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Diasporic Existence of Ashwin Panje in Girish Karnad's Wedding Album

Dr. Ramesh Prasad Adhikary

Lecturer (English)

P.N. Campus, Pokhara

Abstract

The present research "Diasporic Existence of Aswin Panje in Girish Karnads Wedding Album" deals with the suffering of an expat boy, Ashwin panje, Indian American boy. In the USA, he feels himself as culturally hollow and being unable to assimilate in western culture, he longs for his own root culture and wants to return to India in order to marry a girl from his own native culture with the hope that she will obviously help him in preserving own root culture but he is unknown about the change in Indian Society. The new generation of the South Indian society is no more traditional as old generation. In the play the conversation between Vidula and unknown male voice, the love affair of Rohit with Christian girl Isabela and karnad's depiction of characters like Vivan, 13 years old boy, who proposes to have an affair with Hema, aged like his own mother clearly shows that there is tension between local and global force.

Key Words: Culture, crisis, identity, globalization, Diaspora,

INTRODUCTION

Girish Karnard (1938- ) has powerfully portrayed socio-cultural, mythical and historical themes in his plays. In Wedding Album, though the title refers to a video made by Vidula’s family for her prospective groom in America, the story moves like a collage of snapshots exploring the characters in their hopes, frustrations, emotional tangles. The play gives insights into contemporary middle-class Indian society in the wake of technological advancement. The play is humorous and comical, marked by irony, multiple issues and questions of social and emotional nature. The play is like the modern day TV serials, presenting a realistic family situation. It also demystifies middle class South Indian Brahmin marriage in the backdrop of familial and emotional relationships, their choices, values and life styles. An Indian wedding is an occasion for a family to bring together all the relatives and friends to show their solidarity and family ties. In the process the family also has to cope up with anxieties concerning dowry and other financial burdens while maintaining its social status.

The protagonist of the play, Ashwin Panje, who has been living in the USA, feels lack of home, culture and his own tradition. He longs for his own native culture in order to save himself from the chaos and plans to marry a girl from South Indian Brahmin family. Does Ashwin really long for his native culture? Does he go through the turmoil of frustration in USA? Does he want to save his Indian ancient culture? What kind of frustration is going on in his mind? Do you think Rohit, Vidula, Vivan have love for their root culture? Does Ashwin feel cultural identity crisis in foreign land?

Ashwin, an expat boy is suffering from cultural identity crisis in the USA and wants to return to India. He is flowing in the floods of globalization. Equally a significant aspect other than the globalization is the issue of diaspora. Diaspora is the sense of the memory or the imagination of the root culture after a person faces the rootlessness in the foreign land and foreign culture. In one hand globalization is promoting the migration of people from different countries but in next hand, they suffered rootlessness in other's countries. Further, in present time, people who are from the East, especially South Asians become so much attached with their own identity, culture and tradition that is living in western world. They aggressively become traditional and want to seek peace in their own root culture. The same things happen here with Ashwin Panje.

In Girish Karnad's "Wedding Album" identity for Ashwin is the role of cultural identity given to him by his own culture. Though he lives in the USA, he is a boy from India which is rich in culture. But in the USA his cultural identity is in the verge of transformation. Ashwin, out of many years of his life in the USA, is unable to identify himself as an American. Slowly and gradually he wants to be unified with western culture but he couldn’t. He is in the position of dilemma whether to assimilate or get rid from it. In front of western culture, he finds himself culturally hollow and longs for his native culture. The diasporas has led to the oft-remarked quest for cultural identity to the expat boy, Ashwin Panje. Here, the Diaspora raises issues of cultural identity and directs Ashwin to return India and find his local culture.

This research work simply analyses the change in cultural sector as a result of globalization. The main objectives of this resrearch work is to identify the significance of own root culture to the expatriate like Ashwin who is entangled in the flow of western globalization. The play, "Wedding Album" by Karnad revolves round the wedding preparation of Vidula. The marriage ceremony is planned to be organized in a traditional way. Vidula's mother focuses on her own culture and she wants to conduct this marriage ceremony in a grand manner in order to show her position in the society. But the new generation of the South Indian society is no more traditional as old generation.

Research Methodology and Theoretical Concept

This research will be based on theoretical modality. Globalization theory will be discussed and applied as literary tools to analyze the text. Globalization is the process whereby individual lives and local communities are affected by economic and cultural forces that operate worldwide. In effect, it is the process of the world becoming a single place. Globalism is the perception of the world as a function or result of the processes of globalization upon local communities. Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationship of culture, people and economic activity. In general, it indicates to the trends towards countries joining together economically through science and technological education; society and politics and viewing themselves not only through their nation identity but also as part of the whole world. Globalization is a set to bring people of all nations close together especially through a common media like the economy or the internet. It is clear that globalization makes the whole world as a single place. The connection of the people from one zone to another zone becomes possible due to the development of science and technology. Along with this, globalization brings change in the cultural aspects of the society.

It is mostly based on primary and secondary resources. Library and internet are also the sources for this study. Scholarly journals and periodicals are also the sources for this research.

