Short Stories Nagamandala Play Summary by Girish Karnad Q&A
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Nagamandala Play by Girish Karnad Summary
In this short story, Girish Karnad narrates a love story between two women Rani and Nagamandala. The story is set in the Indian subcontinent of the early 20th century. The main character of the story, Rani lives in a house with her mother. She lives in a small room which is very close to the outside. Nagamandala lives in a big house with his family. The story is mainly set in the night. There is a river behind Rani’s house. In the morning, when Rani wakes up, she sees that there are many birds and animals in her garden.
In this short story, a young girl called Rani falls in love with a man named Nagamandala. However, Nagamandala has been married before and her husband does not want to divorce her. Rani’s parents agree to get her married to Nagamandala on the condition that she has to be sent to her husband’s house only after the birth of their first child. This is done to prevent any scandal or gossip.
Q&A
Who is the protagonist of the story Nagamandala?
Rani is the novel’s protagonist.
How does Naga fall in love with Rani in Nagamandala?
Rani pour the curry into the cobra hole due to her fear. The curry was eaten by the cobra and fell in love with Rani. The curry has the magical root which has the power of falling in love with anyone.
Discuss the theme of Nagamandala by Girish Karnad
One theme is about women’s independence. Women should not be dependent on their husbands. They should not follow what their husbands want them to do. Women should not be treated like slaves. This story shows how a woman can live on her own and be independent.
Another theme is the love between a husband and a wife. Rani is very attached to Nagamandala. He is the only one who is able to understand her feelings. He is very attached to her and his love for her never dies. But Rani’s love for him is different from Nagamandala’s love for him.
The way Nagamandala loves Rani is by being the only one who can understand her feelings. Nagamandala does not love Rani because of any physical beauty or charm of hers. In the beginning of the film, Rani was a very beautiful girl.
As time passes by, her beauty starts fading away. But Rani does not accept it. She says that she has always been beautiful and will always be beautiful. Her beauty is not due to any external factors. It is her inner beauty that is reflected on her face.
What is the meaning of the title “Nagamandala”?
The name Nagamandala is derived from a Sanskrit word ‘Nagama’ which means a beautiful and a charming woman. The word’mandala’ means a circle or a ring. Hence, Nagamandala means a woman who is the center of a circle or a ring. The word ‘Nagamandala’ also has a double meaning. It can also mean a woman who is the center of a circle or a ring of love.
Explain the character sketch of Rani in Nagamandala by Girish Karnad
The main character of the story, Rani lives in a house with her mother. She lives in a small room which is very close to the outside. She is in love with a man named Nagamandala. She is a typical Indian girl who believes in arranged marriages. She wants to get married to Nagamandala but her parents do not agree to it as they fear the gossip and scandal.
After being married to Nagamandala for some time, she finds out that he was previously married. Her parents agree to send her back to her husband however, after Rani gives birth to a baby girl, she decides to run away from her husband and leave her daughter with her parents. In the end, she meets Nagamandala again in a temple and they are married.
The character of Rani represents the typical Indian woman who is completely dependent on her husband. The story highlights the idea that a woman should not be submissive to her husband. In this story, Rani leaves her husband because she does not want to be treated like a “slave”.
