Research Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL)

A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal Vol.7.Issue 4. 2019

Impact Factor 6.8992 (ICI) http://www.rjelal.com; (Oct-Dec.)
Email:editorrjelal@gmail.com ISSN:2395-2636 (P); 2321-3108(O)

RESEARCH ARTICLE

RANI IN NAGAMANDALA: NAME ITSELF IT MEANS THE MEAN

SUBBIAH SENTHIL KUMAR. P

Assistant Professor, P.G & Research Department of English Arumugam Pillai Seethai Ammal College
Tiruppattur, Sivagangai District.
Email:subbiahsenthil6@gmail.com
doi.org/10.33329/rjelal.74.39

ABSTRACT
Naga Mandala tells a story of male-dominated world to give the message that it
degrades both sexes. In modern world, men and women have to work to maintain
progress. In many cases, exploitation of women is revealed these days. The play
reveals gender discrimination and suppression of woman in Indian orthodox society.
The female protagonist Rani and Kurudavva are main characters who stand for Indian
woman. Though the play is a result of dramatic transmutation of the folk tale of
Karnataka, Karnad deeply examines contemporary socio-cultural and philosophical
concerns.

Girish Karnad is a director, critic, translator, tensions between the cultural past of the
poet and a dramatist. Karnad is the most popular country and its colonial past, between the
dramatist. Karnad’s dramas have been translated attractions of Western modes of thought
into English in all major Indian languages. When and our own traditions and finally between
Karnad started writing, Kannada literature had the various visions of the future that
been highly influenced by the renaissance in English opened up once the common cause of
literature. Conflicting beliefs, Political Freedom of political freedom was achieved. This is the
India, modern versus old tradition gave the special historical context that gives rise to my plays
background to write his dramas. Karnad was greatly and those of my contemporaries. (Three
influenced by Natak Company. Dramas which he plays 1)
used to watch appealed to him by their bufoonery
Had been highly influenced by the renaissance in
and horse play. But the greater impact came from
English literature. Conflicting beliefs, Political
Henrik Ibsen and George Bernadshaw. Karnad was
Freedom of India, modern versus old tradition gave
greatly influenced by Shakespeare also. Kannada
the special background to write his dramas. Karnad
drama influenced him deeply. Karnad is the living
was greatly influenced by Natak Company. Dramas
legend in Indian English drama. His works mark the
which he used to watch appealed to him by their
evolution of Indian theatre. Karnad has said this fact:
buffoonery and horse play. But the greater impact
My generation is to come of age after India came from Henrik Ibsen and George Bernadshaw.
became independent of British rule. It Karnad was greatly influenced by Shakespeare also.
therefore has to face a situation in which Kannada drama influenced him deeply. Karnad is the
tensions implicit until then had come out in living legend in Indian English drama. His works mark
the open and demanded to be resolved the evolution of Indian theatre. Karnad has said this
without apologia or self-justification: fact:

