The Purpose

THE PURPOSE

A play by T. P. KAILASAM

                                           We are all familiar with the story of Eklavya and we often look at the character of Eklavya with the perspective of the epic teller Veda Vyasa. His character ‘Eklavya’ as portrayed in Mahabharata offers the reader a very little of him. See the video to recall the story in a more accurate way. 

                                        Hence, a Kannada writer, T.P. Kailasam wrote an English play inspired by this Puranic theme, called the “The Purpose”. His work unfolds the youthful idealism of Eklavya as he highlights the character in such a way that we can deeply feel the pain of Eklavya. Hence, the marginal character of the peripheral character of Mahabharata is furnished in a very convincing way by Kailasam that he actually suits as a hero/the central character of the play. Click on the link to know more on the "Father of Humorous Plays" - T. P. Kailasam. 

                                   This blog is formed on the basis of a Google Classroom Task (Post- Reading task) assigned by Vaidehi ma’am, Research Scholar at Department of English, M K Bhavnagar University on T.P.Kailasam’s “The Purpose”. Click on the link to navigate to Vaidehi ma’am’s blog to know more on "The Purpose".

 1. Compare and Contrast Arjun and Eklavya's Character.

                     Arjun and Eklavya both have one common goal to be the best archers and both have learned from one teacher – Guru Drona. A major thing to be noted here is that Arjun was a ‘dependent learner’ while Eklavya can be securely said as a ‘self-learner’.

                      I have observed in detailed the characteristics of both individually-

Characteristics	Arjun	Eklavya
Protagonist	Mighty Hero of “Mahabharata” and anti-hero of “The Purpose”	Tragic Hero of “The Purpose” and subaltern in “Mahabharata”
Hierarchy/ Class Stratification	Belonged to Upper class	Belonged to lower class
Identity	A Royal Prince	A Nishadha Boy
Caste (Major Issue of character development)	Upper Caste; Kshatriya	Lower caste; Nishadha tribe, Hunters.
Aim- Wanted to learn Archery	Dependent Learner, Slow learner	Self-learner, Fast learner.
Motive- To be the best Archer in the world	Personal Benefit, Self-centered, Pride in the character to be the best Archer.	Virtuous reason of becoming the best Archer; deeply concerned for fawns.
Purpose of becoming Archer	Basic Purpose	Noblest Purpose
Resources	Guru Drona	Statue of Guru Drona
Personality	Highly ambitious with a lot of pride	Dedicated and hard worker
Conclusion	Moderate in skills and chivalrous	Expert in skills but no chivalry

2. What is Subaltern? Who do you think is the Subaltern in this play? Explain with examples.

                         “Subaltern” is a British word for someone of inferior military rank. It is a combination of the Latin terms-

                          While mentioning the term Subaltern, the name of the person  becomes undoubtedly to mention- Antonio Gramsci, an Italian Marxist intellectual who coined the term subaltern. He was the first to refer the word in a non-military sense (As it is the British military term for a junior officer, in a military sense the word is used to describing the commissioned officer before the rank of captain).

                          In a way, a subaltern is “other to the other”. As per M. H. Abrams, “The subaltern has become a standard way to designate the colonial subject that has been constructed by European discourse and internalized by colonial peoples who employ this discourse”.  A subaltern is an agent of resistance to the thought which created a subordinate identity.

                          It can be securely said that Eklavya is a subaltern in the play “The Purpose”. As per subaltern discourse, a marginalized tribe or person who is conceived by upper authority is a subaltern. Eklavya is a Nishada boy belonging to the tribal community, lower class, as against the Prince –Arjun.  The Prince is a Kshatriya and has a right to learn Archery from Drona but Eklavya (though talented) is not given lessons by Drona as because he belongs to the minor group. As according to class stratification, Eklavya belongs to a tribal community and it was the rule during the time that only the Brahmins and Kshatriyas are allowed to learn archery. So, here Eklavya as a Nishada is easily suppressed by Drona and the Prince and though he learns, he is bound to pay the high price demanding his right-hand thumb!

                         Though he isn’t given a chance to speak, to question the authority for such an injustice as well as to convey the doctrine of equality, he becomes a puppet in the hands of the dominance, Drona. Hence, T P Kailasam, through “The Purpose”, tries to explain the subaltern suppressed voice of Eklavya. Here is an example of Eklavya's grief and can rightly be called a subaltern.  

