Scathing Interpretation of Gendered Maladies: Tendulkar’s Silence! The Court is in Session

All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others. -George Orwell

Indian women have long been enduring the lopsided treatment which throws them on the periphery of social structure. The gendered identities are wrought on them and nauseating codes of conduct attributing them a subordinate position are made obligatory. While the sources of inspiration for men are Rama and Krishna women are compelled to follow the footsteps of Sita and Radha. In spite of modernization and the spread of education the phallo-centric macho societies are unable to applaud an independent, open minded and successful woman. The binaries are yet to be dismantled and destroyed. The exploitative mechanism operates through the most esteemed institutions and practices of society like family and marriage which traps the female in the web of a life of trauma and suffering. So anything against such institutions is considered a sin, an aberration. So things like, sex and procreation without marriage are immoral, abominable and condemnable.

Vijay Tendulkar known as “a scathing interpreter of maladies” has dared to look into the ideologically codified vertical hierarchy which places men at the top rung. The women in his plays are often victims of social prejudices and through them the playwright exposes the chauvinism which exploits female on name of culture, tradition, religion morality and physical attributes. Miss Leela Benare in Silence! The Court is in Session is tricked into playing the role of a culprit in a mock-trial which turns out to be a clever plan of her co-actors to disclose her private life and to victimize her. Her repeated pleadings are unheard by the self-proclaimed defenders of public morality and social sanctity. She is compelled to go through a session of emotional and psychological torture which finds her guilty of infanticide and immorality but leaves the hypocritical Prof. Damle, the man who has impregnated Benare, untouched. Through this paper The patriarchal mechanism of society works to vilipend Miss Benare’s reputation and status; and turns her from an agile and dynamic lady to a shattered existence.