The characters of Ekalavya and Arjuna In the play “ The Purpose ’’

The characters of Ekalavya and Arjuna In the play  “ The Purpose ’’

Name:  Pritiba B. Gohil

Roll No. :  23

Paper: 4-A

Paper Name: Indian Writing in English Pre - Independence

Topic:  The characters of Ekalavya and Arjuna In the play  “The Purpose’’

M.A. English Semester - 1

Batch: 2014 - 2016

Department of English

Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University

Submitted  to :-

Heenaba Zala ,

Department of English

Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University

The characters of Ekalavya and Arjuna

Play  : “The Purpose”

                                                                   Playwright: T.P. Kailasam

Introduction :- 

                                    This play “The Purpose’’ is written by very famous and well-known playwright T. P. Kailasam. His real or full name is Thyagaraja Paramasiva Kailasam. He was born in 1884 and died in 1946. He was a playwright and prominent writer of Kannada literature. His contribution to Kannada theatre comedy earned him the title Prahasana Prapitamaha, "the father of humorous plays" and later he was also called as "Kannadakke Obbane Kailasam" means "One and Only Kailasam for Kannada".

About T.P.Kailasam :- 

                                     T.P.Kailasam is remembered as the father of modern Kannada drama, the man of genius whose plays revolutionized the Kannada stage. He gave refreshing realism and modernity and freed it once for all from the literary unrealities that possessed it. Kailasam focused tradition 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.

                             The famous works of T.P.Kailasam are –

Plays :-

The Purpose
Fulfilment
The Burden
The Brahmin's Curse

                        Kailasam had as intimate a knowledge of The Ramayana as he had of The Mahabharata. But, with the exception of The Burden, all the published plays of Kailasam are inspired by The Mahabharata. Shriranga remarks,

 

“This Kannada Playwright, who wrote complete plays in English did not write a single play purely in Kannada.”

Kailasam was brought up on the Indian epics and they were always a living presence to him:

“These scenes and words you’ll see and hear

I’ve seen and heard before;

As king or priest, poltroon or peer,

Somewhere…some when of your”.

About The Play “The Purpose” :-

                                       This play “The Purpose” is originally written by Kailasam. But the concept of the play is taken from the myth of “The Mahabharata” our great epic written by Maharshi Ved Vyas. But here in this play has tried to break this myth of real Mahabharata. Here he tries to  Deconstruct the theory of myth in The Purpose. 

                         Here ‘The Purpose’ is a mythical play that deals with past and its show us many things like culture, religion and the ancient time of India. ‘Mythical story is always a fable of people’ it’s like a tell that spreading our culture and its value. By the time of king’s rule we can say that some people are creates a kind of view towards it. But in the way myth is;

“By a myth ... I mean primarily a certain type of

story in which some of the chief characters are

gods or other beings larger in power than humanity.”

~ Northrop Frye

                                Kailasam’s plays have a Uniform technical excellence and for this, C.R. Reddy has said that,

“Greater than any writer I have known is Kailasam in dramatic technique.”

                  Kailasam tried to high-light something which in original myth was neglected.  Let’s see how the play Wright made changes in original myth and the reason being behind it. To know about all the things first of all we have to understand this both the Characters. It is very important to understand the play deeply. 

 Abot two main Characters of this play : Eklavya And Arjuna :-

           Let’s see that how this both the characters play his role in this play. Let’s check after one or another. This is the study of this both of the charactrs. Let’s first cheak about Arjuna’s  character.

Arjuna :- 

                    When we talked about Arjuna’s character first image comes in our mind is that Arjuna is a very powerful man and as humble as God. But here in this play playwright Kailasam hase broke the myth of real Mahabharata. And here in this play he portrayed Arjuna as very ambitious man and very low class person in emotions wise.  Arjuna was third brother from the five pandavas in real Mahabharata epic. Arjuna’s mother was Kunti and his father was Pandu. He is son of Indra dev in epic.  He is a prince of Hastinapura and he has four brothers Yudhishthir, Bheem, Nakul and Sahdev. In Mahabharata Arjuna was like this: He was known for his steadfastness and single mindedness in pursuing his goals. He was instrumental in winning Draupadi in a contest for himself and his brothers as their joint wife. He also married Shubhadra the sister of Krishna and Balram and kept his friendship with them forever. Lord Krishna became his mentor and guide for the rest of his life.

                        In T.P kailasam’s play Arjuna was a small boy who goes to Guru Drona’s Ashram for learning archery with pandavas and cousin brother’s kauravas. Guru Dronacharya was best teacher of archery. Bhishma knows that so he sent his grand children to learn archery from him. In the Mahabharata Arjuna was fast learner archery and he is favorite student of guru dronacharya, And in T.P Kailasam’s play he was a slow learner but favorite student of Guru Dronacharya. Guru Dronacharya gives promise to him that he became best archer in the world.

