Characters of Ghashiram Kotwal and The Nameshake

Characters of the play Ghashiram Kotwal

1 Sutradhar

As we have already told you in the first Unit of this Block, the Sutradhar is an essential part of Sanskrit drama and can be found in many folk plays such as Tamasha. The traditional role of the Sutradhar is to introduce the characters and initiate the events as well as comment on the action, wherever necessary. Let us now discuss the role of the Sutradhar in Ghushiram Kotwal. As in traditional theatre, the Sutradhar introduces the characters and sets the context for the action. He remains on stage continuously, becoming a different person at different times. In the beginning, he plays the role of interlocutor who shops and questions the Brahmans as they sneak about slyly trying to get to Bhavankhani. As the Brahmans crowd round Bhvanakhani, a lonely Brahman woman is shown embracing her lover and the Sutradhar comments ironically on the scene:

'Here a Brahmin  woman in solitary confinement; there the crowds waiting for a glimpse of Gulabi .....'

This role of Sutradhar as commentator continues throughout the play. When Ghashiram is thrown in jail, the Sutradhar masquerades as a 'fellow prisoner' and  observes wisely:

'This thief is a simple thief. The police are official thieves'.

 a wisdom that will strike a sympathetic chord in Irony in the audience .At other times he leads the chorus.

“Sutradhar: Nine court Nana only thought of Gauri.

All: Thought of nothing else; etc. “

Then again the Sutradhar becomes a passing Brahman who is caught roaming the roads at night by Ghashiram. When the Kotwal apprehends him he explains 'Sir, I was going to fetch the midwife'. It is through the Sutradhar's persistent probing that Nana's wedding plans are revealed dramatically. An account of Ghashiram's final humiliation and punishment is provided by the Sutradhar's running commentary. And his final comment is loaded with meaning:

'And in the end came the End' The Sutradhar thus has a variety of roles. In addition to all these his function is to act as a cohesive device between the different scenes and the different modes such

as song, dance and music which contribute to the total effect of the play.

Nana Phadnavis

This character of Nana is based on that of the historical character Balaji Janardhan Blianu (12 Feb. 1742 - 13 March 1800) who inherited the post of Phadnavis or administrator at the age of fourteen when his father died. Nana was the Peshwa's chief minister until his death on July 11, 1778. How does Tendulkar distance his  Nana from the Nana of history? By Making him dance on stage and behave in a ludicrous manner. The Sutradhar introduces Nana's arrival by focusing on his status and wealth -

'Nana of the nine courts, Nana of the wealth and power.. . . . . . to Gulabi's place proceeds' We are given no physical description or Nana's Personality except that he has a 'silver handled walking stick'  and a 'garland of flowers on his wrist'. We can conclude that he is quite a dandy and when he hurts his foot while dancing and makes a fuss, we also know that he is an effeminate character who can also be generous as lie is to Ghashiram who offers his back for him to rest his foot on -the

reward being his own necklace. That Nana is old is nowhere stated but is implied through subtle hints. The walking stick, for instance. At the time of'his wedding to a 'slender willowy bride. A shy fair lily-white bride' . We are told that he is still young enough to marry! His moustache's turned gray. But not all his teeth are gone' . We can see Nana as a lustful and lecherous old man from his presence at Gulabi's dance in Bhavanakhani. He then tries to seduce the young and beautiful daughter of Ghashiram.  For him the girl is not an individual but merely a 'prey'. And if lie is able to snare it, his self- image as a macho man, a 'Nine Court Nana' will be enhanced. If for some reason, he cannot get her, this Bhavannakhani. The power that he boasts of is not located ill his character but in the people around him by belittling whom he can define himself in positive terms. And when the girl is finally delivered to him, Ghashiram cries out 'Look! I've given my beloved daughter into the jaws of that wolf?..... That old overripe bastard! Look at him, eating her like a peach ... .

