The Curse or Karna by T. P. Kailasam.

Hello, I am Himanshi Parmar, student of MK Bhavnagar University. This blog i have written as a response to Thinking Activity, Which is a Part of my academic Work. Which we get after each unit. In this blog, i am going to discuss about The Curse or Karna by T. P. Kailasam. In this blog i have covered this points.

1)About "The Curse or Karna".

2) About T. P. Kailasam

3) Question - Answers

1) The Curse or Karna

The curse or Karna is well known play by T. P. Kailasam. The play is divided into five acts. The play is based on the life of Karna from Mahabharata. It was published on 10th September 1946 and later republished on 29th July 1969.The setting of the play is of Raama's ashram. The play is talking about how karna was marginalized because of his subaltern identity, also talks about suffering of Karna throughout his life and at the end painful death by his own brother.

Play includes themes like 1 - Karma and reward, 2- Caste and complexity, 3- Myths, 4- The Curse, 5- Destiny, 6- Caste and Curse, 7- Education etc. In this play Kailasam try to give justice to the character of karana which were not given in Mahabharata. The entire play was well structured by Kailasam.

2) About T. P. Kailasam :-

Full name T. P. Kailasam is Tyagraj Paramasiva Iyer Kailasam. He was Born in 1884 and died in 1946. He was a geologist, playwright and prominent writer of Kannada literature. He is great contributor in Kannada theatrical comedy. For that he also got title of Prahasana Prapitamaha means "the father of humorous plays". He also called "Kannadakke Obbane Kailasam" meaning "One and Only Kailasam for Kannada". Mainly Kailasam known for writing fiction, comedy and humor.

Kailasam's life was dedicated to local theater and his contributions revolutionized it. His humor left an impression on Kannadigas. Kailasam was initially criticized for modern use of the Kannada language in his plays, but his work became very popular and is considered among the best in Kannada theater, known for wit and satirical commentary on society. Click to read more about him.

3) Question - Answer 

1- Interpret the 'End' of all acts and scenes.

The play was written in five acts. In the five act it is describing the life story of Karna, mythical character taken from Mahabharata.

Act :- 1

The first act begins with Karna's last day at ashram where learned all the war skills and 'Vidhyas' from Raama. The setting is of Raama's ashram. The day is last day of his completion of his education. But unfortunately cursed by his own 'Guru' Raama. Because as a Kshatriya he took education from Raama, when Raama only decided to give his 'Vidhyas' to Bramhins. When Raama came to know that his dear disciple is not Bramhin but Kshatriya by Warmness Karma's  blood. Then He cursed that,

IF EVER YOU SHOULD HENCEFORTH 

SORELY NEED THE USE OF ARMS 

YOU’VE LEARNT OF ME.......THE BAREST 

TALK, THE MEREST THOUGHT OF THY 

SUPPOSED SOOTHA BIRTH CROSSING THY 

MIND...WILL SWELL THY HEART TO 

SENSE OF SHAME, WILL DULL THINE 

EYES AND MIND, NUMB AND PARALYSE 

THY LIMBS BEYOND THEIR PO’WR_ TO 

HELE. THER. MAKEN THES SLIGHTEST, 

SMALLEST USE OF KNOWLEDGE THAT 

YOU’VE LEARNT OF ME! AVAUNT! 

AVAUNT!, ERE I INFLICT A FURTHER 

CURSE ON THEE!

After the curse given to Karna, Karna ask for forgiveness to his Guru. Raama also realize his anger and mistake and forgive him and wish him good future. Karna left the Ashram. Raama seeing him going away and mumbling to himself,

POOR KARNA! POOR, POOR KARNA!

Act :- 2

Throughout the whole act Karna distinguished by Pandvas and Drona. Arjuna was about to loose his position as a best Archer in the world because Karna is Better than him. But as a suth he disgusted by all Kshatriya and at to end act two with the reminding his suth identity by Bheema he again loose his focus from goal and Collapses into Gaandhaara’s arms. Gaandhaara muttering tearfully,

POOR ANGA! POOR POOR HONEST ANGA!

Act :- 3

The play open quadrangle in the palace of the King of Paanchiala. Where swayamvar for Darupadi is held. Kings from various counties are there to fulfill the condition given by king (Father of Draupadi) to marry Darupadi. Karna is also there with his dear friend Suyodhana. When no one able to fulfill the condition, karna grab the chance and show his willingness but Draupadi denied and give reason for denial that she don't want to marry Suth. After listening this harsh words again and fainted in the lap of king, the king murmured,

The King POOR ANGA! OUR POOR GREAT ANGA !

