Ghasiram kotwal

drama written by vijay tendulkar

1. GHASIRAM KOTWAL :- VIJAY TENDULKAR

2. VIJAY TENDULKAR(1928-2008) Born in lower middle class Brahmin family Favourite child in the family Father , a head clerk in orient Longman publisher Dhondopant his father : was an enthusiastic writer,director,and actor of Marathi plays His father used to take him to book shop on Sunday where he indulges himself in books He was influenced by Dinkar mokashi and Vishnu Bokil

3. CONTINUED…………………. First play “GIRIHASTH” (1955) in his early twenties. Shrimant (hypocrisy of wealthy exposed ), his second play established him as a playwright. He has written original scripts for filmmaker. His play & film are penetrating studies of violence, power and repression in different forms in Indian society without romanticising life..   famous for his bitter satirical writing, Ghashiram was one of them. Vijay Tendulkar was very choosy about the words. His each and every word came to represent the reality. Tendulkar’s great strength lies in his dialogues. He indicates every moment and it carries as much narrative force as speech, song and action.

4. Introduction to play Most controversial play of Tendulkar. It concerns with reign of peshwas in the 18 th century in Maharashtra. It is the dramatic exposure of latent treachery, violence & sexuality& immorality that characterize politics. The play shows a man who caught in the matrix of opportunistic ethics of modern world, feels alienated. It shows how a common man ,seeking power, confronts the people who were already in power and undergoes a organic changes.

5. Summary of the play The play begins with an invocation to lord  Ganesha . Then the  Brahmins  of  Pune  introduce themselves and we can see the morally corrupt state of affairs in Pune.  Nana Phadnavis who is the Diwan (Chief Secretary) of  Pune  is also corrupt and visits the  lavani  dancer. Ghashiram is working with the lavani dancer. Ghashiram being a Brahmin goes to collect alms at the  Peshwa 's festival the next day. However he is ill-treated there and is charged with pick-pocketing and imprisoned for the offence. He then decides to take revenge. So the play continues on to reach the next part of this play .

6. Continued… Ghashiram barters his own daughter to get the post of Kotwal (police chief) of Pune from Nana. Having got the post he begins to enforce strict rules in the city. He starts asking for permits for everything and starts throwing people in jail for the smallest offences. In the mean time, Ghashiram's daughter is impregnated by Nana, and dies during childbirth. The situation goes out of hand when a few people in the jail die from suffocation. The Brahmins then complain to the Peshwa. The Peshwa summons Nana who orders Ghashiram to be killed in the most inhumane way possible.

7. The list of characters:- Ghasiram kotwal Nana phadnavis Lalita gauri Sutradhar (narrator) Gulabi Brahmans (chorus)

8. Introduction to the characters:- 1 . Ghasiram kotwal Ghashiram is a Kannoj Brahmin who comes to city of Poona to try his luck and earn his livelihood. He leaves Kannoj for good but ends up falling a victim to hypocrisy, evilness, duality, and corruption rampant at Poona. He comes with his wife and a young and pretty daughter . He is not an egoist or a proud man . 2 . Nana phadnavis Nana as depicted in the novel is a womanizer from head to toe. Drenched in corruption, lechery and evil, he is a Prince of Power and a cruel despot. In order to achieve his objectives he can fall to any low and cares a damn even about God. From the beginning to the end he becomes an audio visual incarnation of lust and cruelty. He is an evil incarnate.

9. Continued………. 3. Lalita gauri .  Gauri is a daughter of Ghashiram Kotwal. Gauri becomes a sacrificial goat in struggle for power. She is described as young, pretty and innocent and falls at once a victim to Nana’s greed. Gauri is voiceless, disempowered and victimized. She silently bore the dictates of her father. She is the symbol of exploitation of female sexuality to represent the loss and destruction in their struggle for power. The pathetic Gauri represents the flip side of Indian Women especially for their use and abuse in almost all walks of life especially politics and power.