The Nana in the play dances and sings. While this is in keeping with the rest of the characters in this play it also distances the Nana from the imposing historical character on whom he is based. Thus he is not simply an individual but also a type - a type of the corrupt Brahman community as well as a symbol of those in position of power. It is this power which makes him immune to the laws and requirements of justice. The Nana has all the cunning of his tribe. Even when he capitulates to the demands of Ghashiram by making him Kotwal, he still has the upper hand: 'What'll happen is that our misdeeds will be credited to your account. We do, our Kotwal pays'. By giving Ghashiram the false illusion of being powerful the Nana continues to use him and discards him when he feels, 'there was no use for him anymore'.  When Ghashiram face with his daughter's disappearance, he very piously states: 'Thou shall not grieve over what is gone. The Vedas have said that .....' .The juxtaposition of what is being said with what has already been done, is an effective device in un-masking Nana further.

Characters of “The Nameshake”

1. Ashoke

Ashoke Ganguli as a young man,Ashoke nearly dies in a train crash In India.He survive

Because he was reading a short  story by Nikolai Gogol when the crash occurred, and rescuers

 Saw him move the book in the wreckage .Because the last piece of advice he received before

The crash was to go and see the world, Ashoke moves to America to study fiber optics. After an

 Arranged marriage, his wife, Ashima, joins him, and they have two children, Gogol and Sonia,

Naming the first in honor of Ashoke’s past.Meanwhile, Ashoke finishes his Ph.D. and becomes

A professor at a university in the suburbs of Boston .Although Ashoke wants his son to

 Appreciate the heritage of the name “Gogol,” Gogol hates the name and shows no interest in

 Learning more about why it was given to him. It isn’t until Gogol is in college , after he has legally changed his name to “Nikhil, ”that Ashoke finally tells Gogol about the train accident .Despite Gogol’s rejection of his name , Ashoke continues hoping that Gogol will come to appreciate his family heritage (a wish that ultimately comes true as a result of Ashoke’s death).Ashoke

Accepts a nine-month research appointment in Ohio, and while he is there, he dies suddenly of a Heart attack..

2. Maxine

Maxine Ratliff: Maxine is Gogol’s serious love interest during the months before his father’s

 death. An art historian by education, Maxine works as an assistant editor for an art book

 publisher and lives with her wealthy parents in a five-storyhouse. Maxine pursues Gogol and the

two begin dating. Soon Gogol is living with the Ratliffs in their mansion. Although Maxine is

quick to welcome Gogol in to her life, Gogol is reluctant to tell her about his Bengali heritage or

 introduce her to his parents; she knows Gogol only as “Nikhil.” Maxine meets Ashoke  and

 Ashima only once before Ashoke dies. Gogol excludes Maxine from his mourning process

 Because he recognizes that’s he knows nothinga bout his Bengali life ;after all, he has

 Intentionally kept her from it. They break up, and within a year Maxine is engaged to someone

Else .

ONE WORD ANSWERS

A)      Vijay Tendulakar

1.  When Vijay Tendulkar born?

Ans- 6^th January 1928.

2. To which age Vijay tendulakar belongs?

Ans- Post-Independence Indian Playwright.

3. What is the main theme of most of the Vijay tendulakr’s plays?

Ans- different aspects of human character and human relationship.

4. What is the full name of Vijay?

Ans- Vijay Dhondo Tendulakar.

5. Where did he born?

Ans- In a Bhalavalikar Saraswat Brahmin family in Kolhapur, Maharashtra.

6. When did he wrote his first story?

Ans- At the age of 6

7. When did he directed and acted in his first play?

Ans- At the age of 11.

8. When did he participated in Indian freedom movement?

Ans- 1942

9. How many works he has written?

Ans- 30 full length plays, 23 one act plays, 11 children’s drama, 4 collection of short stories.

10. Which awards he has received?

Ans- Sangeet natak Academy Award, Padma Bhushan Award, Maharashtra state government Award, Kamladevi Chattopadhyay Award.

