The Legend of Nandan opens with a gentle, wise, and
young protagonist, Nandan who has a great vision to attain eternity as
a true devotee of Lord Shiva. And his ambitious aspirations are to
become more like Hindu upper-class people. Those who have a good
education, standardize family, sophisticated life, above all those who
can enter into the temple and can worship God. To worship God there
is a restriction for Dalits to enter into the Temple because of their lower-
class birth. Though these issues are persisting, he attempts to get rid of
all the myths of class divisions and tries to prepare him to be more like
Paarpan, who has more privileges and considers as an elite person.
These differences and sects of people are divided according to their
profession but works related to God are noble than any other works.
Nandan is from the Dalit class which is considered to be heinous of all
so that they are being ever-growing minority people. To shatter these
myths, Nandan admits himself to transform his appearance more like
an elite class, by going into the temple and worshipping God. The
prevailing backwardness of his community and their painstaking efforts
to lead their normal life is shattering the heart of Nandan. To change
their living condition, he tries to insist that the division has to be
shattered. Nandan by going and engaging himself with the upper-class
practices, they are provoked and infuriated by this young man. So,
they vow revenge on him and to teach a lesson, not only for Nandan
but for the whole Dalit community to silence them.
These acts made the elite class jealous, restless and they started to
concern over the power, and rethink to snare a net to catch the big
Whale (Nandhan) which is getting bigger ever. With this insecurity of
the upper caste, some characters try to tackle the issues with intellect
rather than physical power. Some of the representatives of the upper-
class people like Priest, Vediyar, Mudaliyar, and Udaiyar came together
to curb the strange dawn of this downtrodden people from the very
beginning. After all the elites joined hand in hand to put an end to the
uprising life of Nandan, to the contrary, he attracts more Dalits with his
charming act of practical ideology which gives instant result and
privilege for them.
Old Man: Stop dancing; is it fair to keep quiet when the folks in the
Cheri are being corrupted?
Nandan: Is it wrong if they clean and neat? Is it a sin if they sing
melodiously?
Women 1: Times have changed old man! Wake up and look!
Woman 2: Listen to what Nandan says. A decent life will down for us. (P
No: 17)
This elite group sets a confidential meeting among the upper-class
representatives, where they exchange their cunning plans against
Nandan. One of the plans is to kill him, Vediyar takes a lead to execute
a new plan in a novel way. When the scheme is in progress, this play
makes us nail-bite the forthcoming horrendous plan. Dalits hail Nandan
but the elites curse his initiation, the practical ideology among the
lowerclass people are cherished with the changes even though they
raise their voices against these god-like people. At this juncture of
rivalry, the crocodile move is made by Vediyar, who praises and
encourages Nandan to continue his practices. Although Vediyar
planned much ahead against Nandan, he cleverly takes a stand on his
enemy side to thrash at the right opportunity by persuading Nandan’s
mind. Meanwhile, Vediyar discussed with other elite representatives in
Chidambram how to execute the plan:
“If a man fights against the system, let the system just accept him. The
party opposing him will splinter into two. Damning him as the stooge of
the system, new fellows will rise to oppose his leadership. Now, this is
what’s happening. Just wait for some more time, you take it from me
that Nandan’s story is as good as over! (Laughs)” (P No:26)
Through the systematic way, Vediyar spins many myths which make
them believe that they are indeed on the right paths to attain the glory
of freedom and equality. This ever-unquenchable thirst for freedom
become a slogan for them; their expectations are genuine and their
longing for their rights by following the footsteps of Nandan. With the
increasing hypocritical ideology from elite characters, they inject
venomous plans over these innocent downtrodden people. The Dalits
were made to believe thatsigns and miracles are happening from God.
So Vadiyar asked them to worship and offer devotional prayers.
According to Vadiyar’s plan, one among the conspiracies is the myth
of harvest, the harvest was done overnight by his men. But this incident
is threaded with colorful lies with heavy ornaments that God made all
such deeds. All the lower people started to believe that God is helping
them through Vediyar’s dream; God is foreshadowing the forthcoming
incidents. Through and through they melted their minds with lies, finally,
they have molded and exercised their power. So, such incidents made
them fall easily as prey.
The utmost horrendous incident staged by these upper-class political
hypocrites is on the verge of the play. This innocent proactive thinker
Nandan was engulfed with the fuel ofVediyar’s words. Nandan is
demanded to do something in the name of God that if he wants to
purify himself and their caste stain by taking a fire-bath in front of God’s
statue. After a moment of dilemma, Nandan decided to take the
firebath with Abirami, who demanded him to do so as a symbol of love.
All the spectators are frozen by this ridiculous action about to take
place. Nandan and Abirami started to usurp themselves into the raging
fire. With these two dying hearts, all the positive dreams of the Dalits are
burnt alive and people started to scream aloud and began to run
away as they gain consciousness by the reality of the dying couple.
