Professional Documents
Culture Documents
CONCLUSION
1
7.1 Introduction:
The first chapter is introductory in nature. It introduces three aspects of
the present study in brief. The first introductory background given is the
contextual background of the study. The context is framed in which to place the
five dramatic works by Mahesh Dattani. The contextual background is
provided through a survey of the growth and development of Indian English
drama right from the beginning. The historical background is provided by
giving a sketch of Mahesh Dattani the dramatist of the contemporary times
through his biography and his dramatic contribution of sixteen plays. The third
background is the methodological background of the present study which
contains objectives, hypothesis, methodology, limitations, data collection and
analysis, synoptic chapter wise outline and scheme and its need and
significance and its statement.
The second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth chapters are on the plays On a
Muggy Night in Mumbai, Do the Needful, Seven Steps Around the Fire, Tara,
and Final Solutions. A twentypoint analysis of the sociopolitical and cultural
issues of the contemporary times of the period from 1980 to 2015 has been
attempted in these five core chapters of the present study. The articulation of
the voice of the subalterns, alternate sexuality, violence in the contemporary
society, the marginalised existence, a sociopsychological analysis, social
relationships as bonds, gender issues, patriarchal authority and its dominance,
scarred psyche of the marginalised classes, the use of music, light and stage
arrangement in Mahesh Dattani's plays, silence, sufferings and sunshine, the
reflection of the social vision, a synthesis of vision and visuals, destruction and
disintegration of family and social structures in the contemporary times. The
thematic strand of search for identity social exclusion and isolation as reflected
in the individual plays, dynamics of personal and individual choices, the
portrayal of contemporary reality in the fast changing world, a dramatic protest
against the injustice done to the oppressed undergoes in the material
relationships are the twenty points which have been critically analysed
2
scrupulously commented upon and rigorously evaluated by highlighting with
apt examples and copious illustrations the validity of the assessment of these
five plays by Mahesh Dattani.
In On a Muggy Night in Mumbai the researcher has dealt with subaltern
speakout, taboo relationship and alternate sexuality, sociopsychological
analysis of marginalised, the violence and clashes and breaking the margin to
enlarge spaces with an angle of gay and lesbians in contemporary society.
In Do the Needful the researcher through dynamics of human
relationships, handling issues of gender, caricature of patriarchal authority and
defending scarred psyche has painted picture of two selfcentred individuals
who have betrayed their parents.
In Seven Steps Around the Fire the social existence of eunuchs and their
struggle to exist is analysed by the researcher through silence, suffering and
sunshine, human relationship as a social bonds, the reflection of social vision
and synthesis of social vision and visuals.
In Tara the researcher has highlighted the issue of malefemale gender
bias portrayed by Dattani. Deconstruction of family structure, realistic
presentation of contemparaniety, selfidentification and self discovery and
social exclusion is presented to find out how Tara is an apt example of gender
bias.
In Final Solutions the researcher has discussed about the most burning
issue of communalism with the help points like dynamics of human
relationships, social vision, social exclusion, music as a motif, locating the self,
the use of dialogue and the presentation of moral issues.
Each play is subjected to close thematic scrutiny of validity of the
sociocultural issues, problems, and challenges raised in the specific plays on
gay relationship lesbianism and other queer gender relationships the hollow
valueless social fabric, the demoralised, debased, degraded, disintegrated
3
family and individual life, immoral corrupt polluted contemporary times and
problems of communalism and gender, class and caste discrimination found
everywhere and everytime in the contemporary Indian society.
7.2. Major Findings and Conclusions of the Present Study:
The major findings and conclusions of the present study are summarised
in the second section of the current chapter. This section is subdivided in four
subsections such as 7.2 (a) Accomplishment of the objectives of the present
study. 7.2 (b) Validation of the hypothesis of the present study 7.2 (c) Major
findings of the present study and 7.2 (d) Conclusion of the present study.
7.2 (a) Accomplishment of the Objectives of the Present Study:
7.2 (a) i The first objective of the present study is restated below:
“The present study intends to throw light on the contribution made to Indian
English drama by the famous contemporary dramatist Mahesh Dattani.”
Indian English Drama has developed right from the beginning of the
Indian English literature in the second half of the ninetieth century. Indian
English literature is said to be full of rich variety in the realm of Indian English
Novel and Indian English poetry but Indian English drama does not at all lag
behind these two literary genres. On the other hand, Nobel Laureate
Rabindranath Tagore and the visionary Indian epic poet Sri Aurobindo Ghosh,
the dramatist par excellence of biographical plays on saint poets and social
realism Harindranth Chattopadhayaya and dramatist who has transformed
Indian myths T.P. Kalidasan as well as Bharati Sarabhai have contributed to the
growth of Indian English drama. In the postindependence period, Nissim
4
Ezekiel, Shiv K. Kumar have enriched Indian English Drama to a large extent.