10. 4. The sutradhar He is the narrator, commentator and interposer. He keeps audience abreast with the information both on stage and off stage. He comments on the past, present and future. He holds different moods, situations and characters in one organic whole. Sutradhar is the good friend of protagonist- Ghashiram. The Sutradhar is bold and fearless enough in stalking the Brahmins in the opening scene and constantly question them to extract the truth.

11. GHASIRAM KOTWAL: A CRITIQUE:          It is deals with the “History of Maratha Samrajya”. Though Vijay Tendulkar denied but it is highly represent the history. Nana Phadnavis has been portrayed in dark shade who as per the chroniclers was an able administrator and shrewd politician who with his presight kept the Maratha Empire integrated for more than 20 years. Even in “Bajirav Mastani” film Nana sahib Peshwa portrayed very cunning and shrewd.

12.      The religiosity, sex, and power often go hand in hand. Nana purchases sex by dissipating power into the hands of a humiliated man who is starved of power. Morality and God are the strengths of the weak .     Sexuality especially the female sexuality has been used to represent loss and destruction in struggle for power. The Poona Brahmins who represent the different places of India are degenerated and morally bankrupt. They are hypocrite, clever schemers. Instead of treading the path of spirituality they visit the prostitutions. They do not see the difference between a Kirtan and a Lavani. For them it is invariably the same. The Sutradhar in his Lampoon describes the gardens of Krishna at Mathura descend on to Bavannakhani .

13. Poona B rahmans go To Bavannakhani … They go to the cemetery. They go to the Kirtan . They go to the Temple-as they have done every day. The street of Bavanna became for a while. The garden of Krishna. The garden of Hir The garden of saras The garden of Moti The garden of Poona Become the gardens of Mathura Where Krishna played”     Nana with his insatiable desires for sex and with his numerous wives parodies Lord Krishna.

14. THEME THEME OF POWER:- The complexity of religion, power, and sex lies in this play – The Ghashiram Kotwal. The power and overpowering goes on at the beginning. Ghashiram came to Poona city to achieve his livelihood but every time he defeated or humiliated by the power. Thus, he came to the point that if he wants to sustain himself he has the power. NANA PHADNAVIS- NANA means POWER itself. See the description:   The night progresses The night progresses And the Peshwa’s Chief Minister, Nana of the nine courts, Nana of the Wealth and Power, Nana Phadnavis.    

15.   Another line was that indicates the power of Nana: “ Nana sits on a high seat. All are below him. Nana ogles the women. Smells the flower. Does not pay attention to the kirtan ” GHASIRAM KOTWAL       Now his only wish to be powerful. He wants to be Kotwal at any coast. He wants to take his revenge. See the dialogues after humiliated by the solders of Nana :   “Ghashiram : “But I’ll comes back. I’ll come back to Poona. I’ll show my strength. It will cost you! Your good days are gone! I am a useless animal. There is no one to stop me now, to mock me, to make me bend, to cheat me. Now I am a devil.” “You’ve made me an animal; I’ll be a devil inside. I’ll come back like a boar and I’ll stay as a devil. I’ll make pigs of all of you. I’ll make this Poona a kingdom of pigs. Then I’ll be Ghashiram again, the son of Savaldas once more .”  

16.      To get power he used his daughter as a tool which Nana craving more at any cost. Through this he got power and becomes the kotwal of Poona city but he used the power negatively. Nana was very cunning and shrewd power politician. He knows how to use the power. What he say after giving the power to Ghashiram Kotwal :   ” Nana : (suddenly brightening). Go, Ghashya , old bastard. We made you. We made you kotwal . Raise hell if you wish. But you don’t know the ways of this Nana. This time there are two bullets in this gun. With the first one, we’ll make the city of Poona dance. Ghashya , child, you’re a foreigner. I have put you on Poona’s Back. What’ll happen is that our misdeeds will be credited to your account. We do it; our Kotwal pays for it .”

17. Another thing is that here in the play Brahmins have the power and it is used by them in very satirical way . Second is about the WOMEN that they haven’t any kind of power and they suppressed or oppressed by the power. They are become the victims of the power.        Thus, power remains at the center . Whatever happen it is because of the power and whatever done by Nana it is because of the power.

