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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