Girish Karnad, Badal Sircar, Mohan Rakesh and Vijay Tendulkar have founded
modern experimental Indian English Theatre which has been enriched by more
than thirty plays by Asif Currimbhoy and sixteen plays by Mahesh Dattani.
This is how the first objective of the present study about Mahesh Dattani's
significant dramatic contribution is accomplished in the course of this research
work.
7.2 (a) ii The second objective of the present study is reproduced below:
“The present study attempts to deal with the contemporary social, political and
cultural problems and invisible issues of alternate sexualities as noticed in the
five plays by Mahesh Dattani.”
In the plays like Seven Steps Around the Fire Mahesh Dattani has voiced
the agonies and sufferings of the marginalised transgenders who have to make
their obligatory presence felt at the times of marriage and childbirth. From both
these occasion they are excluded. They are totally marginalised by the society
as they belong to the group of persons having queer gender relationships as
shown in the cases of minister’s son and his transgender partner who was
murdered. In On a Muggy Night in Mumbai, homosexual relationship is
established by Kamlesh with Prakash and also with the security guard and
others. Such gay relationship exemplifies the queer sex relationship. These
invisible issues are treated by Mahesh Dattani and has been deftly handled the
situation against the background of contemporary social, political and cultural
conditions. The third play projects the queer gender relationships is Do the
Needful in which the husband and wife decide mutually to continue their queer
or illicit sexual contacts even after marriage so that they can do the needful to
enjoy the best of both the worlds. The wife would allow her husband to
continue his homosexuality and she would continue her extramarital affair
without his objection and with his open permission. This is how the second
objective is accomplished in the present study. Tara is play where a girl child is
given secondary treatment from her very birth. She has been treated as
5
secondary under the desire of Indian parents for the want of male child. The
agony and the psyche of female gender are aptly described in this by Dattani.
Final Solutions is about communal tension prevalent in India since time of
independence. We have been witnessing the communal riots and its influences
on Indian social life time and again. Dattani has tried to offer a peaceful
solution to the problem of communalism through this play.
7.2 (a) iii The third objective of the present study is presented below:
“The present study intends to highlight those elements of drama which are both
actual and controversial mainly on account of the choice of the themes,
presentation of characters, novel techniques, and experimentation in depiction
of plot, structure, setting and style employed in Mahesh Dattani's five selected
plays for the study.”
The work of Mahesh Dattani shows that the plays by him are highly
realistic. They mirror the actual as well as controversial social conditions.
Mahesh Dattani's plays deal with themes which have been invisible till these
times. Before Mahesh Dattani, other Indian English Dramatists did not treat
these issues considering them to be unstated problems, hidden issues and mute
and dumb challenges to the reality in the social and cultural environment
around. The society has become almost permissive society. The social
conditions do not allow to present these issues openly in the theatre but Mahesh
Dattani has boldly handled these subjects in his plays.
In On a Muggy Night in Mumbai controversial theme of the homosexual
relationship is put forth boldly by the dramatist. He has delicately dealt with the
suffocation of these communitieslesbians and the gays under strict norms of
heterosexual society.
In Do the Needful the characters presented are selfish in their motives to
achieve their physical pleasure. In order to get it they do not hesitate to cheat
parents in particular and society in general. Illicit sexual relationship which is
unacceptable in any context is shown in the play.
6
In Seven Steps Around the Fire issue of eunuchs community is portrayed.
Unequal treatment given by the society to this community is inhuman. Their
unsupportive place in society drags them to become a part of murder
conspiracy. Their suffocation in the society in the contemporary social life is
shown in this play.
In Tara the structure and setting employed is unique and novel.
Different layers of stage, furniture arrangement and technique of dramatisation
helps the audience to understand the plot more realistically. The plot helps the
audience to arouse sympathetic approach towards the unjustified character in
the play.
In Final Solutions the controversial issue of HinduMuslim riots is
presented. The characters in the play are shown to be afraid of cloud of
suspicion of communal riots. They always feel insecure about others religion.
The presentation of characters and of chorus and masques helps us to feel the
social tension in the play.
Gender discrimination, alternate sexuality and communalism are some
of the topics about which the exposure is prohibited by the unwritten and
unspoken discussion and treatment of these topics. Accordingly, the choice of
themes has made its impact on the manner of characterisation construction of
plot structure, the structural design of the plays, the locations of action
dramatised and the use of stylistic peculiarities. This has shown how the third
objective of the present study is accomplished.
7.2 (a) iv The Fourth objective of the present study is presented below:
“The present study endeavours to study the social realism by treating the
contemporary problems in the play Mahesh Dattani and his efforts to find
solutions to current sociopolitical and cultural issues.”
