A Study on Feminist Consciousness in Plays of Vijay Tendulkar

Abstract

This paper explores the feminist consciousness in the plays of renowned Indian playwright Vijay Tendulkar, focusing on his critical portrayal of women’s oppression and resistance in a patriarchal society. Tendulkar, who wrote during a period of significant social upheaval in India, challenges the deeply ingrained gender norms, presenting women not merely as victims but as individuals striving for autonomy. Through his complex female characters and their struggles, Tendulkar critiques societal conventions, patriarchal power structures, and gender inequalities, while also acknowledging the internal conflicts and moral dilemmas they face. This paper explores feminist consciousness in Tendulkar’s plays, analyzing how he presents complex, often disturbing portrayals of women’s experiences in a deeply patriarchal society. Through the characters of his plays such as Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe, Sakharam Binder, and Kanyadaan, Tendulkar interrogates the structures of oppression while offering a nuanced depiction of feminist struggles. The study aims to uncover Tendulkar’s critique of patriarchy, the constraints imposed on women, and how his female characters resist, succumb, or are destroyed by the system.