Abstract

India since ancient times has the history of communal violence and it has grown up witnessing all that goes with this sectarian divide and selective preferences. This undercurrent of mistrust runs unabatedly between the two most dominating communities in the sub-continent-Hindu and Muslim-as generation after generation this feeling of cultural and communal animosity is further transmitted to the coming generation, making the next moment frightening and scary for the inhabitants of this world. The mistrust between the two communities emanates on account of expression of cultural hegemony, difference in the religious practices and by playing the role of godfather by the majority. The finger pointing at each other as the narrow minded fundamentalists on both sides poses the biggest danger to the establishment of healthy relationship between the Hindus and the Muslims. Here the playwright Mahesh Dattani explores some possibilities for solution to the problem of communal divide in his playFinal Solutions and ultimately suggests some remedies in this regard. The dramatist feels that liberal outlook with a conciliatory approach and respect for one-another’s beliefs, mutual trust and sharing of pleasures and pains can help in overcoming the man-made communal divide where individual will be treated as a human being and not as a Hindu or Muslim.

Key words: Sub-continent-Hindu, Muslim, mistrust, animosity, communal divide.