“AN EXAMINATION OF POSTMODERN DISTORTIONS AND EXISTENTIAL ASPECTS THROUGH SYMBOLS AND METAPHORS IN MAHESH ELKUNCHWAR’S WADA TRILOGY”

Abstract

Mahesh Elkunchwars The Wada Trilogy is a set of remarkable plays , including (The Old Stone Mansion , The Pond & Apocalypse ) stirred the Indian psyche. After Independence a wave of influential writers came in lime light say for instance , Dharmveer Bharti , Mohan Rakesh, Badal Sirkar , Vijay Tendulkar , Girish Karnad & Mahesh Elkunchwar who practiced various techniques in their novel creation. Initially Vijay Tendulkar influenced him very much later on influences were predominantly Western as August Strindberg of Sweden , Anton Chekov of     Russia , Federico Garcia Lorca of Spain , Jean Paul Sartre & Albert Camus of France.The present paper aims at analyzing the various hidden existential themes in a nutshell . With the advent of commercialization and modernization human feelings are commodified and can be seen in emotional turmoil and try to find the meanings in their own meaningless world. After Independence the Zameendar( Landlord) Deshpandes family were on their last legs , attempt to survive in the changing social scenario after when reforms in land acts allotted the excess land of landlords to peasants and labours. Depiction of hierarchic patriarchy, disintegration of feudal order, social collapse, cultural fragmentation and keen awareness of reputation have been heavily indicated and resulted adverse effect on family. All the characters are trapped in chaos. They try to find their identity in postmodern scenario. The major disease of postmodernity which is existential crisis which hides the characters original identity. The present paper is an attempt to focus on the atmosphere of the novel in postcolonial condition to find distortions and existential aspects reflected through various symbols and metaphors that takes us to glance at contemporary existentialism.