This document provides an analysis of T.P. Kailasam's play "The Purpose", which retells the story of Eklavya from the Mahabharata. It summarizes that the play uses Eklavya's idealism to represent three kinds of human actions - action for livelihood, selfish action, and selfless action. It analyzes how Arjuna acts selfishly by accusing his teacher Drona of lying, while Eklavya acts selflessly by voluntarily cutting off his thumb and offering it to Drona to uphold his promise. The play differs from the original Mahabharata story in portraying Eklavya willingly giving his thumb rather than it being demanded

1. DECONSTRUCTION OF MYTH IN
T.P.KAILSAM’S THE PURPOSE
Prepared and Presented by Minkal Italiya
Paper-4 Indian Writing In English
Semester 1
Roll No. 26
Enrollment No. 2069108420190020
Email id: italiyaminkal@gmail.com
S.B.Gardi Department of English
Maharaja Krishnkumarsinhji Bhavangar University

2. Introduction
T.P.Kailasam
- Father of Modern Kannada”
- “The Father of Humorous Play”
- Themes: Ancient Indian Literature
- English Plays :- Fulfilment
The Purpose
Karna - The Brahmin’s Curse
Keechaka

3. The Purpose
The Purpose (1994)
- Mythological theme: Mahabharata
- He borrowed the philosophical frame
- work from Bhagavadgita
- Represents Eklavya’s youth idealism
- Two acts

4. Three Kinds of Human Actions
Action for the purpose of livelihood
Acharya Drona’s action
Action for the selfish purpose
Arjuna’s action
Action for the selfless purpose
Eklavya’s action

5. Arjuna’s action for selfish purpose
He does not hesitate in the blaming
his guru in the presence of Eklavya
Put a accusation on his teacher as a “Liar”
He is a warrior but acts like a hunter
Provokes Eklavya to cut off his thumb
Purpose of learning archery – wants to
become great archer in the world

6. Eklavya’s action for selfless purpose
He is not being able to tolerate accusation on his guru as a “Liar”
“Gurujee! You will keep your promise...and I will stop his mouth
forever”.
Cut off his right thumb and places it into Drona’s feet
He is a hunter but acts like warrior
Purpose of learning archery – Protection of the deer and fawns from
the wolves

7. Significant change in The Purpose
- In the Mahabharata Eklavya’s right thumb is demanded by Guru Drona
- In The Purpose Eklavya is portrayed as voluntarily offering his right thumb
- In the Mahabharata it is a dog that appears with his mouth full of arrows
- In The Purpose it is a wolf pierced with Eklavya’s arrows

8. Conclusion
Hints and suggestion of colonial expansion
- Eklavya represents the freedom fighters
- Wolves represents English ruler
- Deer and fawns represent people of India
- Arjuna symbolizes the feudal lords who helps the
woves