Description (English)

This play presents a powerful picture of the caste system and social discrimination prevailing in society. The central character of the play is Teju, a girl who belongs to a lower caste community and works as a tattoo artist (Chundana-wali). Teju and her father are treated as people of a very low social status. Because of their caste, they face humiliation, injustice, and hardships throughout their lives.

The play vividly portrays how people from lower castes suffer not only during their lifetime but even after death. They are denied dignity, respect, and equal treatment by society. Through the experiences of Teju and her father, the playwright exposes the cruelty and inequality of the caste-based social order.

Before his death, Teju's father reveals a shocking truth to her. He tells her that she actually belongs to a higher caste and is not his biological daughter. According to him, Teju's mother had abandoned the child, and he had found and raised her as his own daughter. This revelation becomes a turning point in the story and forms the basis for the further development of the play.

The play strongly criticizes caste discrimination and emphasizes the values of humanity, equality, and social justice. It questions the belief that a person's worth should be determined by caste rather than by character and humanity.

Description (Gujarati)

આ નાટક વર્ણવ્યવસ્થાની જાખી કરાવતું નાટક છે. જેમાં નાયિકા તેજુની વાત કરવામાં આવી છે. તેજુને છૂંદણાવાળી બતાવવામાં આવી છે. તેજુ અને તેના બાપુને ખૂબ નીચી વર્ણના દર્શાવવામાં આવ્યા છે. નીચલા વર્ણના હોવાને લીધે તેમણે જીવતા અને મૃત્યુ પછી કેટલી મુશ્કેલી ભોગવવી પડે છે તે આ નાટકમાં દર્શાવવામાં આવ્યું છે. જ્યારે મરતી વેળાએ તેજુના બાપુ તેને કહીને જાય છે કે તે ઊજળી વર્ણની છે. તેની માતા એ પડતું મેલ્યું અને તેના બાપુને તે મળી. જ્યાથી નાટકની શરૂઆત થાય છે.

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