Comparison between "Ghashiram Kotwal" by Vijay Tendulkar and "the White Tiger" by Aravind Adiga.

Comparison between Ghashiram Kotwal by Vijay Tendulkar and the White Tiger by Aravind Adiga.

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Introduction:

Ghashiram Kotwal is written by Vijay Tendulkar. It is play. The White Tiger is novel written by Aravind Adiga. According to my point, this assignment only depicted the similarities.

Introduction of writer:

White Tiger- Aravind Adiga	Ghashiram Kotwal- Vijay Tendulkar
Aravind Adiga was born in Madras in 1974.	Vijay Tendulkar was born in 1928 and began his career as a journalist.
He is journalist. A former Indian correspondent for Time magazine, his articles have also appeared in publications such as the Financial Times, the Independent and the Sunday Times.	He took up a job as a sub-editor of a Marathi Weekly.
He lives in Mumbai.	He is Marathi writer and lives in Mumbai.

Response to the texts by both writers:

By Aravind Adiga about the text:

By Vijay Tendulkar about the text:

This novel is not against the India. It is for to reform India.

“This is not a historical play. It is a story, in prose, verse, music and dance set in a historical era. Ghashirams are creations of socio-political forces which know no barriers of time and place. Although based on a historical legend, I have no intention of commentary on the morals, or lack of them, of the Peshwa, Nana Phadnavis or Ghashiram. The moral of this story, if there is any, may be looked for elsewhere.”

Aim:

Balram Halwai	Ghashiram Kotwal
“These poor bastards had come from the darkness to Delhi to find some light”	“Fortune. I came here to find my fortune.”

Aim of both is same. They both are coming to city to find their fortune or light. They wants their fortune, it is not matter for them with moral or immoral way. It is not make affect to Balram or to Ghashiram that through which way they find their fortune, whether it is right or wrong.

Character:

If someone depicted India and character or naming of India especially the Hindu name, they put “ram” and “Shankar” behind their name. It is one way of “signing Indian name”. Both writers depicted this point very well with the name of protagonist. For example- Balram Halwai and Ghashiram Savaldas. Balram Halwai and Ghashiram Savaldas both are coming from village to achieve their livelihood. Balram Halwai and Ghashiram both are not believe in family value rather in Individual. Balram leave his home and also claim that family is responsible for downfall of the progress of man. While on the other side Ghashiram himself deconstruct the idea of good family through selling his own daughter to Nana. Balram as a slave try to imitate the master. Ghashiram also tries to imitate Nana and his way of behaving. The position of both is same while they are coming to city. Both are in search of job but frequently they are insulted and failure into the process. They both need to confess that they are not thief viz,

Balram: “I’m a good driver, sir. I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I                        don’t steal.”

“I don’t gossip about my master, I don’t steal, I don’t blaspheme.”(Pg-60) 

Ghashiram: “God stopped the slaughter. But I’m not a thief.”

                      “But I didn’t steal. I swear to God I didn’t. I’m                              not a thief.” (Pg-19)

Thinking process of both is same. Ghashiram and Balram are thinking same while they are more nearer to their destiny means to get position; it is not matter whether it is right or wrong way.

Ghashiram- There is no one to stop me now, to mock me, to make me bend, to cheat me.

                      "Now I am a devil."

Balram- “I am so darkened in my concern.”

They both know that there was no way to change the system. So, ultimately they themselves become the system. Ghashiram become the Kotwal and Balram become the entrepreneur. No doubt that both are choose wrong way to getting position like Balram killed his master and getting the position while Ghashiram sell his daughter to Nana and getting the position. So it is real proving that they both are becoming devil as well as darkened by their mind. Both their motto behind getting position is good. Ghashiram wants to make Poona city great. He wants to do good for Poona people. While Balram also claimed that-

“I am not like my master.” I’m thinking of real estate next. You see, I’m always a man who sees “tomorrow” when others see “today”. After three or four years in real estate, I think I might sell everything, take the money, and start a school-for poor children in Bangalore.”

So, in a way both are futuristic. 

Satire on Police system:

Both the text satirizes on police system. Ghashiram and Balram is becoming victim of that system.

The White Tiger-

“There is no end to things in India. Yo’ll have to keep paying and paying the fuckers. But I complain about the police the way the rich complain; not the way the poor complain. The difference is everything.”

Ghashiram Kotwal-

"Sutradhar. If the police let you!

Friend, the thief is dependent on the police.

If not- they’ll soften your bones.

Sometimes they break your bones.

Sometimes they crack your bones.

Sometimes you lose your life.

The thief earns what he thieves.

It’s easy income for the police.

 It’s a partnership.

 The thief is a simple thief.

The police are official thieves.

If a thief wants to live

To the police he’s got to give.

You need protection money

And on top of that

Their mercy might end any time

And so will you

You’ll get kicks and blows,

You’ll see the cell.

No one will know your address, Baba.

That’s how the play will end one day.

