Stream: - M.A.
Main Subject: -
English
Part: - 1. Sem: - 1.
Roll. No: - 38
Paper. No: - 4.
Indian Literature in English.
Assignment Topic: -
Discuss the character of ‘Eklavya’ (in reference to other characters)from ‘The
Purpose’.
Mentor: - Heena
Ma’am Zala.
Department Of
English
Batch= 2015 – 2017.
Introduction:-
The play “The Purpose” is written by very famous
and well-known playwright T.P.Kailasam. His full name is Thyagaraja Paramasiva
Kailasam. He was a playwright and prominent writer of Kannada Literature comedy
earned him the title “the father of humorous plays” and later he was also
called as “One and only Kailasam for Kannada”.
About
Author: -
T.P.Kailasam
is remembered as the father of Modern Kannada drama, the man of genius whose
plays revolutionized the Kannada stage. Kailasam focused on contemporary social
problems, a deeply compassionate vision of the human struggle, an almost
Shakespearian power to evoke sympathetic laughter and an amazing grasp of the
living language of men, combined with the gift of using it artistically for
dramatic purpose.
“This Kannada Playwright; who wrote
Complete plays in English did
not
Write a single play purely in
About
Play “The Purpose”: -
‘The Purpose’ is a Myth; Which is
taken from “Mahabharata”. It contains a
story of ‘Archery’ which took place in forest. Arjuna was a small boy who goes
to Guru Drona’s Ashram for learning archery with Pandvas and cousin brothers
Kauravas. Guru Dronacharya was best teacher of archery. Bhishma knows that so
he sent his grand children to learn archery from him. Arjuna was the favorite
student of Guru Drona. In ‘Mahabharata’ Arjuna shown fast learner, whereas in
‘Purpose’ by T.P.Kailasam Arjuna represented slow learner than the Eklavya. In
‘Purpose’ Eklavya is the protagonist.
‘Purpose’ – the title suggests its meaning that the aim of to
teach archery to only royal children for Guru Drona, Purpose of learning
Archery for Arjuna and for Eklavya.
For Arjuna to learn Archery was to become great Archer in his
era; whereas to Eklavya; his purpose after learning the Archery was symbol of
selflessness. He wanted to learn Archery because he wanted to become saviour
for innocent Animals. Here, in ‘Purpose’, Kailasam represents that the Arjuna‘s
aim was wholly personal and to Eklavya it was totally impersonal.
The
difference in the same incidence between Mahabharata and Purpose: -
Usually when we sees in Mahabharata we finds that
character of Arjuna is highlighted. Moreover, readers find that there happens
unjust with Eklavya. After Guru Drona’s propound for ‘Thumb’ to Eklavya as Guru
Dakshina story moves to Arjuna’s training of Archery and did not capture the
pain of an Archer; who can no more be a Archer with lost Thumb(to an Archer his
most precious weapon is his Thumb).
Whereas in “The Purpose” Kailasam focus on
the Eklavya and his after condition. He represents Eklavya as the protagonist
of the play and depicts him as a “Tragic Hero”. Here, the readers somehow
satisfied with Kailasam’s idea to focus on Eklavya.
After sacrifices thumb Eklavya regret that it
was not his authority to snatch a major weapon from innocents’ saviour. He was
the only who could save those animals with his archery skill, but now he won’t
be able to do so.
Character
overview of Drona: -
As we discussed before that Drona was a great
Archer. He had first promised to Bhishma that he would never teach Archery to any
other child excepting Pandvas and Kauravas (Royal Children). And the second
promise he done to Bhishma and Arjuna both that he would make Arjuna the great
Archer of the era. So, after knowing that the Eklavya is more allegeable and
desirable guy to be a great archer than the Arjuna. Although, shake of his two
promises he resisted Eklavya to become his Guru (teacher).
Character
of Arjuna: -
Arjuna is the third child among five Pandvas.
He was the favorite child to Bhishma, Guru Drona and Lord Shree Krishna too. In
“The Purpose” we find Arjuna selfish at some extent (we does not find the same
in “Mahabharata”. The character of Arjuna was highly glorified among all others
in Mahabharata.). He also feels jealous with Eklavya after acknowledge that he
can be more powerful and greater archer than he can. He also threatened Guru
Drona that if he will break his promise then he will tell this to Bhishma, so
better to send Eklavya away. Here, we find the very ideal character of
Mahabharata juxtaposes and depicted as cheaper character in “Purpose”. My
verdict leads me there we can say Kailasam’s sympathy to Eklavya pushes him to
represent Arjuna cheaper than him or may be the Ved Vyas had biases towards
Pandvas and depicted Eklavya at inferior state.
Character
– Sketch of Eklavya: -
Eklavya
is the protagonist of the play “The Purpose”. He is Nishada boy. He also wants
to become the best Archer of the world. He always speaks whatever he thinks to
be true. He has great esteem. He really likes the technique of Guru Dronacharya
but he also recognized Arjuna as his companion. In Mahabharata he is not
powerful character, but in this play he is powerful character drawn by
T.P.Kailasam.
Once he was talk with his mother about
archery that he was talk with his mother about archery that he wants to become
best archer in the world, that time his mother told him that Guru Dronacharya
was the best teacher for Archery if he accept you as a student so you became
best archer. That time he decided that he learn archery from Guru Dronacharya
and try to convince him to taught him archery, but guru Dronacharya deny him
because he is a teacher of Pandvas and Kauravas. He tells him that “I am a
teacher of Princes so I can’t teach you.”