Analysis: Ashwin's Longing for own root culture in the age of Globalization

In the play, Karnad depicts the character Ashwin, an expatriate who has been staying in the US; feels lack of home culture and his own tradition. He finds himself in the juncture of materialist world. There is no sense of being at home to him. He longs for his own native country India in order to save to himself from the chaos.

The people who are far away from their native land unable to feel that they are at home. They find themselves inferior in front of the western culture and tradition. They are always in search of their root culture. They long for their home and expect something more from their native country. In the play, Ashwin Panje is the blazing example of these kinds of feeling of eastern people, who are living in the west. As an expatriate, he feels difficult to survive in America culturally, and wants to get out from this turmoil and wants to seek peace in his own root culture. He shares his frustration with Vidula about his present condition.

Globalization which is also understood as Modernization in present time provides various opportunities to the people. It helps to make people economically and technologically powerful but it brings gradual change in the tradition and cultural ethos. The cultural and spiritual side of the people is in verge of collapse. It creates a kind of crisis to the people, who are the victim of the deep network of globalization of twenty first century. After falling in the vast maroon of the materialism and globalization, he/ she realizes his/ her root and regrets upon the loss caused by it. In the same way, Ashwin is facing the crisis in day today life of US.

Globalization has destroyed cultural aspect of society, stable location and displacing peoples. It has created various kinds of cultural, religious and psychological identity crisis. It brings several changes in traditional social structure. There is encroachment of secularism, decline social solidarity and it creates complexity in social relations. People do not take interest in cultural side. The influence of western tradition is deeply rooted especially to the young generation of society. In the play, mother says to Vidula and Hema to select the traditional wedding costumes like Dhoti, Sari but they do not take interest upon these things. The influence of western modernization has made them not to be as traditional as their mother. There is vast difference between Mother and daughters.

The identity of Oriental culture is seen as a subaltern culture and constituted through its exclusive from the Western culture; therefore it is the West that has given identity to the Orient. As Morley and Robins states,’ if the west did not exist, the Orient would not exist either'' (155). In above quoted lines, different people who are considered as expert in the subject matter of identity creation and identity crisis in the age of globalization try to show the reality that identity is the creation of power, position and power can represent anyone differently. Karnad in the play, "Wedding Album" tries to show this kind of reality of which the people of 21st century are facing in different levels of their lives. Especially those who are outside from their nation, they want to follow their culture, tradition, in everyday life, but they could not. So, they are always in search of their traditional values. As far as possible they try to save themselves from the materialistic domination over their spirituality.

In the play, Ashwin tries to impress upon Vidula that he is looking for a life partner from a place like Dharward because it means that the girl would be full of ''innocence'' and ''purity'' (81). He has been staying in the US for many years which has caused him to be westernized in somehow, but he is not. Outwardly he seems like westernized but inwardly he is still purely an Indian. So that it seems he is in deep identity crisis, he is in dilemma, that whether he has to adopt westernization or seek asylum to the Indian spiritualism, and ultimately he decides to seek his originality through marriage with Indian girl. While talking to Vidula through western invented technology like video conferencing and web camera, he shows his eagerness to return to his oneness that is Indianness. Though he lives in US and behaves to be like American outwardly, inwardly he is in deep identical problems which makes him to search peace of mind, ultimately he sees it in Indian culture. On the other hand, the influence of western modernity has also caused several changes in the social system of the third world society.

Karnad presents the picture of Indian contemporary society which is in the state of dichotomies between tradition and modernity. The concept of old and new generation is vast different. There is the intense desire to the young people to adopt the western lifestyle. They are highly fascinated with the global changes. Development of technology, media and easy access of internet are the factors which are making people of different zone always in touch which ultimately brings change in different aspects of their life. Though globalization has made whole world as a one family, by bringing people together through different means of media and technologies, it has also caused many loss to the humanity. Because of this globalization people have lost their morality, feeling of oneness, brotherhood, and their roots, and people are in fragmented condition within themselves.

Aswin, out of many years of his life in the US, is unable to identify himself as an American. However, he has enjoyed lifestyle of America. During his stay in America, he finds himself in a state of dilemma whether to adopt lifestyle as it or quest for his own tradition and culture. Ultimately, he attempts to seek his own home and returns India to marry an Indian girl. He has faith upon that she can save him from chaotic life. He believes that India, his native country, is rich in religion, culture and tradition. The western Materialistic life is oriented towards hypocrisy, and glamour shows it has lost the cultural life, bereft of any living meaning. The European industrial revolution began rejecting religion in favor of material values. Still the legacy of revolution is prevalent in the west. Karnad in the play highlights the value of tradition and culture through the mouthpiece of Ashwin. He wants to expose how Indian tradition, customs and spirituality play pivotal role in order to provide peace in mind. Ashwin further express his opinion with Vidula about the Indian civilization and culture: C.Muzaffar describes globalization has affected certain values which are rooted in major religions and cultures of the world. It dehumanizes many people and also compelled to live a degraded life which is not tolerable for cultured people and society.