18. Feminism or Female sexuality as perceived in the play:        The female role in politics of power is limited only to surrender, acceptance and suffering. The position of Indian Women at the very beginning has been in a very pathetic condition. Gauri is representing the Indian women. Gauri is voiceless, powerless and victimized. She does not have a say even in a matter relating to her. She silently accepts what her father decides for her even though it meant passing through a living hell or a life of eternal damnation. She is the symbol of exploitation of female sexuality to represent the loss and destruction in their struggle for power.

19. Second is Gulabi. - Gulabi is no better though she wields some power and is financially well off she too has to dance to the tunes of her customers and Nana. She cannot think earn her livelihood without satisfying the sexual overtures of her customers.      Third is Nana’s Wives – Nana’s wives are mute spectators to the sexual rendezvous of his husband.       “Violence against women and violation of human rights of women are rampant and this is pictured well in  Ghashiram Kotwal”.

20. GHASIRAM KOTWAL :CRITICAL ANALYSIS ACT-1 Act I of the play depicts the rise of Ghashiram from that of an outsider to the position of the Kotwal of the city. The process whereby such a position is attained however, is not a straightforward one. It involves sacrifice of Ghashiram’s personal conscience and family ties as well as the use of inhuman and immoral means. Also, we witness the religious and moral decadence of the Poona Brahmins and the political corruption symbolized by Nana’s pleasure-seeking ways.

21. There are 5 significant episodes in the act1 which demonstrate these facts :- 1 . Introduction of Poona Brahmins. 2. The Scene at Bhavanakhani . 3. Ghashiram in the prison cell . 4 . Nana’s encounter with Ghashiram’s daughter and his attempts to capture her. 5. Nana-Ghashiram agreement by which Ghashiram is given the Kotwali of Poona

22. 1. The poona brahmins :- . The Brahmins, at the beginning of the play appears as pious , They have come from various holy place of south and north India, but are now a part of the Brahmin community of Poona. The social, intellectual and moral superiority of this community is however immediately exposed to us in the encounters between the various individual Brahmins and the Sutradhar . The underlying issue in all these encounters is the overwhelming lustfulness, symbolic of the moral corruption and decadence prevalent in this socially respected community of Brahmins . 2. The scene at bavannakhani :- “ red light area of poona ” ,this comes out clearly in the interactions of the sutradhar with brahmans . The scene at Gulabi’s house has three parts to it: Brahmins at Gulabi’s house, Nana arrives at Gulabi’s house and Ghashiram’s insult by Gulabi after nana departs . 3. Ghasiram in prison cell:- , Ghashiram is accused of stealing money even when someone else is the thief. He again, invokes Nana’s authority and asks to be taken nana for identification. In the first instance, he was wrongfully deprived of the necklace which was given to him, and now he is accused of snatching another Brahmin’s money. Consequently ghashiram is beaten and put into the prison cell.

23. Ghashiram’s encounter with the Sutradhar brings to fore in a direct manner some of the key issues concerning contemporary situation . . It dramatizes an encounter between the simpleton, Ghashiram and the man of the world, the man of “experience” the Sutradhar . 4. . Nana’s encounter with Ghashiram’s daughter and his attempts to capture her:- If the first four episodes of Act i of this play are devoted to Ghashiram, the remaining two unfold Nana’s character as a lecherous and lustful politician who is willing to sacrifice the welfare of Poona to gratify his physical desires. The four episode of Act I of the play may again be divided into three parts: Nana at the Kirtan , Nana’s attempt to capture Gauri and Nana- Ghashiram encounter . Earlier in the play religious terminology was used to hide sexual motivations, here a religious cermony is used by Nana to choose a woman for the satisfaction of his physical desires. He chooses a young girl. Lalita Gauri . 5. Nana-Ghashiram agreement by which Ghashiram is given the Kotwali of Poona :- The dance of Nana and Gauri , ghashiram’s outbursts before the audience, and his final bargaining with nana constitute the concluding part of Act I. Therefore, when nana begs Ghashiram to let him have Gauri one more time, ghashiram knows that Nana’s weak hour has come. He does not let this occasio slip and asks for the Kotwali of the city.

