Recasting Tradition: Myth and the Construction of Cultural Identity in the Dramaturgy of Girish Karnad

Abstract

This article explores how Girish Karnad reinterprets myth and legend to examine the construction of civilizational identity in modern Indian drama. Karnad’s plays are deeply rooted in classical myths, folklore, and traditional narratives, yet they go beyond simple retelling. Instead, he reshapes these narratives to address contemporary social, cultural, and philosophical concerns. By revisiting mythological themes, Karnad questions established notions of identity, morality, power, and tradition within Indian civilization.
Plays such as Hayavadana, Nagamandala, and The Fire and the Rain demonstrate how mythic and legendary elements can be transformed into powerful dramatic tools for exploring human dilemmas and cultural contradictions. In Hayavadana, the theme of incompleteness highlights the complexity of human identity. Nagamandala uses folklore and storytelling traditions to challenge patriarchal norms and give voice to marginalized female experiences. Similarly, The Fire and the Rain revisits Vedic mythology to examine the tensions between desire, sacrifice, and spiritual ambition.
Through these reinterpretations, Karnad establishes a dialogue between the past and the present. His plays reveal that civilizational identity is not fixed but constantly reconstructed through cultural memory, mythic imagination, and changing social realities. Thus, Karnad’s theatre becomes a vital medium for understanding how tradition is reimagined in modern Indian literary discourse.