MADHURAVANI-THE DANCING GIRL PART 2

(KANYASULKAM-TELUGU)

Eariler in Part 1:

The play, Kanyasulkam,  written by Gurajada Appa Rao in Telugu during the 19th Century dwells on the twin ills of "selling girls and bar on widow remarriage". This practice was prevalent in the highly revered Brahmin families during those days in the, what presently is called, North Coastal Districts of Andhra Pradesh, India. Though himself from a very orthodox Brahmin family, like many other Brahmin reformers of the day, Sri Appa Rao took on the two evils prevalent in the orthodoxy; young widows not being allowed to remarry and young girl children being sold to old people for a price, called Kanyasulkam. (price on the head of the bride).

This is a continuation of my earlier blog on the subject, where Madhuravani gains access to the house of the humanist lawyer who hates women in her profession. She comes with a false visage. She encounters Girisham there and says, " Some people fake the bad in themselves as good and charm the world" Even at that point she refuses to expose him for treachery as she innocently believes he is going to offer a new life to the rich widow. Her love to other women is neatly portrayed by the playwright here. She asks the lawyer, "If 'dancing girls' are not invited to functions how do they keep themselves going, if each takes a vow like the lawyer not to entertain them?" A typical question even the learned lawyer fumbles to answer. He answers, " They can marry any one and settle" She asks, "will you marry a dancing girl?" He says, "No". Then she raises a pertinent question, "If all good people refuse to marry them, it leaves only the bad men. So, is it not fit they continue in their profession instead of suffering in the hands of treacherous persons". She tells him she heard that in Japan concubines called "geishas' are married by rich, honourable gentlemen  The lawyer is left with no answer. He says such women have no 'moral values" and good men never aspire to marry them. Then she quotes "Vasanthsena" from "Mrichhakatikam". 

When she reveals her real face tells the name the lawyer gets angry and accuses her of somebody planted by an enemy lawyer. Then she chides mildly by quoting what he says earlier, "You have to see good in bad also" And she says " I came with pure heart to help the child and the old man" and will go back if he refuses to hear her. She directly questions him, "when we can see the Gods in temples and dance there, why cant they see a lawyer?" This shows her conviction, though bad the profession she is in a God's making and she can not be held responsible for the life God has granted her. 

 The lawyer pleads with her and finally she reveals the real plot and tells that the girl the old man married was a boy and he is still very well living" She reveals the entire plot and how she helped the child from being married to the old man, to see that she does not meet the fate of her sister. She takes a book "Bhagavadgita" and asks him if bad people too can read it. He tells her whoever reads the book gets a good friend in Lord Krishna. Then she asks, "Does Lord Krishna befriend a dancing girl too?" At which he says the Lord has no difference. She takes the book and says she will read it and become good. He tells her she seems to have been born to noble parents and asks her to come of the profession. Then comes out her real character. " By God's grace I earned enough money. I know the misdemeanor of her profession and that after meting a 'good soul' I never desire to enter the profession again."

On being pressed by the lawyer, she reveals the real identity of Girisham and the falsehood he lives on. The play ends with Girisham being shown his place and the unfortunate young widow sent to a rescue home. 

Out of the many characters created by novelists, history writers and play wrights the character of Madhravani, a dancing girl with immaculate character, despite her profession, impressed me most. The subtle humour in which the character was presented by the writer keeps her role in the play lively. After reading the play my respect for 'women' increased. They are the real force driving the universe with immense patience and an immaculate art of hiding their own "distress and hardship' in their own hearts and go out of their way to help their kind. I feel sorry when women are portrayed as the real villains of their ilk in the present day 'shows' on TV and pictures and in novels too! 

                                                      @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

In my next blog I will write about the immortal character of "Lady Macbeth", the real force behind "Macbeth" committing unpardonable crimes. But the real mettle in her as a lady of determination and finally how her tenderness as a 'woman' that loves and cares were portrayed by Shakespeare ia language that speaks for itself.