Myth, History, and Modern Consciousness: The Interplay of Tradition and Innovation in Girish Karnad’s Plays

Abstract

This research paper explores the intricate interplay of myth, history, and modern consciousness in the plays of Girish Karnad, one of India’s most influential contemporary playwrights. This paper looks at the way Karnad redefines classical myths, historical stories as well as folk sources to be termed as the moral, psychological and social dilemmas of contemporary living. The plays of Karnad form a special atmosphere through combining different cultural traits with the original means of theatrical performance, which helps to emphasize the topicality of the cultural memory in developing modern identity. The plays Hayavadana, Yayati, Nagamandala, Tughlaq, and The Dreams of Tipu Sultan are the main plays considered by the paper because of the strategies used to involve the audience in some cogitative reflection in terms of thematic, structural and stylistic approaches. It examines the role of myths as allegoric structures of ethnographic inquiry into existential issues and the role of historical structures as tools of political critique and social awareness. Moreover, the paper addresses the combination of native performance traditions with the contemporary drama technique of dramaturgical approach, such as symbolic imagery, episodic narration, linguistic hybridity, as customary of the innovative practice by Karnad. This study shows the contributions of Karnad as a playwright and cultural thinker who has made contributions in the attempt to connect tradition and modernity, showing that myths and history are dynamic instruments of expressing the current issues. These results highlight the enduring relevance of dramaturgy of Karnad on contemporary Indian theatre post-colonialism and its ability to make people think critically about their values, cultural identity, and socio-political realities.