The contemporary problems of post1990 social and political life are
presented by Mahesh Dattani in his play. In the play Seven Steps Around the
7
Fire the ‘invisible’ issues of marginalisation of the transgenders is treated by
Mahesh Dattani and he also projected the social realism as the Minister has
arranged the murder of his son’s “hijra” beloved and has caused his son to
commit suicide. Through the torture and agony that eunuchs face Mahesh
Dattani appeals us to give them humanly social space to this community. We
have to open our heart with compassion to understand their painful existence.
In On a Muggy Night in Mumbai the issue of homosexuality is treated.
Prakash, Sharad and the Security Guard are the persons who have been utilised
by Kamlesh for his queer sexual passions. It is the queer relationship which has
been realistically presented in the play. The social reality is presented through
the way the noise pollution caused by the marriage ceremony in the same
building. The party arranged in the play too has the touch of social realism.
Dattani suggests us that there is need to understand the natural instinct of
homosexuals towards their sexchoice. They have not become homosexuals by
their choice but by the fate of nature. We have to accommodate them in our
society with a status.
In Do the Needful the selfish pair of husband and wife tries to challenge the
marriage institution. The solution adopted by the characters in the play for their
issues is not worthy to be supported. Rather we need to teach our children
morality and its positive influence on our lives. Dattani indirectly offers us
disadvantages of illicit sexual relationship outside the marital life and forces to
think against it.
In Tara the mysterious condition girl child compel us to understand the
tender situation of female in our society. We are educated but didn’t learn
anything as per as human values are concern. In such an advanced and
technically developed 21st century we favour male child over female. Dattani
tries to open our eyes towards the imbalance in the treatment of gender and
forces us to think for the solution.
8
In the Final Solutions, the menace of communalism and violent riots are
presented to project the grim social reality by the communal disturbances. The
dramatist has made efforts to find solutions to these issues through mutual
understanding, broadmindedness, openness and faith. The key to these social,
political, and cultural problems is rational thinking, love and faith in others, in
particular, in the members of the communities. The fourth objective of the
present study is thus accomplished in the course of the present research work.
7.2 (a) v The fifth objective of the present study is restated below:
“The present study intends to study how the current sociopolitical and
unexplored (invisible) issues concerning the Indian cultural ethos are treated
by Mahesh Dattani in his five selected plays in order to portray the
contemporary Indian social life realistically.”
In Seven Steps Around the Fire we can see that there are many
prohibitions in the Indian cultural ethos. The “hijras” are the marginalised
category in the Indian social scenario. They have been privileged to attend the
marriage ceremony preparations and clap, sing and dance demand their amount
at the time of birth of child in the family. They are not yet allowed to get
“married”. They are treated as “beggar” without any social status. They are
kept isolated, invisibles and untouchables.
Similarly, in On a Muggy Night in Mumbai we see the treatment given
to homosexuals and their urge to have their freedom to live as per their wish.
They are forced to hide their real sex identity under the carpet. Though
homosexuality exists in the Indian society from the times immemorial, the open
acceptance of the same is never made in public. The matter is always hushed
up. Those who are doubled to be accomplish in such a behaviour are looked
upon as debased and degraded individuals from the accepted social norms.
The same is the case with extramarital relations and those who practice
the samesex relationships as in Do the Needful. The characters in the play go
for the solution which is not acceptable in Indian context. It is seen as sin in
9
Indian society and which may result in the situation of the social exclusion,
almost of boycott.
In Tara we see the social reality in case of gender bias exists in our
Indian society. It is easily can be seen in the play that how corruption in the
medical profession is helping the families in India to happen what they want in
case of girl child birth.
Final Solutions is the play which not only describes current social
reality but offers a solution of ‘forget and forgive’ to minimise hatred among
religions. The need to understand and respect each other’s culture is underlined
which might be the only solution to social harmony in our society.
The portrayal of these invisible issues and the current social, political,
and cultural problems is drawn quite realistically by the dramatist Mahesh
Dattani in all the sixteen plays and more specifically in the five selected plays
for the present study. That is how the fifth objective is accomplished in the
present study.
7.2 (b) i. The first hypothesis of the Present Study is presented below:
“In the five plays under study, Mahesh Dattani depicted malefemale
relationship within the contextual framework of contemporary social life as its
background.”
