ganges .London: Pan Books Ltd,1964. 374-378. | 6. Gokhale, Shanta ‘The Dramatists’ in Arvind Krishna Mehrotra ed., An Illustrated History of Indian Literature in English (Delhi: Permanent Black, 2003) p 349. | 7. Multani, Angelie, ‘Final Solutions?’ in Angelie Multani ed., Mahesh Dattani’s Plays: Critical Perspectives (New Delhi: Pencraft International, 2007) p 111. | 8. Chaudhuri, Asha Kuthari, Mahesh Dattani (New Delhi: Foundation Books, 2005) p 77. | 9. Padamsee, Alyque, ‘A Note on the Play Final Solutions’ in Mahesh Dattani: Collected Plays (New Delhi: Penguin, 2000) p 161. | 10. Multani, Angelie, ‘Final Solutions?’ in Angelie Multani ed., Mahesh Dattani’s Plays: Critical Perspectives (New Delhi: Pencraft International, 2007) | 11.Padamsee, Alyque, ‘A Note on the Play Final Solutions’ in Mahesh Dattani: Collected Plays (New Delhi: Penguin, 2000) p 161. | 160 X PARIPEX - INDIAN JOURNAL OF RESEARCH