Mahesh Dattani’s “Tara” shows the social discrimination between men and women.
‘Tara’ is the main character of this play. This play shows how this girl became a victim of discrimination in her own family. This play questions the role of the Indian society that treats the children born in the same womb in two different ways.
Tara by Mahesh Dattani – Summary, Critical analysis
Mahesh Dattani’s “Tara” not only reveals the struggle of a disabled child against a variety of odds, it also lays bare the ugly face of the Indian society. The uncomfortable issues that Mahesh Dattani discusses in his play “Tara” are about the helplessness of women in Indian society. The story concerns Tara, a Siamese girl, born in an upper-middle class family of the Patels. Tara is born conjoined as one body with her brother Chandan. They need to be separated from each other by means of a surgical operation. Dr. Thakkar, an eminent physician, is consulted by Tara’s mother Bharati, and the latter’s father, an influential politician. The Siamese twins have three legs one of which belongs to Tara as the blood supply comes to this leg from her body. But under the instruction of Bharati and her father, that leg is cut from Tara’s body in order to ensure that the male child Chandan gets two healthy legs. As a result, the girl becomes cripple and her life is in danger.
Mahesh Dattani thus highlights a terrible malady of the male-dominated society. Whenever the question of choice does arise between male and female, it is the male who is chosen. In Tara’s case, the discrimination against her begins right from the time of surgery. Dr. Thakkar takes bribe from the guardians, sells out his conscience and ethical values and does the operation that results in Tara’s untimely death. Her twin brother is declared the sole heir of their grandfather’s property while Tara is given not even a penny. Not only that; her father Mr. Patel remains a silent observer of Tara’s ordeal and makes no attempt to redress his daughter’s sufferings.
Tara is ridiculed by her classmates at school for her limp, caused by her artificial leg. She is mentally tortured even by her neighbours Prema, Nalini, and Roopa. Roopa calls her “a real freak of Nature”. Mr. Patel who represents the male-dominated society does not want her to pursue higher studies while he urges his son Chandan to get admission into a college. Tara is much more intelligent and vibrant than her brother, yet she is ignored and neglected. Her case is a pointer to the evil of gender discrimination.
Bharati soon repents for the injustice she has done to her daughter. She shows her love and concern for Tara. And when her daughter requires Kidney transplant, Bharati decides to donate her kidney to Tara, thereby expiating for her guilt. But it is too late; the damage, done to Tara, is beyond repair. When Tara learns about the role of her mother and grandfather as regards the operation, she is terribly shocked and devastated. Her soul bleeds in agony and finally she dies. Chandan has nothing to do with his sister’s untimely death; yet he holds himself responsible. He escapes to London, renames himself as Dan and lives a self-condemned life. He writes the story of Tara, and it actually becomes the story of his own tragedy.
In the play “Tara” Mahesh Dattani questions the role of a society that treats the children born in the same womb in two different ways. Tara is sacrificed because she is a girl and therefore she is not allowed to have a better life than her brother. Dattani’s play thus brings into open the callousness and the heartlessness with which society discriminates between men and women, thus leading to an identity crisis in Indian women.
FAQs
What is the theme of Mahesh Dattani’s “Tara” ?
The main theme of Mahesh Dattani’s “Tara” is gender discrimination.
What is the significance of the title of the play “Tara”?
The title of Mahesh Dattani’s play “Tara” has great significance. On the individual level, the play is all about the sad tale of an Indian girl named Tara who is born in an Indian middle-class family.
In Mahesh Dattani’s play “Tara”, Tara, a disabled girl, is the central character. She is the victim of gender discrimination that is a big problem in Indian society. Through Tara’s character Mahesh Dattani shows how a girl can be a sufferer of gender discrimination in her own family. The most terrible thing is that her mother makes her a sufferer of gender discrimination. She has forgotten that she herself is a woman. As Mahesh Dattani shows the gender discrimination problem through the character of Tara, the title of the play “Tara” is significant. Girls like “Tara” do not twinkle in the Indian sky because they are not allowed to shine.
How many acts are there in Mahesh Dattani’s play “Tara” ?
There are two acts in Mahesh Dattani’s play “Tara”.
Who is Chandan in Tara?
Chandan is Tara’s brother.
What is the relationship between Tara and Chandan?
Tara and Chandan are siblings. Tara is born conjoined as one body with her brother Chandan.
Why does Bharti insist on giving her kidney to Tara?
Bharati neglects her daughter “Tara”. The Siamese twins have three legs, one of which belongs to Tara as the blood supply comes to this leg from her body. But under the instruction of Bharati and her father, that leg is cut from her body in order to ensure that the male child Chandan gets two healthy legs. As a result, the girl becomes a cripple and her life is in danger. Bharati soon repents for the injustice she has done to her daughter. She shows her love and concern for Tara. When her daughter requires kidney transplant, Bharati insists on giving her kidney to expiate for her guilt.
Who are the main characters in the play Tara?
There are many characters in the play “Tara”. The main characters of the play are Tara, Chandan, Bharati.
Why did Chandan change his name?
As Tara dies untimely because of the bad decision taken by her mother and grandfather, Chandan considers himself responsible for his sister’s untimely death. He escapes London, renames himself as Dan to live a self-condemned life.
How did Bharati treat Tara?
Bharati repents for the injustice she has done to her daughter. She shows her love and concern for Tara. When her daughter requires kidney transplant, Bharati decides to donate her kidney to Tara to expiate for her guilt.
Who bribed Roopa in “Tara” ?
Tara’s mother Bharati bribed Roopa in “Tara”.
Who wrote the play “Tara” ?
Mahesh Dattani wrote the play “Tara” in 1990.
When was the play “Tara” written by Mahesh Dattani ?
Mahesh Dattani’s “Tara” was written in 1990.
What is the message of Tara by Mahesh Dattani ?
Mahesh Dattani’s play “Tara” gives us a great message that we should give the women same opportunities like men. We should remember about our mothers, sisters. Nobody can come in earth without mother. Mother gives us birth. Though Government is taking many steps to reduce gender discrimination and many people are increasing social awareness to increase equality between man and woman, there are some places where we can see this kind of gender discrimination.