39 SUBBIAH SENTHIL KUMAR. P

Research Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL)
A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal Vol.7.Issue 4. 2019
Impact Factor 6.8992 (ICI) http://www.rjelal.com; (Oct-Dec.)
Email:editorrjelal@gmail.com ISSN:2395-2636 (P); 2321-3108(O)
her struggle to prove as a woman, as a wife and as a
mother. Message of the play is obvious.
My generation is to come of age after India
became independent of British rule. It Though she feels that she is alienated by the
therefore has to face a situation in which society, frustration and antithetical conditions a
tensions implicit until then had come out in woman should continue her struggle for her
the open and demanded to be resolved existence. Patriarchy, social practices of Appanna,
without apologia or self-justification: Naga, and Elders of the village, Parents of Rani, Naga,
tensions between the cultural past of the Dog and Mongoose etc… are the characters that are
country and its colonial past, between the used as a tool to perpetuate exploitation of Rani.
attractions of Western modes of thought M.K. Naik has explored the symbolism embedded in
and our own traditions and finally between the play:
the various visions of the future that
The two folk-tales were deftly blended in
opened up once the common cause of
presenting the two allied themes of the
political freedom was achieved. This is the
nature of art and the relationship between
historical context that gives rise to my plays
art and imagination on the one hand and
and those of my contemporaries. (Three
mundane reality on the other. The tale of
plays 1)
the failed playwright seemed to suggest
As a dramatist, Myth has been his most favourite that art demands everything from the artist
muse. Karnad has given the most genuine platform and that he will die if he cannot fulfil his
for Indian mythology. He wanted Indian myths to mission. The Rani-Appanna-Cobra tale was
achieve the popularity that Greek myths got in the evidently an allegory of the nexus between
world stage. According to him, writing a play is like the world of art and the world of reality.
writing a love letter. He remains a theatre loyalist Rani, who is away her time making up fairy
though he works in cinema and television. tales is the artist, and the Cobra, the power
of imagination, while Appanna represents
The play tells a story of male-dominated
the work-a day world. The fact that the
world to give the message that it degrades both
Cobra assumes the form of Appanna
sexes. In modern world, men and women have to
suggests that Art is, and also in not, the
work to maintain progress. In many cases,
same as reality. That the Cobra finally finds
exploitation of women is revealed these days. The
permanent refuge in the hair of Rani is
play reveals gender discrimination and suppression
perhaps indicative of the permanent
of woman in Indian orthodox society. The female
alliance between Art and Imagination. (NM
protagonist Rani and Kurudavva are main characters
46)
who stand for Indian woman. Though the play is a
result of dramatic transmutation of two folk tales of Tale-Danda is a story derived from the life
Karnataka, Karnad deeply examines contemporary of Kannada saint Basavanna who was against the
socio-cultural and philosophical concerns. evils of caste hierarchy. It is a historical play. History
and its relevance to the present situation have
Rani lives in a place where orthodox
always attracted Karnad. Tale-Danda explores this
conventions and cultural taboos exist. Patriarchy is a
fact. Burning situations after the submission of
big blow to existence of Rani. Apart from patriarchy
Mandal Commission report inspired Karnad to work
she accepts male superiority. Even in thought she
on subaltern issue. Karnad does not tell any solution
does not oppose her husband. To her, husband is a
but he creates awareness and raises the subaltern
replica of god. It is an invisible conspiracy to degrade
issue for discussion. Under the leadership of
her position in society. She practices new ways to
Basavanna, a social reformer of the 12th century
change suppression of woman. Rani is helpless
assembled a congregation of poets, social
because she is surrounded by evil forces. She is
revolutionaries, philosophers and mystics to create
tortured by alienation and frustration. She continues

40 SUBBIAH SENTHIL KUMAR. P

Research Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL)
A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal Vol.7.Issue 4. 2019
Impact Factor 6.8992 (ICI) http://www.rjelal.com; (Oct-Dec.)
Email:editorrjelal@gmail.com ISSN:2395-2636 (P); 2321-3108(O)
Lingayat faith instill courage to question society.
Subaltern revolution includes avoiding idol worship,
abolition of caste system, equality of sexes, denial of
Brahminism and Sanskrit in support of the mother
tongue Kannada. The revolution reaches its climax
when Madhuvarsa, a higher caste Brahmin gives his
daughter Kalavati to untouchable Sheelvanta to get
married. The last act of the play brought anger in the
minds of orthodox people. The movement comes to
an end with bloodshed, fear and terror.

Whenever Girish Karnad wants to tell

important problems that are not taken seriously,
disastrous results would follow again. Ramaswami
finds Karnad a dramatist with a different whose
motive behind playwriting is too held:

Pulse of the socio-cultural-historical-

political facets of India and Indian life… his
plays have always aimed at providing
message in the contemporary context. In
Tughlaq and Tale-Danda Karnad employs
history to comment on the pathetic and
corroded state of Indian modern day
politics, and through which he engages in an
intellectual debate of our time. (105)

Basavanna’s dream of egalitarian society

and emotional politics is the dream of Karnad
himself. In the play he raises many questions and
some suggestions are given but many are left to the
audience to think and find solution.

Work Cited

Karnad, Girish. Author's Introduction. Three Plays.

Delhi: O.U.P, 1993.

______.Naga-Mandala. Delhi: Oxford University

Press, 1990.

Naik, M.K. Cindrella Still: Recent Indian English

drama, Litt Crit. Volume 27, Number 1 & 2,
June 2001.

Ramasami S. The New and the Old: Indian Writing in

the turn of the century. Ed.

Dhawan, R.K. New Delhi: Indian Association for

English Studies, 2000.

41 SUBBIAH SENTHIL KUMAR. P