Evaluate the character sketch of Padmini in Hayavadana

Evaluate the character sketch of Padmini.

1.1 Introduction

Padmini is the central character of the play Hayavadana written by Girish Karnad. He was born on May 19, 1938. He was one of the famous contemporary playwright, actor, film director in India. Kurthkoti one of the critics says about Girish Karnad:

“His work has the tone and expression of the great drama. He has the genius and the power to transform any situation into an aesthetic expression. He has imported real dramatic verse to the technique of Indian English drama. This is an abiding contribution.”

In the play Hayavadana there are several characters. Like Devadatta who is the one of the two hero, son of the bramhin, husband of Padmini and friend of Kapila. Kapila is also one of the two hero, son of ironsmith, lover of Padmini and friend of Devadatta. Among them Padmini is the central female character around her the whole story revolves. She is the daughter of leading merchant, wife of Devadatta and beloved of Kapila. So let’s discuss about character of Padmini.

1.2 character of Padmini

1.2.1 Her beauty

Padmini is beautiful Young woman who is object of desire of both Devadatta and Kapila. In the first appearance Devadatta fall in love with Padmini. Devadatta compare her beauty with kalidas’s Sama Nayika. He says:

“ The Syama Nayika-born of kalidasa’s magic description as Vatsyayan had dreamt her…she has become my guru in the poetry of love”

Devadatta also ready to sacrifice his head to Lord Rudra and arms to goddess Kali. if Padmini become his wife. Kapila also confess that no one can be beautiful as her. He says:

“… she is Yakshini, Shakutala, Urvashi, Indumati all rolled into one!”

1.2.2 Her Wittiness

Padmini is intelligent women. Her nature is humorous. in her conversation we see her witness. in the conversation between Padmini and Kapila. Kapila want to know her name but Padmini derives the discussion in other way. Kapila at last tried and become ready to touch her feet. Although he doesn’t touch her feet. That time Padmini says to Kapila:

“…I know you wouldn’t touch my feetone cannot ever trust strangers any more. All right my dear son! I opened the door so consider me the doorkipeeper. What do you want.”

When Padmini, Devadatta and Kapila started toure of Ujjain. Then Padmini is trying to be humorous or funny laugh out on remembering the incident when Devadatta and Padmini for the first time went outside the city. She describe about cart driving of Devadatta:

“…The oxen took everything except the read. He only had to pull to the right and, off they would rush to the left.”

1.2.3 Her attraction towards Kapila

Padmini got married with Devadatta because he is intellectual person. after her marriage she is attracted towards Kapila. Becouse of Kapila’s physical strength and the power of muscles. Padmini is too sharp and demanding for her husband her desire for the muscularity of Kapila. she says about Kapila:

“…what an ethereal shape! Search broad back like ocean with muscles rippling a cross it end then that small feminine waist which looks to helps.”

Padmini observe Kapila from the very close side when Kapila goes to bring “the fortunate ladi’s flowers” for her when Kapila quickly claim ups the tree she says:

“He is like a celestial beings reborn as a hunter. How his body sways his limb curve-its a almost”

1.2.4 Padmini as an unsatisfied character

Padmini is not satisfied with her husband Devadatta. after the marriage her desire of a man is blend of both intellectual as well as in physical strength. she got married with Devadatta but her love is Kapila.

After Devadatta and kapyila beheaded themselves in Kali temple. Padmini praise to goddess is Kali. mother Kali except her prayer and says that attached the head with their body. But padmini misplaced head Devadatta’s head on Kapila’s body in Kapil’s head on Devadatta’s body. after that the question is that whose wife is Padmini? she goes with Devadatta's head and Kapila’s body her desire of complete man is now fullfil she says: “Fabulous body fabulous brain fabulous Devadatta”

But after some month Devadatta’s body assuming its original shape once again Padmini feels dissatisfied and goals to search for Kapila.

1.2.5 Her selfishness

In the play of Padmini appear as selfish or self-centred personality. There are many incidents which represent her selfishness. When Devadatta doesn’t want to go to trip of Ujjain with kapila. Padmini got agree with Devadatta. But when Kapila arrives with the cart she immediately agree to visit Ujjain. She is not thinking about Devadatta’s emotion even she is not take concern about him.

In the other incident when data is not there in cart Kapila worried about Devadatta but Padmini as his wife doesn’t concern about her husband. Even when Kapila call for Devadatta or shouting for Devadatta Padmini says to Kapila: “Why are you shouting? sit down he’ll come”

Before Devadatta and Kapila beheaded themselves Padmini is habituated to roaming around Kapila. After misplaced of head and body of Devadatta and Kapila (Devadatta’s head on Kapila’sbody). she abandoned Kapila in goes with Devadutta. after some month Devadatta body assuming its original shape she left Devadatta and goes to Kapila.

1.2.6 Fate of her child

after Devadatta and Kapila kills each other then Padmini is get ready to perform as sati. she gives her child to Bhagvata and says:

“…Give him to the hunters who live in this forest and tell them it's Kapil’s son…When he is five take him to the revered Bramhin Vidyasagar of Dharampura, tell him it’s Devadatta’s son.”

Padmini wants her child group up in the forest because Kapila live there for several month as hunter and the group of hunter loves Kapila. So, The child spent five years there as child of Kapila he’ll become physically strong after five years boy goes or take him to his grandfather Vidhyasagar and become intellectual person as Devadatta. basically she wants her child grow up like both Kapila as well as Devadatta and become physically strong and intellectual person.

1.2.7 Her tragic end

After Devadatta assuming it’s original shape Padmini goes to Kapila. Beside her Devadatta goes to search for Padmini in the forest were Kapila lives with his sword. Both of them fight with each other with the sword and kill each other. After that Padmini have no desire to live without them. So she is ready to perform sati or became sati. She says: “make me a large funeral pyre.”

 

1.3 Conclusion

 Padmini Is the central figure of the play see is beautiful young woman she is self canter personality also concerns about her side attracted toward Kapila because her desire for complete men. Thus we can say that Padmini is the centeral character of the play ‘Hayavadana’.