The Conflict between Upper Caste and Dalit in Vijay Tendulkar’s Play Kanyadaan

Abstract

The term “Dalit” means “suppressed”, “crushed” or “broken to pieces.” The term “Dalit” was used in the 1930s as a Hindi and Marathi translation of “Depressed classes.” In The Untouchables published in 1948, Ambedkar chose the term “broken men” an English translation of “Dalit” to refer to the original ancestors of the untouchable. If we throw light on the caste system prevalent in India, society is divided into four Varnas- Brahmins, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudras. Brahmins are on the top. They get the upper rank in the society. Warriors and rulers are known as Kshatriya. Next to it are the Vaishyas or baniyas who are merchants, skilled traders and minor officials. The last is Shudras who get the lower rank in society. They are the people who are laborer, peasants, and unskilled people. They are not allowed to enter into the temple.  The untouchables are those people who remain outside this caste system and a fifth category gets formed- Pariah. Mahatma Gandhi has used the term “Harijan” for untouchables which means “children of God”.  Later on, a specific term has been given to this group of people known as “Dalit.” Vijay Tendulkar’s play Kanyadaan presents the story of inter-caste marriage between Arun Athavale, a Dalit boy, and Jyoti, a Brahmin girl. The play presents the conflict between Brahmin family and Dalit.