Andha Yug (IV)_Short notes

Character Sketch of Ashwatthama

Introduction

Ashwatthama is one of the most powerful and tragic characters in ‘Andha Yug’. He is the son of Guru Dronacharya, and represents the spirit of blind revenge and moral darkness that survives even after the war ends.
Through Ashwatthama, Dharamvir Bharati shows how anger, hatred, and wounded pride can destroy a man’s humanity.

Symbol of Revenge and Destruction

After the Mahabharata war, most warriors are dead.
Ashwatthama is filled with bitterness and vengeance because his father, Dronacharya, was killed through deceit by Dhrishtadyumna and Yudhishthira. He cannot accept the defeat of the Kauravas or the injustice done to his father. His desire for revenge becomes stronger than his sense of right and wrong.

His Moral Blindness

Ashwatthama’s actions are driven by blind rage, not by reason or dharma. He attacks the sleeping and unarmed Pandavas, killing them mercilessly. He even wants to destroy the unborn child in Uttara’s womb so that the Pandava line will not continue. This shows that he has completely lost his moral vision. He becomes the true image of “Andha Yug”.

His Curse and Punishment

When Ashwatthama releases the deadly Brahmastra, he cannot withdraw it because his father never taught him that secret. Krishna saves the unborn child by taking the blow upon himself and then curses Ashwatthama: he must wander on the earth forever, carrying the pain of his sins.

Symbolic Meaning

Ashwatthama is not just an individual. He represents the evil that survives after every war. He stands for the human tendency to seek revenge even when the war is over. Through him, Bharati warns that violence never ends violence; it only creates endless suffering.

Character Sketch of Gandhari

Introduction:

Gandhari is one of the most powerful and tragic women in ‘Andha Yug’.
She is the queen of Hastinapur, wife of Dhritarashtra, and mother of the hundred Kaurava sons. In the play, she represents the voice of sorrow, moral anger, and spiritual blindness. Her suffering and her curse to Krishna form the emotional centre of the play.

A Devoted Wife:

Gandhari is known for her loyalty and devotion.
Even though she is born with sight, she chooses to blindfold herself for life to share the darkness of her blind husband Dhritarashtra.
This act shows her noble sense of sacrifice and duty, but also becomes a symbol of moral blindness. She refuses to see the evil deeds of her own sons.

A Sorrowful Mother:

The war takes away all her hundred sons, including her beloved Duryodhana. Her heart is filled with grief and despair. Her motherhood turns into deep pain as she realises that her sons have perished because of their greed and pride. She becomes a symbol of the motherland mourning the loss of her children in a self-destructive war.

Her Anger and Curse:

Gandhari’s sorrow turns into anger and bitterness against Krishna.
She blames him for not preventing the war. In her fury, she curses Krishna that his own clan, the Yadavas, will one day destroy each other and that he himself will die at the hands of a hunter. Her curse becomes true later, showing that even divine figures must face the consequences of human suffering.

Her Repentance and Tragic End:

In the end, Gandhari realises the futility of hatred and the weight of her curse. Living in the forest with Dhritarashtra and Kunti, she repents for her anger and dies in the forest fire. Her death symbolises the final purification of her soul after years of suffering.

Character Sketch of Sanjaya

Introduction

Sanjaya is one of the most significant and morally upright characters in ‘Andha Yug’. He is the charioteer and counsellor of King Dhritarashtra.
Sanjaya is blessed with divine vision by Lord Vyasa to narrate the events of the war to the blind king. He is the symbol of truth, conscience, and moral awareness in an age of destruction and blindness.

A Messenger of Truth

Sanjaya’s main duty is to inform Dhritarashtra about the events of the war. He performs this role honestly and fearlessly. Even though the truth is painful, he does not hide it. He tells Dhritarashtra and Gandhari about the total destruction at Kurukshetra and the death of their sons. Through Sanjaya, Bharati shows the importance of truth even in times of hopelessness.

The Voice of Conscience

In a world where everyone is blinded by pride, greed, and anger, Sanjaya acts as the voice of conscience. He represents the human capacity to think morally and spiritually. He tries to make Dhritarashtra realise that his fear and regret are useless now — it was his blindness to truth that caused this destruction. Sanjaya reminds others of Krishna’s message of faith, duty, and surrender.

A Witness to Destruction

Sanjaya moves between the battlefield and the palace, witnessing the full horror of the war. He sees how hatred consumes both the Kauravas and the Pandavas. His experiences make him deeply sorrowful and disillusioned with mankind. He symbolises the helpless witness — one who sees everything clearly but cannot stop the tragedy.

A Symbol of Insight and Spiritual Vision

Unlike the physically blind Dhritarashtra, Sanjaya can “see” — not just with his eyes, but with spiritual understanding. He represents inner sight, or the power to recognise moral truth. His clarity contrasts with the blindness of others around him, making him a moral and spiritual light in a dark world.

His Role in the Epilogue

In the epilogue, Sanjaya is present at the time of Krishna’s death.
He wants to surrender himself to Krishna, symbolising his desire for redemption and faith. When the hunter’s arrow kills Krishna, Sanjaya screams and faints — this moment expresses the deep sorrow of the end of dharma (righteousness) and the beginning of Kali Yuga.

Title of the play

The title ‘Andha Yug’ literally means “The Age of Blindness.” It is one of the most meaningful and symbolic titles in modern Indian drama. Dharamvir Bharati uses this title not only to describe the physical blindness of Dhritarashtra, but also the moral and spiritual blindness that grips the entire society after the war of Kurukshetra.

The play shows how men lose their sense of righteousness, compassion, and truth in the name of revenge, ego, and hatred. Every character — Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, Ashwatthama, and even the people of Hastinapur — becomes blind to justice and humanity. Their blindness leads to destruction and despair.

The title also reflects the post-Partition reality of India, when people had become blind to peace and brotherhood and were driven by communal hatred. Thus, ‘Andha Yug’ is not only about the blind king or the Mahabharata age, but also about any age in which mankind loses moral vision.

In short, the title symbolises the moral decay, spiritual darkness, and inner blindness of human beings that bring about their own ruin.

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