Mahesh Dattani is leading contemporary dramatist of the post 1990
period. Indian English Drama is enriched by the efforts he has constantly made
to present the realistic portrayal of the contemporary social life. Against the
background of the presentday social and political conditions, Mahesh Dattani
has depicted the malefemale relationship prevalent in the family, community,
society and in the country as a whole. In the five selected plays there are
various pairs of male and female whose relationships are presented by the
dramatist quite realistically. In presenting these relationships, as in On a Muggy
Night in Mumbai, Seven Steps Around the Fire and Do the Needful he has
10
projected the realistic picture of some of the queer sexual relationship, gay
relationship, lesbian relationship, transgenders, eunuchs, the same gender
relations, homosexuality, extramarital relations. The malefemale relationships
have such a different forms in which men and women behave queerly,
abnormally, strangely, and perversely. The relationships between Kamlesh and
Prakash, Kamlesh and Sharad, Kamla and Subbu and between Alpesh and Lata
are some examples. These abnormal perversions are the invisible issues in the
contemporary society in India. Malefemale treatment given in Tara has
different angle. That is the angle of gender bias as it is seen in case of Tara and
Chandan. In Final Solution malefemale relationships are seen under the cloud
of orthodox and religious background. The contemporary social life is the
contextual framework of the presentation of these various normal and
otherwise forms of malefemale sexual relationships as used by the dramatist
Mahesh Dattani. This validates the first hypothesis of the present study.
7.2 (b) ii. The second hypothesis of the Present Study is reproduced below:
“Mahesh Dattani in all the five selected plays has dealt with the unstated
“invisible” issues like gay relationship, homosexuality, samesex contacts such
as lesbianism and other queer sexual relationships.”
Sigmund Freud has pointed out that the sexual desire is the rootcause of
many modes of human behaviour. Human conduct is governed by the sexual
urges. Human actions are determined by the sexual relationships between men
and women. Heterosexual relation between a married male and his female life
partner wedded to him through marriage are considered to be the normal
standard of the wellgoverned sexual conduct in a family and the society as
whole. Any other pattern of sexual relationship except this sanctified norm is
considered to be a queer sexual relationship. Homosexuality, gays,
transgenders, lesbians and such other forms are known as the queer gender
sexuality. These are the alternate sexualities which are practiced in the
contemporary society as those were in vogue right from the ancient times. In
the plays selected for the present study Mahesh Dattani has treated such queer
11
relationships. Seven Steps Around the Fire is on the life and predicament of the
“hijras”. On a Muggy Night in Mumbai is on the homosexual relations and Do
the Needful is again on homosexuality and illicit sexual contacts. This shows
how the contemporary dramatist Mahesh Dattani has treated the unstated issues
in his five selected plays. This validates the second hypothesis of the present
study.
7.2 (b) iii. The third hypothesis of the Present Study is restated below:
“Mahesh Dattani in all the five selected plays chosen for the present study has
dealt with the issue of communalism in plays like Final Solutions and other and
has offered solutions to these problems.”
In Final Solutions Mahesh Dattani has uncovered the issue of Hindu
Muslim community and their interpersonal relationships. From the time of
Indian independence these two major religions in India have had a kind hatred
towards each others. Since 1947 there are numerous examples of Hindu
Muslim riots such as Babri Masque demolition and others. Religious issues
have been given the different dimension by the various political parties in
India. They have used the religion as a tool for their vote bank. As a result
instead of having any solution to such communal problem it goes on increasing
and spreading misunderstanding about each other’s religions. Through the play
Final Solutions Dattani has handled the theme of HinduMuslim riots and its
influence on the society. He has also offered solutions to such problems in it.
Following virtues is the true religion. That is the final solution to the problem
narrow fanaticism. This is how the third hypothesis of the present study on
Mahesh Dattani's five plays stands validated on the basis of the supportive
evidence.
7.2 (b) iv. The fourth hypothesis of the Present Study is presented below:
“Mahesh Dattani as Postmodernist writer has presented consumerism as an
element of new wave in his contemporary literary works.”
12
Mahesh Dattani's dramatic career spans the period after 1990 to this day.
He is therefore a contemporary dramatist of the present time who has depicted
the present day realities of life in his sixteen plays and other writings. He is a
writer of the contemporary times as he deals with current and living issues.
These issues are concerned with presentday life style. It is the postmodernist
life style characterised by the commercialisation of life. It is age of liberation,
privatisation and globalisation. The contemporary life is governed by the
market economy. The old dictum “money makes the man go” rules the entire
economy and governs the global markets and economy. The corporate culture
has wrapped up the global life. Consumerism is rampant. The products are
being enjoyed and used universally. Kamlesh’s house, Chandan’s room,
Patel’s residence and Gandhi’s house display a lot of consumer product. Their
utilisation is the current practice. In Mumbai, in Bengluru, in London, and in
other metropolitan centres and urban townships like Kamargaon in Gujarat, the
same condition prevails. The consumerism is thus the characteristic and
distinctive feature of postmodernism of the contemporary times. The same
trend of consumerism is noticed remarkably in Mahesh Dattani's plays. This is
the supportive evidence that provide sufficient proof to validate the fourth
hypothesis of the present study.
