Teacher day

Teacher's Day Calibration

1. Teacher Day Celebration Topic : Play by T. P. Kailasam:The Curse of Karna Presented by : Pina Joshi Department of English M.K.Bhavnager University

2. T. P. Kailasam Tyagaraja Paramasiva kailasam (1884-1946), popularly known as T. P. Kailasam was both great playwright and a talented actor. His play are lively representation of themes taken mostly from ancient Indian literature. Kailasam's English play includes The Burden (1933), Fulfilment (1933), The Purpose (1944), The Curse Or karna(1946), Keechaka (1949).

3. The Play : The Curse or karna The Bramhin Curse (1946), better known as The Curse or karna is kailasam’s more sustained dramatic adventure. Kailasam seems to have made up his mind to recast and reassess the character of Ekalavya, karna and Keechaka to when in his opinion justice may not have been done in the original Mahabharata. In the Curse of Karna he with certain digression from the original Mahabharata has exalted the character of karna.

4. Act ...1 The play begins with karna's completion of education at parshurama's Ashram. At the last moment of his departure from the ashram he loses all he has earned during his stay there. Parshurama comes to know that such a youth cannot be brahmins, as he has pretended to be; he must be no other than a kshatriya. Gets angry to the extent of cursing this sincere disciple thus : And for thy dastard of lie, list to a Brahmins curse:

5. If EVER YOU SHOULD HENCEFORTH SORELY NEED THE USE OF ARMS YOU’VE LEARNT OF ME…… THE BAREST TALK, THE MEREST THOUGHT OF THY SUPPOSED SOOTHA BIRTH CROSSING THY MIND…WILL SWELL THY HEART TO SENSE OF SHAME, WILL DULL THINE EYES AND MIND, NUMB AND PARALYSE THY LIMBS BEYOND THEIR POW’R TO HELP THEE MAKE THE SLIGHTEST, SMALLEST USE OF KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU’VE LEARNT OF ME! AVAUNT! AVAUNT!, ERE I INFLICT A FURTHER CURSE ON THEE

6. Act….2 In Act II, Scene I, Karna is distinguished as matchless hero and Arjuna is about to lose his position of the best archer in the world, but the Brahmins curse again appears before him for his credentials. None is there to recognize karna's merit irrespective of his birth and parentage. Without any shade of doubt he is a matchless warrior, but he repeatedly discouraged by the pandits and the Pandavas.

7. Act….3 In Act 3 again the Brahmins victimizes karna , who is badly humiliated by Draupadi in her Swayamvara. As soon as he rises to try his chance, she boldly declares that even if the sutuis son fulfils the condition of marriage she will not accept him. Here we can see the cast system that how lower-class was insulted by upper class people.

8. Act...4 Humiliation of Draupadi Act 4 presents the greatest moment of Karna's chivalry and nobility. With certain bold digressions kailasam presents the episode of Draupadi’s humiliation in presence of the elders of kuru family.

9. Act...4 continue ... In the original Mahabharata Draupadi is humiliated, dragged by hair to the assembly hall and an attempt is made to disrobe her by Dussaasana. Karna also passes certain insulting comments on Draupadi. But kailasam's karna instead of passing remark, comes forward for he rescue and defies. The kuaravas prince with boldness and courage of a true warrior. He warms Dusshasana, “move but a step and you die.

10. Act...5 In Act 5 Kuntee, the virgin mother of Karna appears before him to request him not use serpent shaft against the Pandavas. He unhesitatingly sides with Duryodhana and fights against the Pandavas who are protected by Lord Krishna. Throughout his life Karna cannot make any use of the knowledge of arms that he has received from Parashurama because of his curse.

11. Brahmins who curse him that Karna's chariot wheel will be swallowed by the earth when he will be fiercely comparing on the battlefield to kill his enemy. The same happens when he engaged in a fierce fights with his enemy Arjuna. In the end , at the instance of Krishna, Arjuna kills karna. The curse of Karna is tragedy thematic materials collectively contributeto the artistic excellence of the play.