Introduction and Overview of “Tara”
Today, we’re going to discuss a play titled Tara, written by the Indian writer Mahesh Dattani. It was written in 1992 and first published in 1995. Let’s first explore the play’s setting and main theme. Tara is set in two locations, Mumbai and London, and it addresses the theme of gender discrimination and inequality. Through this play, Mahesh Dattani attempts to show us how girls in society face discrimination, sometimes even at birth. In some places, they are abandoned or killed right after birth. And as they grow, they still face limited freedoms, with society assigning specific roles and responsibilities to them, expecting them to conform to domestic work, while men are expected to handle the outside world.
The play highlights the injustice embedded in society, prompting Dattani to write this two-act play for which he was awarded the Sahitya Kala Award in 2000. Like this video and subscribe for more content. Before we dive into the play, I’ll introduce some major characters and give you an overview of the story to make things clearer as we go along.
Part 1: Character Introductions
1. Tara
The play’s protagonist, Tara, is a girl who, from birth to death, continually suffers injustice at the hands of her family and society. There is always a bias in favor of her twin brother, Chandan.
2. Chandan
Chandan is Tara’s twin brother, separated from her at birth through surgery. He is a simple, kind-hearted boy who loves his sister deeply. However, their father, Mr. Patel, clearly favors Chandan and constantly thinks about his future. After Tara’s death, Chandan moves to London, becomes a writer, and changes his name to Dan, attempting to start afresh and bury his painful past.
3. Bharati
Bharati is Tara and Chandan’s mother, who is deeply concerned about Tara’s health. Her concern stems from a deep sense of guilt over decisions made in Tara’s early life.
4. Mr. Patel
Tara and Chandan’s father, Mr. Patel, favors Chandan and is primarily focused on his son’s future, often clashing with Bharati over family decisions.
5. Bharati’s Father
A powerful politician from Karnataka, Bharati’s father holds sway over the family’s decisions. He prefers Chandan and influences decisions that ultimately impact Tara negatively, as he desires a male heir to carry forward his legacy.
6. Roopa and Dr. Thakkar
Roopa is a neighbor and acquaintance of Tara and Chandan, initially befriending Tara at Bharati’s request. Dr. Thakkar is the family doctor who performed the surgery separating Tara and Chandan.
Detailed Story Summary of “Tara” by Mahesh Dattani
The story of Tara begins with Bharti and Mr. Patel, who had a love marriage. Mr. Patel, originally from a traditional Gujarati family, married Bharti despite his family’s disapproval. Because of this, Mr. Patel moved in with Bharti’s family and became financially dependent on her father, a powerful politician in Karnataka. This dependence allowed Bharti’s father to control decisions within their household.
After some time, Bharti became pregnant and gave birth to conjoined twins, Tara and Chandan, who were attached at the lower body and shared three legs. Tara’s body was biologically better suited to support two legs, with one being a shared leg. However, Bharti’s father, driven by his desire for a male heir, influenced the family’s decision to allocate both legs to Chandan. Dr. Thakkar, who performed the surgery, initially warned that Tara’s body was better suited for the shared leg. Nonetheless, Dr. Thakkar was bribed with land, and against medical advice, the surgery was performed in favor of Chandan. As a result, Tara grew up frail, heavily dependent on others for even basic tasks, and continued to suffer from health complications.
On the other hand, Chandan, who received the second leg, quickly lost it due to complications, as his body was unsuited to support it. Despite the family’s sacrifices to ensure Chandan’s physical well-being, he, too, faced his own challenges. The repeated surgeries and trauma left a permanent mark on both siblings’ lives. Tara eventually lost her life to her declining health, which had been worsened by the decisions made in her infancy.
Following Tara’s death, Chandan, burdened by guilt and grief, moved to London. He changed his name to Dan, attempting to start a new life. However, he could never fully move past his sister’s memory and the injustice she suffered. After six years, Dan decided to confront his guilt by writing a story titled “Twinkling Tara,” recounting Tara’s life and the sacrifices made by his family..