7.2 (b) v. The fifth hypothesis of the Present Study is reproduced below:
“Mahesh Dattani has presented the current issues which have been tested for
their relevance and contemporaneity through the illustrative material that has
been gathered from the five selected plays.”
Gender discrimination in the contemporary Indian social life is so
rampant that the ratio of females is 915 to the population of 1000 males in the
states like Punjab and Haryana. Foeticide became universal as soon as the
gender determination tests revealed that the foetus was that of a girl. In a play
like Tara, though surgically, it would have been proper to give the second leg
to the girl child Tara instead of giving to the male issue Chandan. This resulted
in Tara’s death and her mother’s depression. The play Final Solutions treats the
13
topic of communal violence which has roots into the feelings of mutual hatred
among the different communities in the Indian society. Mutual destruct and
lack of faith in others are the reasons behind the outbreaks various disturbing
social issues. The queer sexual relationships as in On A Muggy Night In
Mumbai, Seven Steps Around The Fire and Do the Needful are universally put
into practice by those who are involved in them on account of sexual desires of
strange types. These contemporary issues and their treatment have given the
sense of contemporaneity to the themes handled by Mahesh Dattani in his plays
chosen for the present research study. This gives it a relevance to the current
themes treated and material gathered gives sufficient proof to validate the fifth
hypothesis of the present research study.
7.2 (c) Findings of the Present Study:
7.2(c) i The first finding of the present study is that the transgenders,
homosexuals, gays and lesbians and other groups are the marginalised
subordinate persons. The articulation of the agonies in the voices of these
subalterns is found in the present study on the contents of Mahesh Dattani’s
five plays.
7.2.(c) ii The second finding of the present study is that Mahesh Dattani has
attempted to offer the psychoanalytical study of some of the characters in his
plays such as Kamlesh, Chandan, Uma and others. He presents the Freudian
analysis of the conduct of his major characters.
7.2. (c) iii The third finding of the present study is that the discrimination
towards the female gender. Girls are dominated against, Kamlesh’s sister
Kiran, Gandhi’s daughter Smita, Mr. And Mrs. Patel’s daughter Tara, which is
Chandan’s sister and Kamla are some of the females who have been
discriminated against on account of their gender alone.
7.2 (c) iv The fourth findings bring out the fact that the dramatist has dealt with
the current social, political and cultural issues in his five selected plays.
Communal violence is such as an issue treated in Final solutions.
14
7.2. (c) v The fifth finding of the study is that Mahesh Dattani, the cotemporary
dramatist has shown that life in the present times is totally characterised by the
trend of commercialisation. It is so on account of encompassing nature of
commercialised. life in the days of postmodernism. This is total materialistic
and consumerist society that has made its impact on the current social situation
as seen in On Muggy Night in Mumbai, Do the Needful, Final Solutions and
Tara.
7.2. (c) vi The sixth finding is that the dramatist has handled themes and
situations which have been unstated and invisible themes and situations. He is a
master dramatist of “invisible” issues as seen in Seven Steps Around the Fire.
7.2. (c) vii The seventh finding of the present study is that the dramatist has
made use of a lot of experimentations. He has used innovative lighting and
musical effects. He has used levels distinctly in the stage arrangement as in
Tara.
7.2. (c) viii The eighth finding of the present study is that the issues, topics,
themes, and subjects presented by the dramatist are those which are current and
living problems of the present times. This has lent conteporaneity to his plays
On Muggy Night in Mumbai, Do the Needful, Final Solutions and Tara.
7.2. (c) ix The ninth finding of the present study is that life of the individuals
in the contemporary society is engrossed with clashes and conflicts which are
psychological, social, political and cultural as in seen Final Solutions.
7.2. (c) x The tenth finding of the present study is that contemporary times are
troubled by clash of civilizations of the East and the West, the SouthNorth
Divide, the conflict of religions, the violent enmity among communities,
creeds, castes and races as seen in On Muggy Night in Mumbai, Do the
Needful, Final Solutions and Tara.
7.2. (c) xi The eleventh finding of the present study is that the present age is
afflicted by the loss of values of all sorts such as human, moral and spiritual
15
values. The same is dramatically presented by Mahesh Dattani as seen in Do
the Needful, Seven Steps Around the Fire.
7.2. (c) xii The twelfth finding of the present study is that there are various
marginalised groups in the present day society as they are thrown to the
periphery on the grounds of gender, class, caste, and other discriminatory
grounds.
7.2. (c) xiii The thirteenth finding of the present study is that Mahesh Dattani
has presented a solution in the play Do the Needful which is totally unethical
and harmful to the wellbeing of man in general and social life in particular.