When
Eklavya enters into the Ashram, he expresses his feelings with these words:
“(Looking
all around him) this does look like the place Mother spoke of: “A wide vast
grassy play ground with bejeweled and beautifully dressed handsome young
princes at bow sword and mace exercises… being taught their lessons by a tall
and noble looking Brahamana” is how SHE described it! And it all fits in every
bit!”
He
was so interested in the archery that he thought that he must not miss a word
of Drona. This shows his loves for him. He loves archery and Guru Dronacharya
and he has respect for him and he has respect for him and this thing we can see
in this dialogue that is spoken by Eklavya in this play.
During
this entire situation Eklavya was not noticed by any one; he just shares his
feelings with his own self. He tries to prepare himself because now he was
going to present himself to Guru Drona.
He
already knows that because of his cast, may be Drona will not teach him but he
thinks that because of his aim to become a great Archer he would have to dare
for this.
He has
very good capturing ability seems here when he listened Guru Drona preaches to
Arjuna before giving him training that to become a great Archer is in one’s
hand only. One should be strong and stabile at his aim and can get the
thing. Here, Eklavya knows very well
that his aim is very noble. At sometimes he also becomes negative like his aim
cannot be noble than Arjuna; he is very hard-working. Although he goes to Guru
Drona,
“I have tried hard ever do hard,
Sir, to learn by myself….. But it
Does seem not possible, Sir, to
Learn all by one’s
own self!”
With the help of above lines we can say that
he is really tries hard to convince Drona to teach him. He is just child like
manner of explaining something to elders.
When he deny to teach, Eklavya leaves and decided to create a statue
of Guru Drona and he would learn the
Archery with the inspiration of that statue; he becomes successful and being a
scholar in Archery. When Guru Drona saw that Eklavya could shut up the mouth of
a barking wild dog with his bow very skillfully; on correct places he pointed
out and nits the mouth of that dog and save Pandvas. It shows his skill in
Archery. Everyone were socked, ‘who did this’? Guru Drona asked! Eklavya came
and exclaimed positively that he did this. Guru Drona asked him who taught him
this he replied, “From you Gurujee!” Drona asked with praise “How?” he never
taught him. Then Eklavya led them to the statue of Guru Drona which he made and
worshiped. Arjuna has doubt and upset with this. Guru Drona seems self centered
here when he thinks for promise and reputation for shake of these; he
Propounds for his ‘Right Hand Thumb’ as a
Guru-Dakshina. So, that Eklavya can never do Archery. To save his promise and
reputation he did not realize that he has no wright to propose for this.
Because to beg for Guru-Dakshina is only for who actually taught to his student
and at last that student offers the Guru-Dakshina to his Guru. Here, Eklavya
took Drona as a teacher but seemingly Drona was not there to teach him he
rejected him. so, he had no wright to ask for Guru-Dakshina.
Comparison
between Eklavya and Arjuna: -
The similarity between both the characters is that both want to become
the world’s best archer. Though, the aim is same, the purpose is different.
Arjuna has the personal purpose and Eklavya has purpose to save innocent
animals. The name or the title of the play “The Purpose”; which given by
playwright appropriately, with the center of the story.
Contrast
between Arjuna and Eklavya: -
Now let’s talk about contrast or difference
between these two characters Eklavya and Arjuna; that these both characters
have their own aspects and different point of views about the purpose of
learning archery.
In their childhood, Eklavya tells Arjuna face
to face that Arjuna can not improve it will continue his archery like he is
doing at that time. It shows that Eklavya is self learner and fast learner
whereas, Arjuna comparatively slow learner. Eklavya never loses his temper in
small matters whereas Arjuna has hasty nature.
After
Eklavya lost his thumb he feels very depressed and expresses his feelings with
these words:
“Will you all please leave me to
My
own self?”“You know it will never be
Farewell between us, Gurujee.”” Gods! My
Fawns
in distress! And I too helpless myself
To
help them”.
Comparison
of Eklavya and Karna: -
I took this character of Karna because he has
so many similarities with Eklavya’s character. Let’s see,
Karna
had a same question as Eklavya had (Karna was a character from Mahabharata).
Basically, Karna was Kunti-Putra (sun of Kunti by Lord Sun) so he was
Kshatriya, but he was brought up by a sut-couple and so that he known as
Sut-Putra. He also wanted to learn from ‘Shree Parshuram’. But, because of his
cast Parshuram could not teach him. Here, Karna speaks lie to Parshuram and get
Knowledge. When Parshuram comes to know that he is not Kshatriya he got angry
and curses him that “on suitable time (needy time), you would forgot your all
learning skills.”
Here, the similarity between Eklavya and
Arjuna is only that they both deserving and could not get just because of
casticism.
Eklavya speaks truth and loses his thumb
(most needy weapon for Archery) whereas Karna speaks lie and also loses his
skills at last.
Conclusion:
-
So,
we can say that here in this play Kailasam tried to give justice to Eklavya’s
character which is not there is in original myth. Here he tries to destroy or
break the real myth of Mahabharata. This is the typical style of T.P.Kailasam
that he breaks the old rules in his all works either it is a play or any other
work.
For his art of writing he has said that,
“The greatness of art is in Proportion
to the greatness, of the characters of the characters that the Artist creates”.
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