The play Tale-Danda by Girish
Karnad is undoubtedly the portrayal and re-historicizing of the 12th century
history. The play portrays the dark aspect and stain of the contemporary
Hindu-society of that century. It re-historicizes the various social, political
and religious conditions with great emphasis over the religious turmoil and
upheaval that was at peak during that century.
Karnad uses several
representative characters to enlighten the past through them. The major
representative character was Basavanna. He’s been represented as a reformer who
started a movement named Sharana aiming at bringing social equality. The major
issue that has been re-historicized by Karnad is of caste inequality. He has
shown all the prevailing castes of that period viz. Brahmans, tanners, cobbler
etc and highlighted very clearly and the existing inequality and discrimination
amongst them. The opening of the play is amply evident and representative of
the prevailing cast inequality during that period when Malliboma a tanner
reluctantly brought into the Brahmin colony by his Brahmin friend Jagadeva who
even takes him into his house, as a pre-condition of seeing his ailing father.
Thus representing not just the caste inequality but also a radical attempt towards
its eradication; especially through the Sharana movement that brought in all
the caste people together under one group Sharana, making them equal. Moreover,
through Amba ‘s helplessness as of her absent son and Jagadeva’s anger on
seeing his wife back home, Karnad has also thrown some light over the poor and
ignored condition of women in that century.
Karnad
with the gradual progress of the play has presented the more enhanced level of
caste conflict which began taking a political turn. The prince of Kalyan
develops enmity against the treasurer Basavanna after being failed to prove his
deceitfulness. Which develops more after his public mortification by his father
and the king Bajjala after his treacherous act. Here as well Karnad has shown
the pauper womanly condition of that period through King Bajjala’s rebuking the
queen and accusing her of making him (prince sovideva) a spoiled royal eunuch. King, himself being a diplomatic, favours the Sharana
movement because Basavanna respected him despite knowing his being cobbler by
caste. But at the same regard them (Sharanas) incapable of solving any issue.
Karnad through Bajjala’s words of calling caste being skin on body has shown
the extent to which caste was widespread throughout in that century.
Furthermore, king’s diplomacy has been shown by his opposition of casteless
society arguing that,
“People will merely sputter about like a
fish on the sand and die.”,
showing the political condition of the time.
The social and
political scenario of the century is further re-historicized by Karnad through
Jagadeva’s suspicion over Basavanna's spreading rumours of miracle at the treasury and
calls him a manipulator; showing mutual mistrust despite being associated with
such a great reformative movement. Karnad has further shown the drastic social
turn; despite Basavanna’s being the leader of the Sharana movement couldn’t
stop the marriage of the Brahmin girl with the cobbler boy. A drastic political
turn takes place; the king is overthrown by his son Sovideva and Sharanas
refuse to support the king who supported the marriage.
Further Karnad
presents the devastating political and social impact of the caste system and
diversions through the violence that spreads throughout the Kalyan city on
account of both Sharanas and Sovideva’s soldiers who barbarously kill thousands
of Sharanas along with the young couple. In lieu of it, innocent king Bajjala is
also killed by Jagadeva who suicides in guilt.
Thus, through this
Karnad has presented the massive onslaught that took place on the streets and
houses of Kalyan during the 12th century because of the prevalent caste
inequality ruling the time. He has also shown in his play the probable causes
that were greatly responsible for such a mishap to’ have occurred; of which lack
of proper leadership in the Sharana movement which led to the mutual-conflict of
thoughts, ideas and ideals dividing the group into younger and elder Sharanas.
The other prominent reason shown for the movement’s failure in that century is
involvement of such volunteers like Jagadeva and Basavanna who themselves had
the diving relationship with their family and they went on to attempt leading
such a great movement which was obvious to fail.
All these factors
played a crucial role in the future of the reformative movement as shown by Karnad
through his play. Hence it can be fairly concluded that Tale-Danda is the true
re-historicizing of the 12th century social and cultural revolution.