No one will weep.

No one will remember you, Baba,

What’s the use?

One petty thief less in a world of big thieves."

So, the system of police depicted in both the text similarly. They are the real thieves.  They are the catcher of briber but what happen if they taking the bribe. So, writer tries to satirize on the working system of police.

Satire on God:

Both texts make satire on Indian Gods and Goddesses. They try to depicted Gods and Goddesses more logically. They try to see God and Goddesses in more modern way rather the old and respect way of looking towards Gods and Goddesses. They tries to compare their way of living life with Gods and Goddesses way of living life and also makes point that there wasn’t any wrong deeds because it was also done by Gods and Goddesses.

 For example-

Ghashiram Kotwal-

“Nana (voice of lust). Child, what do you want?

She turns around, startled.

All your dreams this Nana will fulfill.

He puts a hand, on her shoulder. She pulls back.

Oh, don’t be shy. This is our house. This is a private hall. No one will see. No one in Poona today has the audacity to watch the great Nana Phadnavis!

Girl. He will see.

Nana. He will see? Who?

Girl. (pointing to Ganapati). He

Nana. That idol of holiness? That all holy Ganapati? The maker of Good? Look, he has two wives. One on this side, one on that side. If you sit on our lap, he won’t say anything.”

(The devotional song going on with lavani dance)

Nana is dancing with girl with full of lust. This dance writer compared with the dace of Radha and Krisha. So, he makes point here that Radha and Krisha also dance with the same intention. It is just like- “Krishna-leela”.

“The beat becomes stronger and faster. In the end, Nana throws his silver-knobbed walking stick to Ghashiram and disappears with the girl. Ghashiram catches it, biting his lips, bends it. Nana and the girl reappear and dance like Radha and Krishna. Seven or eight women of different ages, all Nana’s wives, make a dancing circle around them.”

The White Tiger-

“At the end of the market is a tall, whitewashed, conelike tower, with black intertwining snakes painted on all its sides- the temple. Inside, you will find an image of a saffron-colored creature, half man half monkey: this is Hanuman, everyone’s favorite god in the Darkness. Do you know about Hanuman, sir? He was the faithful servant of the god Rama, and we worship him in our temples because he is a shining example of how to serve your masters with absolute fidelity, love, and devotion.”

“The picture of a woman in a white sari with gold sovereigns dripping down to her feet, which is the goddess Lakshmi, of the Hindus. It is an ancient and venerated custom of people in my country to start a story by praying to a Higher Power. I guess, your Excellency, that I too should start off by kissing some god’s arse. Which god’s arse, though? There are so many choices. See, the Muslims have one god. The Christians have three gods. And we Hindus have 36,000,000 gods. Making a grand total of 36,000,004 divine arses for me to choose from. The Lord Buddha? An enlightened man. An enlightened god. (Oops! Thirty-six million and five-!)

Satire on Caste System:

If someone talking about India and not considered caste then there is lack of knowledge about India. India is also known for various castes and also the system or process of it. Both writers also depicted caste system in their works.

 For Example-

Ghashiram Kotwal- 

In this play there is very big satire on Brahmans and also their way of pretending.

"We the Poona Brahmans bow and prance.

We the pious Brahmans bow and prance.

Brahman. Now, son of a bitch, what do you want?

Sutradhar. I need a fourth genie. Will you come? In the bottle? No, no not in a bottle! In Bavannakhani? Where the girls are? Dancing? Singling?

Brahman. What! How did you know? Just you wait! I’ll slap your face. I’ll get you!

Sutradhar. “The Brahmans have lost themselves in Bavannakhani and the Brahman women are at home; they stay at home; oh yes, they stay at home. The Brahmans have lost themselves in the cemetery, in Kirtan; the Brahman women are sentenced to solitary confinement.”

Brahmans are at the top. They are allowed to speak slang with saying that they are pious Brahmans. They are used to go in Bavannakhani daily and their wives are waiting at home. They are also having the power to judge and make fun on them and also punished lower caste people. There very interestingly both writers make point that in India any one can identified with their name or through their surname.

For example-

Nana(very pleased). Wah! Wah! What words! What ready wit! What sweetness in his speech! Rise. You look as if you came from the North.

Ghashiram. Ji! (Stands.)

Nana. Your name?

Ghashiram. Ghashiram Savaldas. (Takes off his wig with the long tuft of hair in the style of Poona Brahmans.)

Nana. It seems you are a Brahman from Kanauj.

The White Tiger-

In the old days there were one thousand castes and destinies in India. These days, there are just two castes: Men with Big Bellies, and Men with Small Bellies. And only two destinies: eat-or eaten up.

“The stork turned to me and asked me directly. Are you from a top caste or bottom caste, boy? I didn’t know what he wanted me to say, so I flipped both answers-I could probably have made a good case either way-and then said, “Bottom”, sir.