11. When did he dies?

Ans- 19^th May 2008.

12. Who are the foreingn  influencer of Vijay Tendulakr for writing?

Ans-  Henry Ibsen, Strindberg, brecht

13. Which are the best plays of him?

Ans- Shantata! Court Chalu Ahe”, Ghasiram Kotwal, Sakharam Binder.

14. Which are his other plays?

Ans- Manus navache bet  1955, (An island called man)

         Madhya Bhinti 1958, (the walls between)

         Chimanicha ghar hota menacha 1958, (Nest of wax)

         Mee jinklo Mee harlo 1963 (I won I lost)

       Kavlanchi Shala 1963, (school for crows)

15. Which play brote him national recognition?

Ans- shantata! Court chalu ahe

16. Which are the one act plays written by him?

Ans- Ratra (1957)

    Ajagar Ani Gandharva (1966)

     Bhekad (1969)

17. The rise of Shivsena was reflected in which play ?

Ans- Ghashiram Kotwal

18. What is there in the play “Kamala”

Ans- A true story of journalist who purchased a woman rural sex industry.

19. The play kanyadan is about?

Ans- Cultural and emotional upheavals of a family

20. To which journal Tendulakar was an assistant editor?

Ans- Loksatta, wrote daily column for Maharashtra times.

21. Which plays are being translated by him?

Ans-Mohan Rakesh’s  “Adhe Adure”, Girish Karnad’s Tughlaq and some of the plays by Tennesse Williams.

22. What is has published as a photographer?

Ans- a collection of photographs called “Chehare”

23. Which are the forms of Marathi theatre?

Ans- Sangeet natak, Tamasha, folk form: dasavatar.

24. Which are the other Marathi playwright?

Ans- Mahesh elkunchvar, satish Alekar, P.L Deshpande.

25. Which forms are known as seasonal entertainment?

Ans- dasavatar and tamasha

26. In which season dasavatr is performed?

Ans- In post harvest season in konkan region

27. What it is about?

Ans- ten avatar of Vishnu

28. Whai is Tamasha?

Ans- It is an entertainment of song, dance and satire. For the entertainmemt of Peshwa army in 18^th century.

29. Which form Tendulakar has used in Ghashiram Kotwal?

Ans- Tamasha

B)      Ghashiram Kotwal

1. What we will see about the Poona Brajmins in the play?

Ans – Religious and moral decadence, political corruption.

2. How many significant episodes are there in the play?

Ans- 6

3. From where the episodes began?

Ans- Introduction of Poona Brahmins.

4. What is Bhavankhani?

Ans- A temple for prostitutes and a house of Gulabi.

5. Brahmins are praying to which gods in the beginning?

Ans- ganesh, lakshmi, Saraswati.

6. Why these Gods are invoked?

Ans- for the success of an important undertaking.

7. This invocation is in contrast with?

Ans- with what actually follows in the play.

8. What is the important theme of the play?

Ans- de-idealization and break up of established institutions.

9. What is hidden in this play that the playwright wants to reveal?

Ans- social and moral decadence.

10. Brahmins are learned in which disciplines?>

Ans- Vedanta, medicine, logic, astrology and languages.

11. Who is Sutradhar?

Ans- the commentator of the play, who comments on various characters.

12. What is the technique used by dramatist?

Ans- Gradual unfolding of reality hidden behind the scene.

13. Who is the first bramin introduce in this play?

Ans- Bhatji Bhuva, a priest who conducts marriage ceremony.

14. Who equates Bhavankhani with a temple

Ans- the second Brahmin Peyotl Brakman.

15. What does kirtan refers here?

Ans- Kirtan refers to the singing and dancing at Gulabi’s house.

16. What is the idea of darshan refers to?

Ans- It refers to waiting for a glimpse of Gulabi.