The Story Unfolds in “Twinkling Tara”
Morning in Mumbai
In the play’s opening scene, Tara and Chandan, now physically disabled, are seen playing a card game. Tara, bright and quick-witted, wins the game, teasing her brother playfully. Bharti, who has just finished her morning prayers, lovingly insists that Tara drink her milk, reminding us of Tara’s fragile health. This scene subtly introduces the family dynamic: Bharti, guilt-ridden, is overprotective of Tara, while Mr. Patel focuses on shaping Chandan’s future.
Mr. Patel’s Bias and Gender Expectations
Mr. Patel arrives, asking Chandan to accompany him to the office, signaling a clear expectation that Chandan, as the male child, should be involved in family affairs. Chandan, however, is disinterested and suggests that Tara, who is far more intelligent, would be more suited to help in the office. Although Mr. Patel initially scolds Chandan, he reluctantly agrees to bring Tara along, showing his rigid view of gender roles, where men are expected to manage business, and women are relegated to domesticity.
Roopa’s Mockery and Bharti’s Bribe
Soon, Roopa, a neighbor, comes over and, in her typical mocking manner, teases the twins for drinking milk, mentioning a Patel family tradition of drowning unwanted female infants in milk. Bharti, seeking to protect Tara from Roopa’s judgment, tries to persuade Roopa to befriend Tara by offering her gifts. After initially refusing, Roopa accepts Bharti’s bribe, hinting at the family’s desperation to give Tara some semblance of a normal social life.
Mr. Patel’s Scorn for Domestic Work
One day, Mr. Patel finds Chandan sewing with his mother and is outraged, viewing this activity as “women’s work.” He reprimands both Bharti and Chandan, asserting his authority and reinforcing traditional gender roles. In this heated exchange, Bharti accuses Mr. Patel of favoritism, asking what his future plans are for Tara. This moment exposes the fractures in their marriage and Bharti’s deep-seated guilt over the decisions made against her daughter’s welfare.
Tara’s Health Crisis and Bharti’s Breakdown
Tara’s health deteriorates as her kidney condition worsens. In a desperate attempt to atone for her past choices, Bharti decides to donate her kidney to Tara, hoping to prolong her life. However, the emotional strain overwhelms Bharti, resulting in a nervous breakdown, and she is admitted to the hospital. When Tara returns home after her surgery, Mr. Patel, in his usual controlling manner, refuses to let Tara visit her mother, leaving Tara isolated and heartbroken.
A Turning Point: Tara’s Defiance and Family Secrets Revealed
Frustrated and feeling rejected, Tara decides to stop her physiotherapy sessions and refuses to attend college. In solidarity, Chandan also refuses to continue his studies, reflecting the siblings’ profound bond and shared sense of injustice. When Roopa insensitively remarks that she would “sacrifice her daughter like the Patels,” Tara confronts her own worth, questioning why her family has invested so much in her if they still view her life as dispensable.
One day, Tara secretly visits her hospitalized mother. At the hospital, Mr. Patel, unable to suppress the truth any longer, reveals the family’s manipulative decision to give her leg to Chandan, despite the doctor’s warnings. Tara is devastated, realizing that her life had been unfairly compromised from the very beginning.
The Epilogue: Dan’s Final Tribute to Tara
In London, Dan is interrupted while writing Twinkling Tara by a phone call from his father, informing him that Bharti has passed away. Grief-stricken, Dan completes his tribute to Tara, detailing her life story in his writing as a way to reconcile with his past and acknowledge his sister’s suffering. Through the story of “Twinkling Tara,” Dan honors his sister’s memory and exposes the gender biases, societal expectations, and familial betrayals that shaped both their lives.
Conclusion
This detailed overview of Tara gives insight into the themes of gender discrimination, societal expectations, and family dynamics. Through Chandan’s final act of storytelling, Mahesh Dattani underscores the importance of empathy, familial responsibility, and the tragic consequences of societal prejudices. The play raises awareness about gender roles and the discrimination faced by women, leaving viewers with questions about social justice and individual worth.