24. By making Ghashiram the Kotwal of Poona. Nana procures Ghashiram’s daughter for his physical gratification, while on the poltical front he could be used by Nana as afoul to the growing power of the Poona Brahmans. Ghashiram could also be used to cover Nana’s “misdeeds.” While Ghashira stans to merely satisfy his revenge motive, Nana stands to gain from this arrangment , both personally and politically, and therefore consents to it. The first Act thus concludes with Ghashiram being proclaimed the Kotwal .

25. ACT-2 In Act I of the play we witnessed the rise of ghashiram with sexuality playing a significant role in it. Act II unfolds to us the consequences of such a rise while lead to Ghashiram’s final downfall. If sexuality was the underlying governing force in Act I, it is violence that force the central focus of the second Act . Similar to Act I, Act II of this play also 4 important episodes, namely: 1 . Portrayal of Ghashiram’s rule, Ghashiram in action, as a Kotwal .   2. The ordeal of the innocent Brahman. 3. Ghashiram and Nana break apart. 4. The coming of the Telangi Brahmans; the final downfall of Ghashiram.

26. 1. Portrayal of Ghashiam’s rule, Ghashiram in action, as a Kotwal :- As the kotwal of poona , Ghasiram unleashes a reign of terror . His real motives are however to treat the Ponna brahmins with ruthlessness similar to the kind with which was treated earlier.   ghashiram stands for the deputation of that power: the executive authority. Such an exercise of power on the part of ghashiram leads to what is commonly known in our times as the “license redeem,” that is, securing permits before doing anything. Caught up in such a situation , the Poona community had no one to turn to. “Behind ghashiram is Nana,“ they fell so any complaint against Ghashiram will be taken as a personal affront by Nana. If on the other hand, They quietly submit to ghashiram’s whims, they will continue to suffer under his revengeful rule ”. 2. The ordeal of the innocent Brahmans:- This ordeal of the innocent brahmin brings to the fore the extent to which bestiality in human nature can take complete sway over himself

27. 3. Ghashiram and Nana break apart:- Ghashiram-Nana agreement falls apart in this part of the play, but not before Ghashiram has paid a heavy price for being the Kotwal . This section of t he play has three parts to it: Ghashiram planning for the wedding of his daughter , the celebration of Nana’s seventh marriage, and thirdly, the death of Gauri and Ghashiram’s further degeneration.

28. 4. The coming of the Telangi Brahmans; the final downfall of Ghashiram:- At the end of the second scene we see the South indian Brahmins coming to Poona in search of happiness and fortune. It is to be noted that both Ghashiram and the South Indian brahmins have similar motives in coming to Poona . The Brahmins, newly come to poona and, unware of Ghashiram’s ways and whims, are arrested for stealing fruits from his garden, locked up in the prison cell, and die of suffocation . These had come to Poona in search of happiness and fortune, as Ghashiram did. Through their tortutous death, they become the immediate cause of ghashiram’s death. The Sutradhar , who has become an important link and actor in this section of the play information us of the dark deeds done during Ghashiram’s rule where both the innocent as well as the guilty are sent to prison, so much so, that there is no place in the cell for the twenty-two newly arrested Brahmins . Ghashiram’s downfall at the end of the play is effected through 2 stages: the mob pressure on Nana, and Ghashiram’s final execution. (a)- The power implicit in the mob fury however, is not so easy to brush aside. Therefore, when the Sutradhar comes and informs Nana that “angry brahmans have gathered in front of the place,” Nana becomes perturbed. He considers the situation serious nana uses even this mob fury to his advantage by signing the order “to behead Ghashiram Lotwal .”

29. The public excution of Ghashiram is not dramatized on stage, but narrated to the audience by the Suutradhar . Ghashiram is killed for his evil deeds. after the killing is over ,Nana joins the groups & declares three days of festivities to mark thre occasion. Ultimately , the brahmins finishes the play in the same manner as it began, with the song in praises of ganpati . ===========================================================================