17. What is equated with Mathura?

Ans- Bhavankhani, “The red light district” is equated with Mathura and the house of Gulabi is seen as a “garden of Krishna”.

18. Why religiuon is used by Brahmins?

Ans- for the justification of their immoral acts.

19. What is the condition of Brahmins wives.

Ans- They remain alone in their home,  when their husbands are enjoying at Bhavankhani.

20. How women are treated in this play?

Ans- as a suppressed section of society/.

21. Who  is the servant of Gulabi?

Ans- Ghashiram.

22. What Sutradhar calls nana as?

Ans- Nana of “wealth and power”

23. Who is Nana?

Ans- Chief of peshwas

24. What nana symbolize?

Ans- corruption and evil doings of the politician?

25. What is the symbol of nana’s political power?

Ans- the silver handled walking stick

26. What the the salient theme of the play?

Ans- The interdependence of Nana and Ghashiram in the political power game.

27. What nana has rewarded to Ghashiram in his first meeting?

Ans- A necklace.

28. Who are white sahibs?

Ans- The britishers

29. Which festival shows the religious corruption?

Ans- the festival of dakshina.

30. Who is kannauj Bharmin?

Ans- Ghashiram

31. Who is accused of stealing money?

Ans- Ghashiram

32. Ghashiram is humiliated by whom?

Ans- Poona Brahmin, Gulabi, Police

33. Why Ghashiram trades his daughter to Nana?

Ans- to take revenge, to gain power.

34. Who is lustful politician?

Ans- Nana

35. What is used to hide sexual motivations?

Ans- religious terminology.

36. Who chooses a young girl lalita Gauri for his sexual pleasure?

Ans- Nana

37. Nana justify his act through which God?

Ans- Ganesh because he is having two wives.

38.  how many wives did Nana have?

Ans- 9

39. What is the condition of ghashiram for bargaining his daughter to nana?

Ans- Kotwali of poona

40. Why Ghashiram tells the audience to spit at him and stone him?

Ans- because he is in guilt for selling his daughter.

C)      Jhumpa Lahiri

1. .who is the most eminent Indo- American writer?

Ans- Jhumpa Lahiri

2. She is famous for which type of writings?

Ans- Diasporic writing.

3. she belongs to which family?

Ans- Immigrant family.

4. What does it mean by Alien culture

Ans- foreign culture

5. She is representative figure for whom?

Ans- for female predicament in diaspora.

6. When did she born?

Ans- 11^th July 1967 to a Bengali immigrant family in London.

7. How did she learn her Bengali heritage?

Ans- By regularly travelling to Kolkata. Spending time with her extended family.

8. What is her original name?

Ans- Nilanjana Sudeshna Lahiri

9. Who has decided to call her by her pet name?

Ans- Her teacher calls her as  Jhumpa.

10. From where did she graduated?

Ans- from Barnard College in 1989.

11. From where did she received two year felloshp?

Ans- at Princeton’s fine arts work centre.

12. With whom she got  married?

Ans- Alberto Vourvoulias- Bush, a journalisr

13.what is the name of her two children

Ans- Octavio and Noor

13. What she taught at Boston?

Ans- Creative wrting.

14. Where her short stories began to appear?

Ans- In the New Yorker, The Harvard review, The Louisville review, AGNI, Salamander, Story Quaterly.

15. Which is her first book? And which famous awards it received?

Ans- the Interpreter of maladies. 1999 which received The PEN hemingway award, the translantic review award, the American academy of arts and letters award, The O’Henry Award, Pulitzer prize

16. Interpreter of Maladies was translated into how many languages?

Ans- 29 , including Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, Italian, Dutch and Japanese.

17. Which one Lahiri’s first anticipated novel?

Ans- Nameshake ,2003, it wa sselectewd as best book of the year by USA.

18. Who has adopted Nameshake into film by same name?

Ans- Mira Nair

19. What is the main theme of the novel Nameshake?

Ans- Cultural dilemmas, and displacement of Indian people.

