Reviving Indian Ethos: An Appraisal of Tendulkar's Silence! The Court is in Session through Rasa Theory

Abstract

Vijay Tendulkar is one of the pioneering playwrights in the contemporary Indian drama. His thought-provoking play Silence! The Court is in Session can be analysed from the perspective of Rasa Theory. The theory of ‘Rasa' is an Indian concept.  The present paper tends to focus on the different kinds of Rasas prevalent in the play. In Natyasastra Bharat Muni describes eight kinds of Rasas like Srungaram (erotic), Hasyam (comic),Raudram (furious), Karunyam (compassion), Bibhatsam(repulsive),Bhayanakam (fearful), Veeram (heroic)and Adbhutam (marvellous). In the play the principal Rasas used are Bhayanakam, Bibhatsam, Raudram and Hasyam. As a consummate artist, Tendulkar beautifully represents various bhavas like rati (love), jugupsa (disgust), soka (sorrow) and bhaya (terror). The coalescence and coexistence of these Rasas along with different bhavas make the play highly rich and interesting. Here the dramatist presents the enactment of a mock trial in such a magnificent way as to arouse emotions in the heart of the readers. In the play he establishes the truth that even the most repugnant feelings can provide ‘rasa' if they are represented in a brilliant manner.