7.2. (c) xiv The fourteenth finding of the present study is that Mahesh Dattani
has dramatically presented various types of queer sexual relationships among
men and women to present the degradation of man as seen in On Muggy Night
in Mumbai, Do the Needful and Seven Steps Around the Fire.
7.2. (c) xv The fifteenth finding of the present study is that the dramatist
Mahesh Dattani is a postmodernist dramatist. He has presented the
consumerism in On Muggy Night in Mumbai, Do the Needful, Final Solutions
and Tara of the present times in which the products and the markets rule the
conditions.
7.2. (c) xvi The sixteenth finding of the present study is that Mahesh Dattani
has projected the disintegration, destruction of the present day life at different
levels at personal, family, communal, national and even international level in
all the plays under study.
7.2 (d) Conclusions of the Present Study:
7.2. (d) i The first conclusion of the present study is that in the social structure
of all times the group of establishment in any society and the subalterns in it
have been given very less significance. The subalterns have never been at the
entire but always on the periphery of the social circle. The agonies, pains,
sorrows, sufferings, anguish, tears have always been stifled, oppressed and
16
supposed. They were never allowed to speak out in the open and in clear
articulated voices. Mahesh Dattani’s dramatic works have given an opportunity
to all subalterns to articulate their voices freely, frankly and openly on a public
platform like the stage of Indian English Theatre.
7.2. (d) ii The second conclusion of the present study is that many of the
characters have been psychologically disturbed. Tara’s, mother is
psychologically under tension on account of the guilty conscience (Tara’s
brother Chandan) and (Smita’s fatherGandhi) and Prakash. They suffer from
some psychosis, some worries and are always under the impact of suppression,
fusion, psychological pressure and depression. Mahesh Dattani has attempted
to present the psychoanalysis of the moods of some of these characters in his
plays.
7.2. (d) iii The third conclusion of the present study is that the females have
everywhere and everytime been subjected to subordination, suppression,
torture, harassment, oppression. It is shown that such discrimination is unjust.
7.2. (d) iv The fourth conclusion of the present study is that in the present times
many social issues, political conflicts, economic clashes, cultural divisions
exist and prevalent and these prevalent problems have made men restless and
helpless.
7.2. (d) v The fifth conclusion of the present study is that money madness has
taken a complete hold of the contemporary societies. Life has become totally
commercial and materialistic. Mahesh Dattani has selected this situation very
artistically and dramatically in his plays.
7.2. (d) vi The sixth conclusion of the present study is that invisible issues of
gender discrimination, child abuse, sexual alternatives, gay and lesbians
relationships, homosexuality and “hijra” existence and other queer sexualities
have made all the practitioners of such abnormal sexual relations mute, deaf,
dumb, blind, and completely insensitive and insensible.
17
7.2. (d) vii The seventh conclusion of the present study is that Mahesh Dattani
present dramatic experience in his plays through innovative experimentation,
the uses of various technical features so as to highlight the presentation of his
plays through lighting and musical effects, techniques of stage presentation and
various other experimental devices and tricks.
7.2. (d) viii The eighth conclusion of the present study is that the themes and
topics such as invisible issues, sexual relations and problems, communal and
political challenges, economic upheavals have been presented by the dramatic
portrayal of the reality.
7.2. (d) ix The ninth conclusion of the present study is that the psychological,
social and cultural issues, conflicts and challenges have been projected to
remove chaos and disorder from the social institutions.
7.2. (d) x The tenth conclusion of the present study is that communal violence,
hatred, enmity, jealousy, and selfish interest rested in communal authorities
should be curbed, regulated and controlled to bring back social, communal and
domestic peace, equality and justice to all.
7.2. (d) xi The eleventh conclusion of the present study is that today in the post
modern world morals have been lost, values have no place, sublimity is found
nowhere and there is barrenness, deadness everywhere.
7.2. (d) xii The twelfth conclusion of the present study is that the groups which
are marginalised need to be part in the central position and for this it is
essential to bring back moral authority of the human values and spiritual
norms.
7.2. (d) xiii The thirteenth conclusion of the present study is that the unethical
compromise offered in the play Do the Needful should be totally rejected and
discarded. Such immoral and unethical practices need to be stopped forthwith.
18
7.2. (d) xiv The fourteenth conclusion of the present study is that the queerness
need not dominate but it is imperative that the straight and clean relationships
even in sexual matters need to be established.
7.2. (d) xv The fifteenth conclusion of the present study is that consumerism
has changed the relationship in which the brand products have dominated men
and not men have superiority to the products and the goods in the markets.
7.2. ( d) xvi The Sixteenth conclusion of the present study is that the
disintegration of individual self, personal self, personal identity, destruction of
family and social life, breakup in marital life and dysfunction of social
institutions have caused a reality great harm to the society in general and
disorderly Indian society in particular.