20. Which work by Lahiri received Frank O’ Corner short story award?

Ans- Unaccustomed earth, 2008

21. Which one is the shortlished novel for the main booker prize?

Ans- The Lowland, 2013. It talks much about immigrant issues

22. Which honor was given to Lahiri by Obama?

Ans- she was appointed by u.S president Barack obama, a s ma member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and umanities.

23. As a diasporic writer lahiri deals with?

Ans- multicultural society both from ‘inside’ and ‘outside’, seeking to find her native identity.

24. Which approach by Jhumpa lahiri is different from other diasporic writes?

Ans – Feminist approach because she represents different image of Indian woman and her marginalization

.

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M.S Subbulakshmi

Unit : 7

Q1. Give Details of M.S achievement.

Q2. Describe the meeting between M.S and Helen Keller.

Introduction

Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi was an Indian Singer from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. She was the first Musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna. She was the first Indian who performed in United Nations General Assembly in 1966. Most of the people known her as M.S.

General Assembly of the United Nations in New York

In October 1966, M.S was invited to sing in the great hall of the General assembly of the United nations in New York. This was one of the greatest honours for her. International audience appreciate her performance and stood up at last to give her honour. M.S has carried great music with her to international level. She becomes one of the great ambassador of India.

Gandhiji’s views

Gandhiji was spell bound by her performance. He used to invite her every evening for singing hymns. This was another greatest achievement of M.S. She sang “Vaishnav Jana to tene Kahiye” which was appreciated by Gandhiji a lot. The feelings that she put into it , brought tears to the eyes of everyone who listened to her. She has also sang “Raghupati Raghav Raja ram” and made it nation’s favorite hymn.

Death of Gandhiji

One day when M.S was listening to evening;s Radio on 30^th January 1948, then it was interrupted by an announcement: The father of the nation had been shot dead. After this announcement the song “Hari Tum Haro jan ki pir” which was recorded in her voice was started. By listening this shocking news M.S fell unconscious with sadness. She was not even able to hear that song.

Meeting with Helen Keller

It was great experience of M.S to sing in front of deaf, blind, famous American writer Helen Keller. Helen has learned to read and write as well as to speak. She talked with people through her fingertips. When M.S sang in front of her, she put her fingertips on the throat of M.S to sense the vibration or music. She appreciate her performance and commented on her music.

“You make such a beautiful music”

This was greatest achievement for M.S because world famous writer who is not able to hear can feel her music. Mostly people are praising her talent by listening through their ears but this was strange experience for her to sing in front of deaf. It was such a great Tribute for her.

Madaras Music academy

M.S inherited singing talent from her mother Shanmukhavadivu,She was a famous Veena player. M.S gave her first performance when she was only 10 year old. She was invited to sing in Madras Academy where only the most famous singers were invited.

All India Music conference

In 1943, M.S first time sang to a national audience at the All India Music Conference in Bombay. Everyone has praised her singing at this national conference.

Charitable work

M.S used to contribute her money for charitable cause. She has helped thousands of poors, suffering people through her music. She has used her money for building hospitals, schools and libraries.

Hindi film: Meera

M.S has acted and sang in one the most famous Hindi film “Meera”. The film was popular everywhere mainly for her song. She acted perefectly the role of immortal devotional poet from Rajasthan.

Edinburgh Festival

In 1963, M.S sang at Edinburgh Festival in Europe. All Europeans including expert critics like her singing. She has also given special concert in London.

America

In 1977 M.S sing in Indian Temples which were being built in American cities. Many people liked her singing. They came from different culture and spoke different language, but they can feel the music of M.s with their heart. That’s why M.s never felt like singing in foreign countries. She felt like singing in madras because at both these places she received equal amount of love, appreciation. No matter what the language is.

