Double Marginalization: Caste, Patriarchy and the Politics of Female Agency in Vijay Tendulkar’s Kanyadaan

Abstract

Vijay Tendulkar’s Kanyadaan is a significant modern Indian play that explores the complex relationship between caste, patriarchy, marriage, social reform and individual agency. The play centers on Jyoti Devalikar, a young woman belonging to an upper-caste Brahmin family, and her decision to marry Arun Athavale, a Dalit poet. Her father, Nath Devalikar, a liberal politician and social reformer, enthusiastically supports the marriage because he regards it as an opportunity to challenge the caste system. However, the consequences of the marriage expose the limitations of Nath’s idealistic approach to social reform. Jyoti gradually finds herself trapped in a violent and oppressive marriage, while her father continues to interpret her experience through the framework of his ideological commitment to caste reform. This paper examines Jyoti’s predicament through the concept of double marginalization. It argues that Jyoti occupies a complicated position within the play: she possesses caste privilege as an upper-caste woman but simultaneously experiences gendered marginalization as a daughter and wife. The play ultimately suggests that meaningful social transformation requires not only a challenge to caste but also recognition of individual autonomy and gender equality. Feminist theory helps clarify this argument by showing that women’s oppression is produced through intersecting structures rather than through gender alone.