Socio-Psychological Analysis of Gender in “Tara”

Siddharth G. Desai

Roll no. - 07

SEM - II

Paper no. – 07 E-C-202

Year – 2010-11

Topic: Socio-Psychological Analysis of Gender in “Tara”

Submitted to Mr.Devarshi Mehta

Department of English,

Bhavnagar University.

          “Tara”, is a play by Mahesh Dattani. This play is a family tragedy in which the members of the family are torn apart in pieces. Mr. Patel, Bharati, Chandan (Dan) and Tara, these four people involves us in their life and realize us what kind of intolerable pain they are enduring. “Tara”, this is a stage play in two acts. Mahesh Dattani is one of the original writers in Indian English in Writing. He is a writer as well as a director also. In this play, he has talked about common people.

          In his plays, Dattani takes on what he calls the ‘invisible issues of Indian society’. “Tara” centers on the emotional separates that grows between two conjoined twins following the discovery that their mother and grandfather to favor the boy (Chandan) over the girl (Tara). Tara, a feisty girl who isn’t given the opportunities given to her brother (although she may be smarter) eventually wastes away and dies. Chandan escapes to London, changes his name as Dan and attempts to repress the guilt he feels over his sister’s death by living without a personal history. Dattani’s plays are to be not to be read but to be performed as “Twinkle Tara” at the Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Banglore, on 23rd October 1990, by playpen performing Arts Group.

                                                               (-From A Note on The Play)

          There is a difference between sex and gender. Sex is related to biological term, where as gender, it is given to you by society. Dattani has depicted the perspectives of the gender of the character in this play. Right from the beginner we can see the difference between male and female. Like, in one of the scenes, where Bharati has finished her puja and Patel is getting ready to go to work. These are stereotypical gender roles in own Indian society and Dattani makes full use of them.

    

           Now, here, we can observe Dattani’s use of those stereotypical roles of man and woman. This thing also shows the gender perspective of the Indian society. Another example, in which we can see this Indian Gender perspective. When Tara explains to Roopa about the conversation between father and son, she says that,

“The men in the house were deciding on whether they were going to hunting while the women looked after the caves.”

           Now, here, we can see explicitly the Indian Gender Perspective that man’s work for taking care of his family, where as women have to work only in the house. Her work is to look after her house, husband and children. This is her world. She can’t break this rule.

      

          This is how the gender perspective is described by Mahesh Dattani in the above quotation. The above mentioned words are the proof of our Indian society that this is the situation of male and female in Indian society and both have to work in their boundaries. Both have to follow this situation. There is another example in which we can see this gender perspective of male-dominance. When Mr. Patel says to Chandan,

Mr. Patel:  “I was just thinking… It may be a good idea for you to come to the office with me.”

           So, here, we can see that these above words of Mr. Patel represent the male-dominance of Indian society. Mr. Patel says to join the office to Chandan, not to Tara. Mr. Patel very well knows that what is good or bad for Chandan and Tara. “it may be good for you…” this shows that coming office is good thing for Chandan and when Chandan says that he and Tara, both will come to the office. At that time, Mr. Patel completely denies for he completely denies for that. For Chandan, it is a good thing to come to office, not for Tara. For Tara, the good thing is to work at home or help her mother. This is how, here, this gender image reflects male-dominance.

          And another thing that Mr. Patel always thinks about future plans for Chandan. He never thinks Tara’s future. Also, we can see the difference between the two genders. In our Indian family, people always think about boy’s future, first, because people give more significance to boy than girl. A girl has to learn how to cook/ how to look after house? How to behave with other? All these things a girl must learn otherwise people criticize her and her family.

          If we talk about a boy, he has to follow his father. He should become a support of his father. He has to learn, how to make his business progressive.  How to deal in such situations in the case of business? All these things, a boy must learn. This is how our Indian society believes in case of boy and girl. These are the parameters in which a boy and a girl have to believe according to their parameters. And this thing, we can see clearly in the case of Chandan and Tara. 

          Another example in which we can see the disappeared female gender identity. Dan talks with himself, he utters…

“What is Tara?”

           These words question where is Tara’s identity? Her disappeared identity shows her helplessness. The responsible thing for this is male-dominant society. She is the victim of the patriarchal society. In a way, Chandan is responsible for that.

          Because during the operation Bharati and her father favored boy and told the doctor to save the boy. This shows the cruel identity of the Indian society. At that time, Bharati and her father think about a boy, because, perhaps, they thought that boy can bold the heritage of his father and can be helpful to his father in his business. So, a boy is better than a girl. Like Tara, Bharati is also victimized by the male-dominant society. Because she did as her father said while operation.

         After operation, when she knows the condition of Tara, at that time she realizes her mistake but it is tool late to repent on it. She can’t apologize for her mistake to Mr. Patel because she does not consult in critical situation. So, Mr. Patel never forgives Bharati.

          Now, she shows her strong feelings towards Tara but all in vain. She dotes Tara but she is prevented by Mr. Patel. In the beginning of the play, Bharati convinces to drink milk to Tara. At that time, we can understand that it is her love for Tara but when we come to know the secret, we can’t believe that she had told to save the boy. In both cases, at the time of operation and when she loves Tara, Bharati is forced or pressured to do the thing. In a way, she is victimized by the patriarchal society.

          In this family drama, Mr. Patel, Bharati, Chandan and Tara, all these four characters try to live in their world and that is why they are talking about future plans. This mechanism requires to revive, which is worse than death. Bharati bribes Roopa because Tara would not feel that she has no friends. By doing this, Bharati tries to correct her mistake. Moreover, she has stopped socializing, because she can not endure when people ask about Tara. In a way, she is running away from reality.

          When Chandan come across the reality that he is responsible for Tara’s death (tragedy). He cannot tolerate more and then he goes to London. He changes his name as “Dan”. In a way, he also, like Bharati, escapes from reality They both are escapists. On the other side, Mr. Patel has to face the society because of Bharati’s mistake. He endures the society’s harshness silently. At a moment, Mr.Patel erupts on Bharati. He says…

“When have you allowed me to consult for Tara?”

          This sows her love for Tara and Mr. Patel takes Bharati’s love to Tara as Bharati is pretending. She spoils his children’s future; this kind of accusation is accused on Bharati by Mr. Patel. This is how Dattani has the psychological conflict between characters. Roopa represents society. She has a habit of discussing about people and spreading rumors. She is very bad at English; she talks in a double way. When Tara says her about criticism on her leg by Roopa, at that time, Roopa says…

Roopa:-“oh that! I’m sorry. I hope you didn’t mind.”

           The above words represent Roopa’s true identity. First, she insults Tara about her leg and then she shows her sympathy towards Tara’s situation. She is like a chameleon. She keeps changing her colors in dialogues according to situations towards people.

          Tara is a very strong girl. She is emotionally strong than Chandan. Life has taught a lot of things to Tara. She often makes witty remarks in the play, like when Roopa is warning her to stay away from Prema and Nalini, at that time she says…

Tara: “That’s okay. I can handle them.”

          The above words of Tara show us her courage. She is more mature than those girls. She has seen all the colors of life. In a way, Dattani has shown Tara physically challenged, but mentally strong.

In a nut-shell, Mahesh Dattani has presented an analysis of gender identity in an unbelievable way in “Tara”. Tara and Chandan are separated physically, not emotionally. Dattani has depicted the views of Indian society regarding boy and girl (male and female) in “Tara”.