7.3 Recommendations to Improve the Present Deplorable Conditions:
7.3.i It is recommended that the subalterns groups are those which are exploited
socially, politically, economically and culturally. They belong to the sub
stratum of the social edifice. They are the downtrodden, underprivileged
people. It is recommended that the subalterns should be given equal status with
the established class of the society. The contemporary problem should be
solved in such a manner that the timeless universality of normalcy in relations
and conduct as well as behaviour will be established.
7.3.ii It is recommended that Freudurian psychoanalytical presentation of the
characters in the play is good beginning but it is felt that the stages of diagnosis
of the malady, analysis of the symptoms and treatment to remove the malady
need to be followed to make the sick society healthy. The psychological
tension, social disorder and cultural conflicts should be minimised at the
earliest and that will bring rest and comfort, solace and peace, cultural integrity
and social harmony and will unite those who are separated.
7.3.iii It is recommended that in social structure, equal status should be
accorded to women. The disapporpriate ratio of male and female population,
19
employment, earning and empowerment should be given to women.
Empowering women is an asset for social progress. Those who are treated as
marginalised groups like women, children, poor, illiterate, sick, sexually
disturbed, perverted, physically and mentally challenged should be brought to
the centre of the social structure.
7.3.iv It is recommended that various social, political, economic and cultural
issues should be urgently solved. The solutions lies in defusing the pressure
mounted by the problems of inequality, injustice, and creating an atmosphere
that will be conducive to full growth and total development.
7.3.v It is recommended that man should be given more value and should be
considered more important than money and material possessions. Materialism
should be replaced by spiritualism. Money madness should go and value
addition need to be promoted at all costs. It is also recommended that consumer
should be actually made the king in the market and not the brand product or the
seller. Consumerism need to be regulated proportionately and healthily.
7.3.vi It is recommended that the invisible issues that are prevalent in the
society should be made visible. What has remained unstated and unspoken
should be stated clearly and spoken frankly. This will bring in fair and just air
in the atmosphere to create social harmony and individual equilibrium. The
communal harmony should be set up urgently. Peace, equality and justice need
to be introduced firmly. This will make the environment lively and lovely.
7.3.vii It is recommended that the issue of enhanced innovative
experimentalism and hightech effects should be made on the stage in the
perfectness of Indian English plays such as these of Mahesh Dattani which
have an enriched audio and visual appeal.
7.3.viii It is recommended that the timeless moral values need to be restored.
The loss of human values, moral standards cultural norms and spiritual
principles should not be tolerated and those should be reintroduced in life in
general.
20
7.3.ix It is recommended that ethics should be maintained and retained.
Immorality should be removed. Moral standards should be reintroduced and
established firmly at all costs.
7.3.x It is recommended that sanitization of relationships between husband
wife, parentchild, motherdaughter, fatherdaughter, mother/fatherson,
brotherbrother, sistersister, brothersister should be accomplished without any
delay.
7.3.xi It is recommended that integration of all the components of the social
structure should be attained at the earliest so that transparent, equal, fair, just
social order will be built up.
7.4 Implications of the Present Study:
7.4. (a) Practical Implications of the Present Study:
7.4. (a) i The first practical implication of the present study is that the research
work on hand will remove the imbalance in paying attention to the three major
literary forms in Indian English Literature in the post Modernist period after
1990. This study will enable the readers and viewers to appreciate Indian
English Drama through proper perspective.
7.4. (a) ii The second practical implication of the present study is that the plays
of Mahesh Dattani such as Final Solutions, Tara and Seven Steps around The
Fire should be staged at least in the metros which will make audience arouse
the empathy towards marginalised class of people in the society such as
eunuchs, gay and lesbians which will help our society to understand the
suffocative conditions of these people in our society. The practical stage
performance may help the Indian English Drama to acquire more popularity
because of its content value.
7.4. (a) iii The third practical implication of the present study is that the actors
and actress and the technicians giving light, music, stage and background
effects will find that their efforts are recognised, appreciated and recommended
21
as is well used in all Dattani’s plays as an innovative techniques. The writers
and the directors will get a boost to perform better. Dramatic activities foster
cultural integrity, team spirit, social commitment and integration. These are the
practical grounds which through the reading and performing of plays by
Mahesh Dattani will be strengthened firmly and solidly.
7.4. (b) Academic Implications of the Present Study:
7.4. (b) i The first academic implication of the present study is that the teachers
can hold and organise activities on plays of Mahesh Dattani for their students
activities. This will enable students to understand contempraneity in the plays.
Teachers can help students by explaining the psychoanalysis perspective of the
characters which brought them in that situation of the context in the play.
