20. Chandalika (Drama) Textbook
Questions and Answers Thinking
about the Play : 1. Why does something so ordinary and commonplace as giving
water to a wayfarer become so significant to Prakriti? प्रकृति
के लिए इतनी सामान्य बात जैसे कि एक पथिक को जल पिलाना, इतनी महत्त्वपूर्ण घटना क्यों
बन जाती है? Answer
: Generally it happens that even a simple event plays an important role in
somebody's life. So happens with Prakriti. Prakriti belongs to a lower caste of
chandals. So she says herself to be chandalini. Throughout her life, she faces
contempt of the higher caste people as is the common lot of the lower caste
people. She is considered 'unclean' and 'untouchable'. She
has never experienced love and respect from any person of society. So she longs
for love and to be loved. This is the reason why the wayfarer Ananda, a
Buddhist monk, comes to her and asks water from her, she becomes overjoyed.
Ananda makes her realize her worth. She is overcome with the newfound emotions
of self-respect as well a…
