The Burden of Prejudice: Inherited Hatred and Identity in Final Solutions

 The Burden of Prejudice: Inherited Hatred and Identity in 'Final 'Solutions

Self Introduction :-

Name : Rahul Desai

Roll no. : 22

Semester : 3

Paper no : 202

Paper Name : Indian English Literature - Post-independence

Assignment Topic : The Burden of Prejudice: Inherited Hatred and Identity in Final Solutions

Submitted To : Smt. S.B. Gardi, Department of English (Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University)

Email ID : rahuldesai477@gmail.com

Introduction :-

'Final Solutions' drama penned by Mahesh Dattani. Mahesh Dattani's fifth play is titled Final Solutions. It was put on following the unrest in Mumbai. The drama highlights the interfaith conflict between Muslims and Hindus. Politicians use religion as bait, and the crowd becomes their scapegoat. Mahesh Dattani addresses the communalism theme.

In this piece, Dattani employs discrimination against a variety of religions and religious consciousness. The play delves into the theme of communalism and the deep-rooted religious conflicts that plague society.

Recognising Inherited Discrimination :-

The play draws to light the communal riot between the Hindus and Muslims. Religion is used as bait by the politicians to which the mob becomes scapegoats. After independence, narrow religious, regional, and communal feelings attract the country. The apparently mindless communal tensions and bloody riots that take place occasionally create a sense of mistrust among the two principal religious communities involved in clashes. Religion is one of the fundamental organizations of any general public. Religion serves as base for Indian’s culture and in-turn is reflected on its politics and society.

Daksha/Hardika may be considered as the representative of Hindu who suffers at the hands of Muslim majority. She is the grandmother of the Gandhis. Daksha is hostile towards Muslims because her father was killed in a communal riot and because of her overtures of friendship with Zarine, a young Muslim girl. Ramnik is haunted with the guilt of his father’s deeds. Ramnik’s father had burnt Zarine’s father’s shop so that they could buy the shop for half its value. Javed and Bobby represent the Muslim who suffer in the setup of major Hindu Community. The seed of hatred was sown in Javed when he was a small innocent boy playing cricket with his friends, insulted by a Hindu priest who believed that the very touch of the boy on his letter made it contaminated.

Javed who has already been ill at ease with the Hindus is being exploited by selfish politicians and becomes a terrorist. Through Final Solutions he tries to propagate communal harmony and tries to put and end to the communal riots in the name of Gods. Communal Harmony is essential as people belong to different religions having their own faith and belief; different religious groups are living together in other words, it means that a person cannot live alone in today's world.

Generational Conflict and Family Dynamics :-

The intricate relationship between personal values within a family is examined in the drama. For instance, whilst his wife Aruna is conventional and superstitious, Ramnik is kind and welcoming. Aruna is wary of women's education and worries about her daughter Smita's rebellious attitude and contemporary schooling. The family unit comprises four members of different age groups and different generations.

Ramnik Gandhi is a businessman, rational in outlook and is liberally disposed towards Muslims. His wife Aruna is a typical traditional Indian wife whose identity is confined to the pleasure of her husband and management of household. In terms of personality, she is a polar opposite of her husband Ramnik Gandhi. She is highly superstitious and exhibits a very strong sense of pride and faith in her religion and "Sanskar". Their only daughter Smita is an educated modern girl, sensible, rational and pragmatic and is more like her father. Aruna strongly believes in the supremacy of Hindu religion over all other religions. Aruna is prejudiced against their ways and manners and despises them for their "naturally" aggressive and violent character.

Their perspectives on religious and cultural distinctions are influenced by the memory of previous battles and personal traumas that Hardika (Daksha) bear. Smita feels cut off from her parents' and grandmother's communal views because she is the youngest member of the family. Younger generations may be more willing to question and reject inherited prejudices, as seen by her uneasiness and eventual annoyance with her family's beliefs. Although Smita and Javed are more critical of inflexible identities and questioning, they nevertheless bear the burden of inherited preconceptions. This contrast acts as a commentary on shifting social norms and draws attention to the disparities in attitudes between generations. Ramnik, who is torn between the younger and older generations, represents the battle to balance his own moral principles with ingrained biases. Although he initially displays the prejudices his mother taught him, he gradually becomes more conscious of his own role in maintaining these prejudices.