Act - 4 

The scene is of the throne room in the Kuru Palace. Where Pandvas and kauravas are playing game of gamble. Pandvas loosed their everything. And at last their wife Draupadi. Then Kailasam shows humiliation of Draupadi front of all respected elders including Bhishma. Where no one raise voice for Draupadi, only Karna able to raise his voice in favour of her. But again Suyodhana remind him of his sutha identity. And curse again work. He isn't able to save Draupadi. Bheem blame him for his silence and he tell Bheem about his curse by Raama. The same like all other act, this act also and with the same dilogue, but by Bheema this time, it is,

"POOR ANGA! POOR GREAT ANGA!”

Act :- 5

The place is the Field Marshal Anga’s Tent in the battlefield of Kurukshetra.where Kuntee, virgin mother of Karna, appear to beg life of her sons to Karna. Karna again accept her request and died at the end by Arjuna. The act end with dilogue by Aswattha and Maadra,

“OUR ANGA!” “OUR GREAT ANGA!”

 "OUR POOR POOR ANGA”!

2- Karna - The voice of Subaltern.

According to Oxford Dictionary, Term subaltern mean officer in the British army below the rank of captain, especially a second lieutenant.The term Subaltern was used by an Italian Marxist political leader Antino Gramsci in his famous book “Prison Note” has used. the term Subaltern meaning inferior rank. Usually the term was used in the military purposes. But here, in the play Kailasam use the term to show suppressed identity or lower class identity. Here, In the play Karna is portrait as a subaltern.

In reality he is son of Kuntee, mother of other five Pandvas. Who gave birth to Karna and left him in the river. Kuntee is consider as a Virgin mother of Karna. Sun is the father. But because she was unmarried, she left Karna. Later Radha, Suth women find Karna in the river and became his foster. Karna, throughout his life wasn't aware about the reality of his birth.

All the way he capable just like Kshatriya, but because of his subaltern identity he suffer in his entire life. In all the act we find one dialogue, "POOR ANGA, POOR POOR ANGA". That is showing his compulsion as subaltern. from education to marriage and at last his death is also showing society's injustice to subaltern. in act one when he himself is unaware of his kshatriyta identity his 'GURU' cursed him that he will forget his all 'VIDHYAS' at a time when someone remind him that he is a subaltern. in second act also we find Drauna and Pandvas are remind him that he is a suth son when he almost close to win game with Arjuna, Arjuna is close to loose his position as a best archer. Gaytri Chakravarti Sivak put question in her essay that can subaltern speak? if we analyse Karna, we find that he never get chance to raise his voice because he is subaltern. so we can answer the question of Gayatri Spevak that subaltern can not speak.

In act three also we find that Karna is able to pierce eye of fish but Draupadi did not allow him to do that because he is subaltern or son of sutha. she denied and said that she don't want to mary sutha. again Karna fainted down and not able to raise his voice as a subaltern. he throughout the play try to explain his own greatness and abilities. his expertness over all khatriya, but always everyone made him realize that the subaltern can not allow to raise voice. At last he came to know that he is kshatritya instead of sutha. yet no one accept him and he died for the sake of adjure of kuntee, his mother. again the dilogue spoken by Aswattha and Maadra,

"OUR ANGA!"

"OUR GREAT ANGA! OUR POOR POOR ANGA!"

3 - Is moral conflict and Hamartia there in Karna's Character?

According to Oxford dictionary, Hamartia is a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine. The term hamartia derives from the Greek ἁμαρτία, from ἁμαρτάνειν hamartánein, which means "to miss the mark" or "to err". It is most often associated with Greek tragedy, although it is also used in Christian theology.Hamartia is first described in the subject of literary criticism by Aristotle in his Poetics. (Click to read more)

Karna is tragic hero. We find Moral Conflict and Hamartia in the Character of Karna. Karna's lie caused his suffering. He was studying in the 'Ashram' of Raama, who took swear that he will only teach Bramhins. Karna was aware of it and yet not reveal that he is Sutha's son, and not Bramhin. Later when his 'Guru' came to know that he is Kshatriya because of his warmness of his Blood, he Cursed him that whenever someone remind him about his real identity, or Sutha identity, he will forget his all powers and skills. And this lust for education, Caused curse and his suffering during lifetime. 

During his life time, he never able to use his power when it required the most. Like he is able to Defease Arjuna in Archery, and Arjun was almost to loose his postion as a best archer in the world but at the last moment Karna failed because of remainder of his Sutha identity. Same happened during 'swayamvar' of Draupadi where Karna is almost to Pierce eye of Fish but Draupadi denied that she don't want to marry Suth son and as soon as listening her word again he loose his power to hold himself and fainted. At last he died just for the sake of Adjure, that he gave to his mother Kuntee.that's what made him Tragic hero.

I hope this information will be helpful to you.Thanks for visit.