Vol. 3, Issue 1, Part A (2021)

Kanyadaan, the most controversial play of Vijay Tendulkar, deals with psychological study of social tensions caused by casteism in India vis-à-vis the development of Jyoti’s character from a soft spoken and highly cultured Brahmin girl into a hardened spouse of her dalit husband. In the same way it portrays metamorphosis of Nath’s attitude from hard core idealist to disillusioned realist. The play also reveals Arun Athavale, a Dalit poet’s psychological, physical and verbal violence, which is rooted in his ethos, familial background and caste consciousness. Kanyadaan not only deals with the problem of marital relation in patriarchal society through Jyoti and Arun but also throws light on class differences and caste conflict in modern Indian society. It may be seen as indirect comment on the evil consequences of father’s obsession with idealism and husband’s obsession with caste consciousness. The playwright has focused on the problem that it is difficult to bridge a gap between two different sections and castes of the society. Moreover, the attempt to overcome a taboo leads to greater pitfalls that are difficult to handle.