Do you drink? No, sir. In my caste, we never drink. Halwai… Mr. Ashok said with a grin. Are you a sweet-maker? Can you cook for us while you’re not driving?”

Satire on Power:

Both the text also depicted the power in more satirically way. It is all about the power. Ghashiram and Balram both want position and for that they are ready to do anything. Balram want position and for that he killed his master- Mr.Ashoka. Ghashiram Kotwal also wants position and for that he sells his own daughter to Nana. So, it is all about the power. At the very beginning they both are insulted and also become the victim of power. It is leads them towards the great desire of power. Balram also makes the point that those who are getting the position or power somehow they choosing the same path, what he choose.

Looking towards women:

In both the texts women are become the object of male. Men are looking towards women as an object. Women are only to satisfy the needs of men. In Ghashiram Kotwal, Gauri become the Object of Nana.

“The abhanga changes to a lavani-a change from a religious song to a love ballad. Nana in lavani state of mind. Nana ogles the women.

“Nana (voice of lust). Child, what do you want?

She turns around, startled.

All your dreams this Nana will fulfill.

He puts a hand, on her shoulder. She pulls back.

Oh, don’t be shy. This is our house. This is a private hall. No one will see. No one in Poona today has the audacity to watch the great Nana Phadnavis!

Girl. He will see.

Nana. He will see? Who?

Girl. (pointing to Ganapati). He

Nana. That idol of holiness? That all holy Ganapati? The maker of Good? Look, he has two wives. One on this side, one on that side. If you sit on our lap, he won’t say anything.”

Girl. You are like my father!

Nana. Only in age. But our devotion is- only to this graceful image… don’t lose any more time. Youth will not come again; the bloom will not last. (He comes close and tries to put an arm around her.) My dear, you are like a daughter to us-someone else’s.”

Newspapers and Magazines are the reflection of the society and it is also provides the need of human being. So reading magazines with the cover page of a woman is also shows the scopophilia desire of men.

For example- 

    

"This is the absolutely best thing to read in the car. He gave me a magazine with a catchy cover-a woman in her underwear was lying on a bed, cowering from the shadow of a man. Murder Weekly rupees 4.50 exclusive true story: A good body never goes to waste. Murder. Rape. Revenge."

Use of Symbols:

Some symbols very interestingly used by both writers.

For example-

Ghashiram Kotwal	The White Tiger
Pearl Necklace- wearing by Nana. It shows the richness.	Chandelier- It shows the power and also the richness.
Palanquin- It shows the power and richness. It is used by Nana.	The Honda City car- The car used by Mr.Ashoka. It also the representation of richness.

Use of Indian accents and also some common 

symbols:

In both these texts there is use of some common symbols like dog and the river Ganga. Both writers depicted these kinds of symbols in the texts.

 For example-

Ganga- Ganga used to throw the things which are useless or worthless. So river is not just the river but it is something else.

In Ghashiram Kotwal,

After giving his daughter to Nana, he wants her back but Nana denied and wants more days.

"Ghashiram. It will not do, Majesty. This is too much. The waters, have come up to my chin. Better that we stop before the water rises over my head. Otherwise I will be humiliated all over Poona. What will people say about me? Your Majesty goes around in a palanquin. Ghashiram walks on the street among the people. That won’t do. I cannot do any more. Now that’s all. I was carried away by my love of Your Majesty. If the Peshwa hears about this, my hundred years will be over. Whatever has happened has happened, has flowed into the Ganga. My daughter will not come again to Your Highness’ house."

In the White Tiger,

“This was the real god of Benaras-this black mud of the Ganga into which everything died, and decomposed, and was reborn from, and died into again.”

So, it is only used for to through something which was now in no use.

Indian Accents-

Both writers uses some Indian accents like in Ghashiram Kotwal,

“Ghashiram cries: Look, look at this tamasha.

Brahman: Thank you. Thank you, huzur (in Indian English accent).”

In White Tiger,

“Oh, thank God. There was one of Gandhi too. It was in the corner. With a big smile- and a Namaste-handed him the red bag.

I’m closing my eyes, folding my hands in a reverent Namaste, and praying to the gods to shine light on my dark story.”

Conclusion:

There are various similarities lies there which I depicted here. Accept this many more differences also there. First difference is that Ghashiram Kotwal is play while The White Tiger is novel.

There are various differences between both the characters but the main difference is that the end of both characters like-

Ghashiram Kotwal-

 Ghashiram Savaldas at the end leads towards his tragic fall. So at the end writer gave poetic justice to the story and that is “Karma will catch”.

The White Tiger-

 Balram Halwai lives freely but he has fear that there isn’t any trust on police that when they turn back any catch his (Balram) deeds.

For example- “A man in a uniform may one day point a finger at me and say, Time's up, Munna.”

But the point of this assignment is – the comparison between Ghashiram Kotwal and The White Tiger. That’s why here only those points are depicted which are similar.

 Note: This assignment is prepare from the origional texts and from classnotes.