AN EXISTENTIAL PREDICAMENT OF MODERN MAN IN GIRISH KARNAD’S HAYAVADANA

Abstract

In the mid twentieth century the whole mankind had been passing through an unprecedented phase of despair, gloom and dreariness in life in the wake of the annihilating after effects of the two gruesome and devastating World Wars fought within a very brief interval of a bit more than merely two decades. The very existence of mankind seemed to be at stake and the self- complacent attitude towards the scientific progress proved to be merely an illusion like a mirage as the other side of the coin proved to be self-destructive, rather self-annihilating. This resulted into general pessimistic and cynic view towards life and the uncertain future of mankind. So a few European existentialist philosophers like Jean Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, Martin Heidegger made a deep impact on the intellectuals by their new philosophy about the absurdity and meaninglessness of human existence. According to the philosophy of existentialism, life and everything related to it was absurd. In fact, they were influenced by the existentialist philosophy of the early 19th century Danish philosopher Soren Kierkgaard, who is believed to be the precursor of existentialist philosophy in the modern times. Thus they nurtured the sense of futility and meaninglessness about life. It impelled human beings to introspect about the purpose and meaning of their existence. And it was a sort of quest for the self. Girish Karnad, due to his study of the western writers as a Rhodes scholar was highly influenced by the existentialist philosophy of the European philosophers like Jean Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. This Research paper is an endeavor to explore the theme of existentialism and search for self, for that matter, in Hayavadana.