Comparison
between Ghashiram Kotwal by Vijay Tendulkar and the White Tiger by Aravind
Adiga.
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
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Ghashiram Kotwal- Vijay Tendulkar
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Aravind Adiga was born in Madras in
1974.
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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.
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He lives in Mumbai.
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He is Marathi writer and lives in
Mumbai.
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Response to
the texts by both writers:
By Aravind Adiga about the text:
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By Vijay Tendulkar about the text:
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This
novel is not against the India. It is for to reform India.
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“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.”
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Aim:
Balram Halwai
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Ghashiram Kotwal
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“These poor bastards had come from the
darkness to Delhi to find some light”
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“Fortune. I came here to find my
fortune.”
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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
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The White Tiger
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Pearl Necklace- wearing
by Nana. It shows the richness.
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Chandelier- It shows
the power and also the richness.
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Palanquin- It shows the
power and richness. It is used by Nana.
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The Honda City car- The
car used by Mr.Ashoka. It also the representation of richness.
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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.