                    T.P Kailasam’s play starts with Arjuna practicing with bow, his target swag by a tree-branch. In the very beginning of the novel there is someone who is in that mid- ground. And that one is Arjuna who is practicing with bow and arrows. Arjuna itself emphasize on his aim of life. He has the aim to become Wold’s number one archer. Arjuna wants to become best archer of this world and this is his wish or ambition of his life. We know this thing from his mouth or from his dialogue that he speaks to his Taataajee means one more character of this play and he is BHEESHMA. 

Arjuna:	Yes, Taataajee! Why, I shall HAVE to remember it, as it is my personal ambition to be the most famous archer of all time!

After we listening Arjuna’s this dialogue we can say that in this play Arjuna is very self centered person in this play and throughout the play. We can say that he has the aim to become world’s number one archer. He is gentle, too. It can be seen when Arjun's takes with Bheeshma. Arjuna called his aim as “own longing”. In the very young age his aim was very personal. When Bheeshma, advise him to love his Guru he admits it immediately. So, he goes to Dronachanya to learn himself. He apologise for his mistake. Then he understand about Dronacharya that he wanted to keep him understand that why he makes poor mistakes. Arjuna was so confident about his archery that he didn’t know that Eklavya also wanted to become the best archer of the world. Then he understands what Drona wanted to make him understand that why he makes poor Progress. He understands his “ KARMA’S ” that what is his Karmas towards his family and his kingdom when Drona tells him in frustration that, 

“YOU POOR SELF-OBSESSED CHILD; YOU WILL THEN REALIZES THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS IS GOD!”

At that time, overwhelmed by Drona’s outburst, Arjuna shudders in fear.

Arjuna was so innocent that he didn't like that Ekalavya also wanted to become the best archer of the world.

Arjuna:	(Plaintively) Forgive me Gurujee, but I really cannot make out how all the lessons you so kindly teach me... slip out of my mind...
Drona:	YOU CANNOT... Paartha! But I CAN! The true trouble with you is that your AIM is wrong, altogether wrong!
Arjuna:	"My aim wrong"? But I always aim at my target, Gurujee, straight at it!
Drona:	Oh! I am not talking of your aim at your target! I mean the AIM... the MAIN AIM... the MAIN PURPOSE with which you are learning... THAT is what is at fault!
Arjuna:	"My main aim in learning Archery"?... Well...!
Drona:	Your AIM, Paartha, is just this: TO ATTAIN FAME AS AN ARCHER! No more! Every moment you spend at work, your mind is FULLER of thoughts of the DAY WHEN YOU'LL BE ACCLAIM'D AS THE VERY GREATEST ARCHER OF ALL TIMES, than of thoughts of the work itself! Be honest now, and confess that I am right!
Arjuna:	(Dropping his eyes) Yes, Gurujee, you are right.

This whole conversation is proof of Arjuna’s aim in his life that he only wanted to be the best archer of this world by hook or by crook means from one way or by another way but he want to become best archer of this world. 

                               After Bhishma and Arjuna’s conversation story begins with the character Of Eklavya. He was a Nishada boy who wants to learn archery from Guru Dronacharya, because once he listen it from his mother that if you want to became best archer so Guru Dronacharya was best teacher for it.

That’s why Eklavya come to Guru Drona’s asharam and request him to acsept him as a student for archery, But as usual we see earlier that Guru Dronacharya was very orthodox mind he taught archery only pandavas and kauravas, so he deny him to taught archery.

                         When Arjuna and Eklvya meet together that time conflict between them is occurs for that, who can become the best archer in this world example like,

Arjuna:	"Useful Archer"? Why, Gurujee, I want to become the greatest archer in the world!
Ekalavya:	(Sotto Voce) WHAT, HE TOO? What is his reason... I wonder?

Means both of them wants to best archer in this world and that is not possible that both of them being best archer of this world and for that any of them have to give sacrifice and who gives this big sacrifice is Eklavya and that’s why because of this great and best sacrifice he become central character of this play. 

                Now let’s talked about the second and central character of this play and he is Eklvya.

Ekalavya :- 

                    Eklavya is the Protagonist of this play “ The Purpose ”.  He is a Nishada boy. He also wants to become the best archer of the world. He always speaks whatever he thinks to be true. He had great esteem. He really likes the technique of Guru Dronacharya but he also recognized Arjuna as his companion. Eklavya is the main character of T.P.kailasam’s play “The purpose”. It is taken from the Mahabharat. In  Mahabharata he is not powerful character, but in this play he is powerful character drawn by T.P. kailasam. He was a Nishada boy. Once 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. He takes permission from his parents after it he go to meet Guru Dronacharya and try to convince him to taught him archery, but guru Dronacharya deny him because he is a teacher of pandavas and kauravas. He tells him that I am a teacher of prince so I can’t teach you. 

                         When Eklavya enters in to 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 this thing we can see in this dialogue that is spoken by Eklvya in this play,

“……..this MUST BE THE GREAT DRONACHARYA! Who else could in a few moments and with a few words turn a voice into a good archery that boy, Partha, looks a skillful archer already! Why, I am better myself for listening to him and following his words! ”

                             During all this situations Eklavya was not noticed by any one he just share his feelings with his own self. He tries to prepare himself because now he was going to present himself to Guru Dronacharya. Guru Dronacharya trained Arjuna for archery that time Eklavya reached their and talk with himself about Arjuna and Guru Dronacharya’s conversation.