Awards won by M.S

i)              Padma Bhushan: 1954

ii)             President of India’s Award: 1956

iii)            Made president of Madras Music Academy

iv)            Magsaysay Award: 1974

v)             Padma Vibhushan: 1975

vi)            Universities have given doctoral degrees

Conclusion

M.S is still living in the hearts of people through her immortal singing talent. She has never give up her singing practice, even at the age of 65 or more. She and her daughter used to practice music together. She is not only good by voice, but good by nature also. It was her goodness and purity of soul that attracts people.

Who killed the Bogmen of Denmark and why?

Unit 6

Who killed the Bogmen of Denmark and why?

-by Maurice Shadbolt

Questions-

1.       Why people pass by a murder victim? Explain

2.       What is the role play by Peter Globe in solving the mystery

Introduction

The article “who killed the Bogmen of Denmark and why?”  is written by Maurice Shadbolt. The title itself is asking a question that who has killed the Bogmen. It means that this article is about revealing a secret of Denmark. There were always historians who can find answers from histories. In this article also there is one historian who is revealing all hidden truths behind the murder of bogmen. There is blind faith of cruel people which forced other innocent people to sacrifice their life.

Visitors in the town of Silkeborg

People used to visit the town of Silkeborg for watching murder victim in museum. They are not aware about the name, and past of the murdered victim. Bogmen which is found in Silkeborg was innocent. His face has made men and women emotional. They were driven by tears by looking at the gentle face, with eyes and lips closed. There was a short growth of hair on the chin.

Digging task by two brothers

There are two brothers Emil and Viggo Hojgaard, they have started digging in the twon of Silkeborg for collecting peat. But during that process they have found the dead body and then this process of mysterious investigation began. At first they have informed to Police, but there were no missing case of anyone. That’s why Police has handed over this task to great historian Prof. Peter Glob. Then this body was kept in museum after going through all physical and biological tests.

Professor Peter Glob

Professor Peter Glob is famous Archaelogist from Aarhus University. He has did investigation very carefully. He has seen that there were marks on the neck of dead man that’s why he has assumed his death by being strangled or hanged. When one of the man who is pulling the body for examination fell down and died, then all thinks that this was a sign of bad luck, as if some old God wanted the life of modern man in place of man from the past. These bodies were to be kept away from sunlight and air, so that it won’t rotten.

Other bodies in the bogs

After Second World War other bodies were found in bogs.

i)                    1942: At Store Arden

ii)                   1946, 1947, 1948 : At Borre Fen, a full grown male, died in same manner as like other bodies which are having marks of rope around neck, last meal is of grain.

iii)                 1952: At Grauballe, hid throat had been cut savagely, his face was twisted with terror.

iv)                 Same way of their death: All these bodies are belonging to Iron Age of Denmark, murdered by tying rope around neck and having last meal of grain.

Examination of dead body

Professor glob examined the body carefully. The condition of teeth showed that dead man will be over 20 years old. Heart, lungs and liver were in excellent condition, last meal is having a mixture of barley, linseed and other vegetarian things. It suggested that a meal prepared in winter or early spring season. There were no vegetarians in Iron age but still these bodies are having vegetarian diet at the time of their death. Their hands and fingertips were soft as if like they have not did any hard work in their life. It reveals their royal background.

Roman historian: Tacitus

Prof. Glob has read history book written by Tacitus in which the secret was revealed about the death of Bogmen. Tacitus has written about the custom of the German tribes. He has thrown light into the dark corners of Denmark’s past. They are completing their religious ceremonies with human sacrifice. These people worship the goddess Nerthus (Mother earth). At the time of early spring, they offered sacrifice for getting help in the early coming of spring and summer harvest from the goddess Nerthus.  They used to give special meal to that man who is going to sacrifice his life.

Conclusion

Peter Glob has solved the murder mystery with his excellent investigation.  He was satisfied after getting the reason of the death of bogmen. In this way everything got revealed about Denmark’s past.