EKLAVYA:

(Holding hack his tears with great effort and pointing to the severed thumb at Drona's feet) "Done"?, Gurujee? I have done no more than paid my Dakshina to you in poor token of my love and respect for you! Years ago. Gurujee, when I came to you, this noble Aryan Prince (points at Arjuna) said: "You, are only a nishaada...too poor to pay your Guru's dakshina!" (To Arjuna) I am still the same poor nishaada! And yet, poor as my dakshina is...it is good enough to stop the mouths of you and such as you from slandering my Gurujee's good name! My Gurujee has kept his promise! And you are now without doubt the greatest archer in the world! (POINTING OUT HIS THUMBLESS HAND) YOU SEE? EVEN IF I WANT TO I CANNOT SHOOT ANY MORE! (The effort of controlling his pain and his tears has been enormous; biting into his nether lip he makes a supreme effort to hold his tears back. Drona is so deeply affected that with closed eyes and trembling lips, he turns his face away. Arjuna, also genuinely affected, speaks to Ekalavya with real sorrow and sympathy in his voice.)

The subaltern cannot speak!

   3. Write your views about the Education system in India with reference to Past and Present time.

The Education system in India always was and is in some way commercialistic- “money-minded”.

Earlier, the gurus were educating the pupils by providing them a homely environment in “Gurukul” where a pupil has to stay until a stipulated time and learn the Vedas, households, and each and every activity. If a pupil lacked scholarship in a test, the blame was given to the Guru. So, he would teach every possible thing with wideness in Education. And in return, the pupil has to pay a “Gurudakshina”- a return for what he has been taught. The Gurudakshina can be anything demanded by a Guru. So, the prince and the royal families were able to pay and those who are unable were not even allowed to enter “Gurukul”. But looking at the merits of the Gurukul pratha, we can say that at least all the pupils were taught ‘under one roof’ in one language.

The same is reflected today! By the blessings of Lord Macaulay, we have the Universities and Schools instead of “Gurukul”. Here, the Money-minded mindsets have topped the field of commercialization. The schools proudly accept fees instead of “Gurudakshina”, okay, it can be agreed that for the teacher’s living, it is necessary to pay a fair amount of fees, but the height is when the schools start exploiting parents and students considering them customers, schools are running like a business! They exploits in the name of ‘several other facilities’ with a small increase in fees, and these facilities include the “STAR CLASS”, “THE PACKAGE BATCH”, “SPECIAL CLASS” and so on. This concept of star class, special class had indeed deconstructed the very idea of the class itself! And not providing the regular class at reasonable fees, parents are bound to put their children in all these superficial class where the not the teaching but the name is given more preference. Additionally, the contemporary situation of education demands the tutions/coaching classes (extra class) in order to gain the status of a perfect, sincere student!

In the modern education system, everyone is judged on the basis of one and only one exam and not any other chance!

But looking at the merits of Today’s education system it can be said that today, each and every individual has the right to receive an education without the concern of caste, creed, etc. 

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

A teacher is a respected person and teaching itself is a noble profession. As per my concept or ideology of an ideal teacher is that a teacher who keeps the class open for all irrespective of any class, creed, or religion and should have abundant knowledge so that the thirst for knowing things of any student can be fulfilled. Any teacher who has these qualities can be called an ideal teacher.  No, Dronacharya cannot be called an ideal teacher. As because he had been very favorable to Arjun and very harsh to Eklavya in terms of teaching. This can be observed in the following dialogues as Drona first asks Eklavya of his caste-

DRONA: You may, little man! I am laughing at the easy, simple manner you are asking for what certainly is NOT THE SMALL favour you first spoke of! Surely you are not serious?

EKALAVYA: But, Sir, I AM serious! MOST SERIOUS!!

DRONA: (Studying the boy for fully a minute) I daresay you are! But anyhow who are you? What is your name? Who is your father? Of what caste are you?

EKALAVYA: (Draws us his little form proudly) My name is Ekalavya, Sir. My father was Hiranya Dhanus, the chief... the great chief ... the greatest chief that ever was of all the Nishadas...

DRONA: (In an undertone) The chief of Nishadas? So you are a Nishada? No wonder you are serious about your bowmanship! (Casting a casual glance almost unconsciously at the mid and backgrounds) But my little man... (Shaking his head unmistakably) I am afraid I cannot...

Drona cannot be called an ideal teacher as he demands a righthand thumb from Eklavya as a Gurudakshina so that his favorite Arjun can be the best archer of the world.  Eklavya even though he hasn’t even taught Eklavya. Hence, Eklavya like a sincere student respected Drona as the way a priest worships God. Despite this, Drona merely for the sake of Arjun (the Prince) rejected the talented Eklavya as his student. 

 5. Write something about your experience like Eklavya or Arjuna with any teacher during your study phase till now. (Not necessary to mention any name)

                             My schooling had contributed a lot for my development as a good human being and I feel blessed for the values and rare disciplines which were taught to me. From the very initial stage, I was taught to question things which look absurd. I cherish all the memories of my schooldays.  and if ever some have been partial towards others it may be because I lack something. So, I never felt this experience in my schooldays.

Works cited-  Original text "The Purpose" Critical Analysis of the play M H Abrams-A Glossary of Literary Terms Images from various Internet Sources T P Kailasam - Wikipedia page