The notion of generational conflict is further enhanced by Javed's portrayal as a young man who feels stigmatised and condemned by society. His identity dilemma, which has been influenced by both society preconceptions and family expectations, is the root cause of his rebellious behaviour in addition to his annoyance with discrimination in the community. Despite deeply rooted preconceptions, Dattani offers the possibility of reform and healing within families through Ramnik's and Smita's developing understanding.

The Fragmentation of Identity :-

A future in which generational disputes may give way to empathy and understanding, undermining the grip of prejudice on personal identity, is hinted at both Smita's rejection of communalism and Ramnik's realisation of his family's involvement in community injustices. Hardika has grabbed the past to get rid of her identity crisis. Her memory keeps her alive yet it is the memory again that drives her to alienation. Javed feels confused and alienated as a young Muslim guy because of the stereotypes and social criticism he encounters. The ongoing danger to his identity in a discriminatory society is one factor contributing to his disobedience and rebellious behaviour. His battle serves as an example of how prejudice and social labelling affect an individual's sense of self, showing how people may feel pressured to fit into particular roles by society's expectations.

Ramnik embodies a mixed identity since he carries deep-rooted societal stereotypes and feels guilty for his family's past acts against Muslims. His disjointed moral compass is a reflection of his incapacity to make sense of the wrongs done to his family in the past. The moral conflict between guilt and denial, as well as the urge to make amends while constrained by social norms, are highlighted by this dichotomy inside Ramnik. Dattani looks at the conflict between personal identity, which is based on one's own views and ideals, and communal identity, which is based on social and religious ties.

Identity formation is greatly influenced by memory, particularly for Hardika, whose prior experiences shape who she is today and how she views other people. Her self-perception is shaped by the collective memories of tragedy and conflict that her stories about the past evoke. The piece raises the prospect of mending broken identities in spite of the fragmentation. Smita's readiness to challenge ingrained biases and Ramnik's wish to make amends point to a possible way to bring disparate aspects of identity together.

Signs of Hatred and Prejudice :-

Padmsee remarks that "The demons of the communal hatred are not out on the street...they are lurking inside us." Hardika's daughter-in-law Aruna lives with strict notion of the Hindu sanskar and granddaughter Smita is modem beyond all prejudices of Aruna. Dattani has also tried to show how communal violence breaks our society.

Although Ramnik seems more accepting, his inner turmoil and unspoken familial shame expose underlying biases. The fact that his family once destroyed a Muslim enterprise haunts him, but he finds it difficult to make sense of this in light of his current beliefs. Javed, a young Muslim, responds with hostility because he feels excluded and subjected to discrimination because of his faith. Part of the reason he rebels is to protect himself from the discrimination he encounters. This vicious cycle of prejudice leading to resistance and defensiveness demonstrates how societal bias drives people to engage in self-destructive behaviours, strengthening divisions and perpetuating stereotypes.

The chorus, which expresses the views of various community members, stands for the prejudice and hostility that permeate society as a whole. It strengthens polarising ideas and animosity within the community by amplifying stereotypes and accusations. The chorus illustrates how hatred is accepted and even expected in communities, serving as a reminder of the pervasive biases in society. Characters frequently argue angrily throughout the play, exposing their biases and levelling accusations across religious boundaries. A recurrent subject is the generational transmission of prejudice, as characters such as Hardika transmit their prejudices through cautionary tales and family legends. Each generation is taught to distrust and dread the other by these stories, which feed a vicious cycle of hatred.

Prejudice's Psychological Effects on Young People :-

As a Hindu girl, Smita struggles to balance her personal desire for inclusivity and acceptance with her family's ideals. She finds it difficult to balance her affection for her family with her wish to reject their preconceptions, which leads to worry and bewilderment. As a young Muslim man, Javed's identity is shaped by societal discrimination. Because of his religion, he is frequently called a troublemaker, which causes him to internalise these prejudices and doubt who he is.

