Harvest – Manjula Padamnabhan- By Prem Sagar

Description

Harvest – Manjula Padmanabhan , By – Prem Sagar , ISBN Code – 978-93-87601-39-0

NUMBER OF PAGES – 126

Padmanabhan wrote this play for Onassis Theatre Competition which required the competitors to write on the challenges facing humanity in the next century and got first prize for it. The dramatist must have the growing consciousness of the evil which has afflicted human society for centuries. Exploitation of the poor and the weak was perceived by Shakespeare who advised humanity ‘Neither be a borrower nor a lender be’. He perhaps wanted to nip the evil in the bud. Then, Ruskin observed “Bags and craps have same effect on rags.” Padmanabhan is distressed by more dangerous form of exploitation which is of a recent development. Scientific researchers have made it possible to transplant human organs. Wicked ones have made a business of it. Doctors are found guilty of stealing kidneys of the poor and transplanting them for exorbitant prices. A humanistic research is turned into a new form of evil of exploitation by none other than the doctors. Padmanabhan has spoken very strongly against evil of implantation. It is very much like artificial in semination done to the cows and such other animals. A rich American wants Jaya to give him a child through implantation. The sacred process of child-bearing is sought to be turned into an abominable mechanical process by people of devilish character. Padmanabhan has condemned the idea in strongest terms. The novo-riche has gone a step ahead in debasing the sacredness of child-bearing into subrogation. Padmanabhan’s Jaya, says emphatically that she will beget a child only when she has the joy of being loved and also of bearing the nine-month pregnancy. She refuses straight to turn a sacred, natural process into a damning and demeaning mechanical act, shorn of love and happiness. Harvest remains a strong condemnation of exploitation of man and woman through recently developed scientific ways.

CONTENTS:

Life and Works of the Dramatist

Preview

Chapter wise Study

Theme of the Play Exploitation

Characters

Art of Characterization

Plot Construction

Dramatic Techniques

Spirit of Globalization

Summing up

Objective Questions