“(Sotto Voice) ‘WHAT, HE TOO? What is his reason…..I wonder?

         When he heard Drona telling Arjuna that or become the best archer is on his hands. He immediately catchers the words and believes that it is in own hands, perhaps it is in his hands, also.”He has very good capturing ability.

He already knows that because of his caste, may be Drona will not teach him but he thinks that because of him aim he would have to dare for it. Here, he knows very well that his aim is very noble. He thinks that his aim cannot be noble than Arjuna. He is very hard-working.

“I HAVE TRIED HARD EVER SO 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 these lines we can say that he is really tries hard to convince Dronacharya to teach him. He is just child when he speaks all these. We can see his child like manner of explaining something to elders.

                                         After it Eklavya leaves and decide to create a statue of GURU DRONACHARYA and he do it with the inspiration of this statue he starts his learning and he become successful in it, after some years when Nakul and Sahdev face problem in jungle because of some wild animals that time Eklavya help him and save their life with his self learning of archery. When Arjuna saw him that time He can’t trust himself that Eklavya help his brother, but he is very thankful to Eklavya for his noble work. That time Guru Dronacharya come and ask Eklavya that how he learn it so Eklavya told him that just because of you I got it and he tell him whole story that how he create statue and how he practice with it. After this situation Guru Dronacharya afraid of him because he gives promise to Arjuna that he made him best archer in the world but when Arjuna saw that Eklavya was best comparisons of him so he tell his Gurujee about it and Eklavya don’t tolerate it so he wants to shut up the mouth of Arjuna so he gives guru Dakshina to Guru Dronacharya His right thumb. He Know that without Right thumb He can’t became best archer but because of his Gurujee he compromise with his life’s biggest intention.

Comparison  and Contrast BETWEEN these two characters :-

                                      When we are taking about these two characters we have to compare and differentiate these two characters of this play. So, first of all let’s talk about comparison of these two characters. 

Comparison between Arjuna and Eklavya :- 

                          The similarity between both the characters is that both want to become the world’s best archer. Though the aim is same, the purpose for it is different. Arjuna has the personal purpose and Ekalavya’s purpose is to save the animals. So, we can say here that this all the things are about “The Purpose” or based on the “The Purpose” that how the purpose is differs from each other. So, here we can say that the title of this play is appropriate and well chosen by the playwright of this play.

                            Now let’s talk about contrast or difference between these two characters Eklavya and Arjuna.

Contrast  between Arjuna and Eklavya :- 

Now let’s talk about contrast or difference between these two characters Eklavya and Arjuna.  That this both characters have his different aspects and different point of views about the purpose of learning archery. In their childhood, Ekalavya 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 with the comparison of Arjuna. And Arjuna is slow learner then Eklavya.

Arjuna :

“(Reiterating what he heard of Ekalavya’s words) The boy Partha will haven improve” (Looking around) who said that?”

Arjuna couldn't bear that. This shows that Ekalavya is very dedicated or good observer and he observed truth and real thing in Arjuna. He follows each and every advice of Drona. He always follows his mother’s advice in his mind. So, when Arjuna tells him about his caste. He tells him that,

“(Smiling) “What else? Mother always says that PRIDE IN ONE’S CASTE MORE THAN IN ONE’S POWER TO DO GOOD is the surest sign of a weak head !...”

Ekalavya never loses his temper in a small matter. When Arjuna tells him that he doesn't like him. He says that it is his fear. Because when Guruji tells him that he is willing to teach but cannot. At that time, he thinks that the all necessary elements for the archery are fulfilled now. Arjuna has hasty nature and Eklvya is totally opposite in nature with him because Eklavya is very cool in nature with comparison of Arjuna.  Ekalavya even gives his thumb to Drona but at the end repents because it became burls in purpose. He did all that in love for his Guruji means Guru Dronacharya. And when he saw that Arjuna complaints his Gurujee about his better archery that time he compromise with his life and he shut up the mouth of Arjuna, and gives his right thumb. So we can say that Eklavya was better than Arjuna. After he lost his thumb he feels very depressed and expresses his feelings with these words:

“WILL YOU ALL PLEASE LEAVE ME TO MY OWNSELF?” , “YOU KNOW, IT WILL NEVER BE FAREWELL BETWEEN US, GURUJEE.” , “GODS! MY FAWNS IN DISTRESS! AND I TOO HELPLESS MYSELF TO HELP THEM! 

So, we can say here that Eklavya is better than Arjuna in this play because he gives sacrifice for his Guruji and for the respect of his Guruji.  

Conclusion :- 

                    So, we can say that here in this play Kailasam tried to give justice to Ekalavya’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 myths of Mahabharata in his all plays or in his all works. 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. ”