T.P. Kailasam's play "The Purpose" is based on the Mahabharata and centers around Eklavya, Drona, and Arjuna. It explores the theme of class conflict between the upper caste Arjuna and the lower caste Eklavya in their study of archery under Drona. Arjuna, as a powerful Kshatriya prince, acts arrogantly while Eklavya, a Nishadha boy from a lower caste, is depicted as a protector of animals. The play examines the dominance of the upper caste and the oppression faced by the lower caste within the Indian social structure of that time period

1. Class Conflict in The Purpose by
T. P. Kailasam
Prepared and Presented by
Vaidehi Hariyani
Batch- 2015-17
Roll No. 22
Semester 1
S. B. Gardi Department of English,
Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University

2. • T. P. Kailasam (1884 –
1946) was a prominent
playwright, writer, and
a poet of Kannada and
English.
• His popular plays are
i. Fulfilment
ii. The Purpose
iii. The Brahmin’s Curse
INTRODUCTION

3. THE PURPOSE
• Divided into two acts
• Central Theme: based
on Adi Parva of The
Mahabharata
• Central Characters:
Eklavya, Drona, and
Arjuna
• The purpose of learning
archery (ધનુર્વિવિદ્યા)

4. MARXIST THEORY OF CLASS CONFLICT

5. INDIAN CONCEPT OF CLASS
• General Category
• Scheduled Class
• Scheduled Tribe
• OBC

6. Dominance of Power
• Arjuna is a Kshatriya
– Powerful upper caste
– Arjuna - arrogant and
prodigal prince
• Eklavya is a Nishadha
boy
– A weak person from
lower caste
– Eklavya - a savior of
Animals of Jungle

7. Thank You