Karnad’s Hayavadana: Reflections through a Dialectical Frame

Abstract

Karnad’s Hayavadana narrates the quest for wholeness in a dialectical set-up of creation. The pursuit of absolute happiness amid chaos and incomplete order of the world becomes a significant theme of the narrative structure. Through its exquisite symbolism, the play captures the dynamics of the contrary, opposing yet integral aspects of our being - body and intellect, which transform to create and evolve spiritually. The play unfolds the saga of dialectical interplay, which unfolds and expands to re-create ever-new patterns of thought.