Thinking Activity : The Purpose by T. P Kailasam

             
                      The Purpose by T. P Kailasam 

                      Every person have their different goal or purpose. Some have wish to become a great in future and to do something new for their own self and some have the purpose of to do something great for the society. All have their own perspective to see the things in different way. But we couldn't judge the people that who are right or who is wrong. All are right on their own perspective. Same here the play, " The Purpose " by T. P Kailasam is about the purpose of Arjuna and Eklavya to become a great archer in the world. But their Purpose are totally different. T. P Kailasam put the character of Eklavya in this play totally different from Mahabharata. Let us see what is the purpose of Arjun and Eklavya in the play of Kailasam. Here is my blog to the answer of few questions given by Vaidehi ma'am. I hope you will enjoy.

● Brief introduction about T. P Kailasam :-

                                          

                                     Born : 1884

                                     Died : 1946

        

                        Thanjavur Paramasiva Kailasam was a great playwright and prominant writer of Kannada literature. Kailasam had written many plays in English and Kannada. Some his famous plays are :

                       ♤ Fulfillment 

                       ♤ The Purpose 

                       ♤ The Brahmin' s Curse

                His plays mostly known as wit and satirical commentary on society. He was initially criticised for modern use of the Kannada language in his plays.

● The Original story of Arjuna and Eklavya in Mahabharata :-

                 The original story of Mahabharata by Vedvyas is different than the story of  T. P Kailasam. In The Purpose, T. P Kailasam give voice to the character of Eklavya and do satire on class system of society. Here I would like to put one short animation video that is related to the story of original Mahabharata:

                     

● Question 1

Compare and contrast Arjuna and Eklavya's character. 

Here is my answer of compare and contrast of the character of Arjun and Eklavya with the small table chart : 

● Question 2

What is ' Subaltern ' ? Who do you think the Subaltern in this play ? Explain with example. 

• The meaning of Subaltern :-

                             "In Post Colonial studies and in critical theory, the term Subaltern designates the colonial population who are Socially, Politically, geographically outside the hierarchy of power of a colony. "

• The Four ' Varna ' system in Society :-

                     In Indian society we have four Varna :

Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya and shudra. Brahmans are the the upper position in the Society and Shudras are the lowest position in the society.  Kshtriya and Vaishyas are the middle position in the society.  The upper class people always dislike the lower class people and they do insult of lower class people. They never touch any things of lower caste people. They all have limited crite areas in village to live. Brahmans always lives in middle area, and shudra always lives in the outside areas of the village. 

• Subaltern in The Purpose :-

              We find out Subaltern character in The Purpose is Eklavya. Eklavya belongs to NISHAADA family, the lower cast family. That's why Arjuna don't like Eklavya and Curse him for his lower caste. When Arjuna and Dronacharya went in the Jungle they see Eklavya infront of the statue of Guru Dronacharya, at that time he become very angry on Guru Dronacharya and blamed him for breaking down his promise to learn best archery in the world. Here we find out his hatred behaviour for Eklavya. T. P Kailasam put some dialogues between Arjuna and Eklavya own their own caste. Through this dialogues Kailasam does satire on class system and beliefs of society's people 

Eklavya : I am a nishaada. I came here to beg of ypur Guru to help me become the greatest archer in the world. 

Arjuna : ( Laughs outright; Derisively) " Become the greatest archer in the world"? Indeed! How can you even for a moment think it possible for a NISHAADA to become what is almost impossible even for an ARYA ?

Eklavya : well, if you really do know what there is to be proud of being an ARYA that there is not being a NISHAADA....Tell me how you are any better than I for being an ARYA?

Arjuna : If Gurujee takes you on as his pupil! And yet, after all is said and done... AN ARYA is AN ARYA! And a NISHAADA is only a LOW - BORN NISHAADA. 

Question 3

Write your views about education system in India with reference to past and present time

                    The child leave home and they live with Guru in Gurukul. No fees was charged for education. In that education system the physical works was most important. The Guru gave works to all pupils in Ashram and in Jungle also. All child did work on their own interest. But the most important thing is that we find out the present and past education system is the caste system. In past time Guru gave admission in Ashram to those students who belongs to upper class. We see the same system in The Purpose also. Arjuna belongs to high caste. So, Guru Dronacharya promised him to learnt best archery in the world. On the other side Eklavya belongs to lower caste as nishaada boy. So, Guru Dronacharya refused him for learn archery. But Eklavya's aim to learn archery is for not own but for other, for save animals in the jungle. He made the idol of Guru Dronacharya and learn archery own self.

                      The same situation we are find out in present time education system. The education becomes the business for people. Tuition classes and private schools are the result of this. The result is that the children of lower caste people are not able to receive admission in better schools or colleges. Here I would like to put example of the movie " SUPER 30 " The movie is the reflection of the present time education system. Each and every dialogues throws light on present time education system. I would like to put one scene in this movie that I like so much.

                     

                  The scene is that when the first time Anand Kumar went abroad and he visited the library of university. For find out answers of some questions he read the book in library. At that time the head of library throw him outside. At that time Anand Kumar spoke one dialogues is that,

              "  शिक्षा पर तो सभी का अधिकार होता है ।"

This dialogue represents the voice of the students of lower caste, who wants to learn in real sense but they are not enough capable for that.

● Question 4

Is Dronacharya an ideal teacher ? If yes, then how ? If No, then why ? Explain with example. 

                      Yes, obviously according to my opinion Dronacharya is a ideal teacher in the play The Purpose. One thing is that Kailasam put the character of Dronacharya is totally different than real character of Mahabharata. In original scene Guru Dronacharya said to Eklavya for Guru Dakshina. But in this play Eklavya give his thumb to Dronacharya for own self. Yes in the starting of the play Guru Dronacharya refused for learn archery to Eklavya, because of he promised to Arjuna for make best archer in the world. But Eklavya not stop. He made the idol of Guru Dronacharya and learn himself.  One day Arjuna and Guru Dronacharya went in jungle and they see Eklavya to stand infront of the statue of Guru Dronacharya.  At that time Guru Dronacharya became happy. Throughout the play we see the sympathy of Guru Dronacharya for Eklavya. Guru Dronacharya always called Eklavya,  " MY LITTLE MAN ! " that indicates the love of Guru Dronacharya for Eklavya. I would like to put one quote by Brad Henry,

             " A good teacher can inspire hope, ignited the imagination and instill a love of learning. "

              But we can not say that Guru Dronacharya is a ideal teacher for everyone. Because the perspective of people are different. Some people have good perspective, on the other side some people have bad perspective for Guru Dronacharya because, 

                    All people are their own perspective.  We can not says that who is right or who is wrong. All are right of their own way. 

● Question 5

Write something about your experience like Eklavya Or Arjuna with any teacher during your study phase till now.

                       Very beautifully question by Vaidehi ma'am. I am very happy to share my experience that during my study time from standard 1 to till now I have no experience like Eklavya or Arjuna but yes one thing I would like to share with all of you is that some teachers are there in my life who gave his great contribution in shaping my life not only in education but also in real life. I am always thankfull to them. 

Thank you.......