Because they have different opinions on bias in the community, the younger characters Smita in particular face conflict in their families. Since Smita feels obligated to honour her family's beliefs but is unable to completely agree with them, her attempts to disassociate herself from their bias result in a sense of loneliness. Javed and Smita both feel cut off from their communities and can't seem to find a place where they really fit in. This causes Javed, who is viewed as "different" and "dangerous" by his group, to feel socially isolated. For young individuals like Javed, living in a discriminatory climate makes them feel like they are being singled out by the world. An intense sensation of unease and rash judgements might result from this anxiety. As she attempts to reconcile divergent expectations, Smita becomes emotionally unstable due to her anxiety over her incapacity to reconcile the gap between her personal ideals and those of her family.

Efforts to Break the Hatred Cycle :-

"Final Solutions" by Mahesh Dattani explores the long-standing communal conflicts between Muslims and Hindus in India. The main focus of the play is how interfaith communication and understanding may help heal divisions. The play highlights the value of empathy and compassion by emphasising the human connection that cuts over religious differences. By challenging assumptions and preconceptions, the characters like Hardika and Javed promote empathy and respect. The drama challenges social standards and stimulates thought through the power of theatre. The drama questions social mores and stimulates ideas using the authority of theatre.

The play emphasises how important it is for each person to take personal responsibility for ending the hate cycle. Little deeds of compassion, like lending a hand or demonstrating empathy, can make a big difference. The play also highlights how education may foster understanding and tolerance. Education can be a key factor in creating a society that is more inclusive and harmonious by combating religious fundamentalism and encouraging critical thinking. The play urges leaders to put everyone's welfare first, irrespective of their ethnic or religious background. Reconciliation is impossible and the cycle of violence is sustained by this generational transmission of hatred.

The Significance of Inherited Prejudice in the Present :-

The devastating effects of hereditary bias on people and society are thoroughly examined in Mahesh Dattani's Final Solutions. The drama explores the long-standing communal conflicts between Muslims and Hindus in India, emphasising how historical narratives and old grievances still incite violence and hatred. The play's characters are frequently plagued by their elders' biases. Their perspective is shaped and their behaviour is influenced by the distrust, fear, and hostility they inherit.

The risks of religious fundamentalism and how it can be used to control others and excuse violence are also highlighted in the play. The destructive impact of such ideologies is shown by the protagonists' unquestioning devotion to religious doctrine and their readiness to sacrifice human life for the sake of their beliefs. Final Solutions advocates for a more compassionate and understanding approach to interfaith interactions by emphasising the terrible effects of inherited prejudice. The play makes the argument that people and cultures may triumph over the divisive forces of hatred and division by shedding the bonds of the past and embracing a future founded on respect and tolerance.

Conclusion :-

In conclusion, Mahesh Dattani effectively demonstrates in Final Solutions how inherited prejudice affects the personalities and mental health of individuals such as Smita and Javed. Generation after generation of hereditary animosity leads to emotional instability, isolation, and internal struggle. In order to end the cycle of hatred and division, the play emphasises the damaging effects of prejudice on societal and personal identities and calls for introspection and reform.

References :-

• SHEYAMALA, M. Communal Disharmony in Mahesh Dattani’s Final Solution, Jan-March 2019, ISSN: 2582-1466. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024. https://iqac.kamarajcollege.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/3.3.2-CommunalDisharmonyinMaheshDattanFinal.pdf
• Chowdhury, Suswagata. Alienation, Identity Crisis And Trap Of Memory: A Probe Into
• Mahesh Dattani’s Final Solutions, Volume 6, Issue 7 (2018). ISSN(Online) : 2321-9467 https://www.questjournals.org/jrhss/papers/vol6-issue7/D06071215.pdf
• Yadav, Parul . Communal Disharmony: Stereotyping and
• Prejudices Against the Other Religion in Final Solutions. 2320-2882. Vol 11, Issue 4, April 2023. https://ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT2304495.pdf
• Sunalini, K.K. Critiquing Communalism: A Literary Exploration of Final
• Solutions of Mahesh Dattani. Vol 8, Issue 1, 2019. ISSN: 2320 7876. https://www.ijfans.org/uploads/paper/b49b3c23da01453d742062e3435c3ce8.pdf

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