The activities of Rohit and vivan in the play prove how globalization makes massive change in the behaviour of the people. Vivan, a boy of thirteen who is even younger to Hema's son, shows an interest in Hema. He repeatedly gives her the love letters and tries to manipulate her. He even proposes to have sexual affairs with her. Rohit being the member from strict South Indian Brahmin family insists to marry Christian girl, Isabel and go away from his family values. This seems so simple to the present generation of people because they are under the influence of foreign culture but people who are strict to their culture, these kinds of act of Rohit are unbearable to tolerate.

Through the character of Rohit, Karnad presents us a glimpse of how the Indian people turn their attention towards different things, out of their social values and norms. Rohit being from a strict south Indian Brahmin family insists to marry Christian girl, Isabela, and go away from his family values. This seems so simple to the present generation of people because they are under the influence of foreign culture but people who are strict to their culture, these kinds of act of Rohit are unbearable to tolerate.

Through Rohit, Karnad also presents the predicament of how the lure of money and frame could make a person opportunistic. Rohit loves Isabela, but the Sirur family wants him to marry their daughter Tapsya. They offer him foreign education and even assistance in setting up his own business. Rohit at first refuses but gradually the luster of wealth tempts him and he gives up dumping Isabela to suffer. Rohit marries Tapsya and yet has his eyes on Isabela, and invites her to join him when Tapsya is away. But the promise of prosperity and material well-being makes him suppress his emotion for Isabela.It is thus the conflict between wealth and prosperity on the one hand and love and emotion on the other that defines the character of Rohit which is in between global and local forces.

In the play, "Wedding Album", Karnad chooses to lay bare the workings of the forces of modernity on traditional institutions, depicting how the forces of materialism, individuality and consumerism on the one hand and culture, spirituality and ethics on the other, rend their subject apart, pulling them in opposite directions and leaving behind a sense of loss and guilt. In this connection, M.E. Rupert says that globalization makes world of winners and losers. He further says:

Globalization will create a world of winners and losers along with the global conquest and economic domination of specific political groups, especially in the wealthy nations like U.S. These groups are strong enough to resist any pressure to alter the new world-order and could impose their desires and goal as global agendas and work plans. The promoters of this school of thought point out to the waning of national sovereignty and local identity and the eventual prevalence of inequality and injustice in the world. (6)

It shows globalization has transformed human into machine like things. Human feelings are under the shadow of global phenomenon like globalization and its components like money, wealth and materiality. Globalization has created a kind of environment, where people compete between two things; whether one has to apt remain with their traditional values and perform according humanity or let humanity degrade and hoarded wealth and power by at any rate.

In the play," Wedding Album", it is the case with Rohit, he leaves the girl Isabela whom he loves but he is attracted towards Tapsya for money and dowry. Therefore it is struggle between human values and materiality created by globalization in the society like South India. It is not seen only in the case of the Rohit rather we have another character Radhabai. Through her behaviour, it is better understood that there is struggle between human values like emotions, feelings and love and material values like job, money, position, power and wealth. Radhabai, the widow, she has deserted her daughter in hunger and shelter less in the street, and feeds masters children only because she is getting money from her master.

The play, "Wedding Album", Karnad presents the contemporary issues of globalization by which characters are heavily distorted, dismantled, disturbed, torn and trapped because of the domination of globalization and materialization. Karnad forwards the protogonist, Ashwin Panje, as an expat in order to present the adverse consequences of globalization upon him. Globalization brings cultural change which causes the loss of originality. Ashwin, an Indian American boy, becomes completely frustrated, disturbed and alienated because of the cultural crisis in the USA. He is out casted and finds him in the position of dilemma. He can neither adopt the foreign culture nor get freedom from it. Ultimately, he looks back to his native Indian culture and returns India to find a life partner who will save him from these kinds of crisis. His returning to India shows his love, respect for his own root culture

Conclusion

The "Crisis of Cultural Identity in Girish Karnads Wedding Album" deals with the suffering of an expat boy, Ashwin panje, Indian American boy. In the USA, he feels himself as culturally hollow and being unable to assimilate in western culture, he longs for his own root culture and wants to return to India in order to marry a girl from his own native culture with the hope that she will obviously help him in preserving own root culture but he is unknown about the change in Indian Society. The new generation of the South Indian society is no more traditional as old generation. In the play the conversation between Vidula and unknown male voice, the love affair of Rohit with Christian girl Isabela and Karnad's depiction of characters like Vivan, 13 years old boy, who proposes to have an affair with Hema, aged like his own mother clearly shows that there is tension between local and global force. Though Ashwin lives in the US he realizes the importance and love for his root culture but the character like Vidula, Rohit, Vivan lives in India and they don't have respect for their root culture rather they are inclining towards western culture. In the play Ahwin is only one character who really wants to preserve his root culture as he suffers from cultural crisis in the US. On the one hand, he returns to India in search of his culture and spirituality, on the other hand, the Indian society no longer remains as traditional as in the past. The cultural aspect of the society has been changed due to the flows of globalization.

Works Cited

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