Teachers can also throw light on stage techniques evolved by Dattani in his
plays to appreciate various elements of drama such as theme, plot, character,
structure, settings, point of view, world view and style. The students will make
aware of the structural components such as exposition, rising action, climax,
falling action and resolution or denouncement as is craftily used by Dattani.
Dattani has wisely used music in his plays like On Muggy Night in Mumbai
where the audio cassettes are being played by Sharad, the noise of wedding
songs comes in. In Final Solution the noise bell rings and the songs of
Noorjehan and Shamshad Begum are heard to denote a meaning. Students can
be guided the importance of background score in the progress of the plot and
action to understand the text with more interest.
7.4. (b) ii The second academic implication of the present study is that Dattani's
plays can be read in the light of postmodern perspective which will enable
students to understand the realistic picture that the playwright has portrayed.
Techniques of drama reading in the plays like Final Solutions where the use of
chorus and masques is used the inner thoughts of the characters can be well
understood if the context in the play is understood properly. Drama as different
genre than poetry and fiction can be of more interest if the students read the
drama between the lines.
22
7.4. (b) iii The third academic implication of the present study is that the plays
or certain climatic scenes or episodes from the play like On a Muggy Night in
Mumbai need to be staged. The last episode of the play where Ed or Prakash
tries to commit suicide if staged will be of great help for students to understand
emotional upheavals of the characters. Such performances will also enable
students to understand the mechanics of performing plays. The performance of
a play is a living experience which integrates the talents of the director, the
playwright, the actors, the technicians and backstage artists. It is a team work
and highly valuable academic activity that induces literary interests and
creative energies to a large extent.
7.4. (c) Pedagogical Implications of the Present Study:
7.4 (c) i The first pedagogical implication of the present study is that the
curriculummakers and the syllabusdesigners will have to include the plays by
Mahesh Dattani. Indian English Drama has made conscious efforts to build up
Indian English Theatre which promotes national integration, social and
communal harmony, artistic talents and creative output of pedagogical
significance. Mahesh Dattani’s plays like Tara, Final Solutions and Seven
Steps Around the Fire are loaded with the social message for its reader and
spectators. It would be of great help for the students to study his dramas to
understand Indian society in the present context.
7.4. (c) ii The second pedagogical implication of the present study is that the
students should be helped to create interest in the contemporary Indian drama
so that they can understand its contemorarneity. This can be done by teaching
effective techniques of drama reading and other dramatic devices. This
awareness will induce the students to find out the ways and means to tackle
these challenging issues in order to bring peace, harmony, equality and justice
through the pedagogical theory and technology.
7.4. (c) iii The third pedagogical implication of the present study is that the use
of Indian English Drama to inculcate the moral and spiritual values through the
23
dramatic presentation of Indian cultural ethos through the plays of Mahesh
Dattani and his contemporaries. This has high pedagogical significance as the
dramatics is an innovative and without pedagogical device of teaching
technology to be used for the benefit of both the students and the pedagogues.
7.5 Scope for Further Research:
Mahesh Dattani is a prolific writer, a director, script writer for the stage,
films and radio programmes. His sixteen plays and other writings on Drama
and Indian Cultural Ethos are significant areas for further research. The present
study has attempted to analyse just the thematic structure from the perspective
of sociocultural problems and their depiction in Mahesh Dattani's five selected
plays. A tentative list of topics related to Mahesh Dattani's plays in particular
and Indian English drama in general is given below for the benefit of the
perspective researchers in this area:
1. Stage Plays of Mahesh Dattani.
2. Radio Plays of Mahesh Dattani.
3. Screen Plays of Mahesh Dattani.
4. Techniques of Drama Employed by Mahesh Dattani.
5. Elements of Reflected in Mahesh Dattani's Plays.
6. Thematic Network of Mahesh Dattani's Plays.
7. Structural Design of Mahesh Dattani’s Plays.
8. The Use of Dialogues in Mahesh Dattani’s Plays.
9. Innovative Experimentation in Mahesh Dattani’s Plays.
10. Stylistic and Linguistic Analysis of Mahesh Dattani’s Plays.
11. Alternate Sexuality in Mahesh Dattani's Major Plays.
12. Indian Cultural Ethos Evolved from Mahesh Dattani’s Plays.
13. Indian English Theatre and Mahesh Dattani.
14. The Contribution of Mahesh Dattani to Indian English Drama.
15. The Social Reformer Mahesh Dattani the Dramatist.
16. Mahesh Dattanithe Post Modernist Dramatist.
24
These are just few topics which will be multiplied to 100 topics if these
are applied to other modern Indian dramatists like Girish Karnad, Vijay
Tendulakr, Asif Currimbhoy, Badal Sircar, Mohan Rakesh, Mahesh
Elkunchwar, Satish Alekar, Chi Trym Khanolkar and G. P. Deshpande.
25