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Who is Hardika in final solution?

Who is Hardika in final solution?

1 Answer

  1. In “Final Solutions” by Mahesh K. Dattani, Hardika is a character who plays a significant role in the play. Hardika is also known as Daksha in the play. She is an elderly Hindu woman who lives with her son Ramnik and daughter-in-law Aruna in a house in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Here is a more detailed explanation of who Hardika is in the play:

    1. Historical Context: Hardika is a character who lived through the partition of India in 1947, which led to the division of the country into India and Pakistan. Her hometown, Hussainabad, became a part of Pakistan during the partition, and her father was murdered during the violence that ensued.

    2. Animosity towards Muslims: Hardika still harbors resentment towards Muslims due to the events that happened in her life following the partition. She protests against Bobby and Javed’s presence in her home, as they are Muslims. Through the character of Daksha, the audience learns about the two factors that are the source of Hardika’s animosity towards Muslims.

    3. Flashbacks: The play features flashbacks that provide historical depth to the theme of communal tension. These flashbacks feature Hardika at the age of fifteen in 1948 and her experience in the aftermath of the partition, which returns to her memory at different points of the play.

    4. Family Dynamics: Hardika’s son Ramnik is a secular Hindu who is much more hospitable to the Muslim boy, Javed. However, Ramnik’s kindness is partly driven by the guilt he feels over running the business his father established by cheating Zarine’s family after partition. Ramnik’s wife Aruna is a deeply devout woman who feels extremely uncomfortable with Muslims sitting in her home and drinking water from the same glasses. She believes that their touching is polluting.

    In summary, Hardika is an elderly Hindu woman who lived through the partition of India and still harbors resentment towards Muslims due to the events that happened in her life following the partition. Her character serves as a representation of the deep-rooted prejudices and biases that exist between different religious communities in India.

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