Language, Identity, and Cultural Representation in Mahesh Dattani’s Final Solutions

Abstract

In the contemporary landscape of Indian English drama, Mahesh Dattani stands out for his unflinching exploration of the communal psyche. His seminal play, Final Solutions, provides a critical site for examining how identity is not a static inheritance but a fluid construct shaped by language and cultural narratives. This article investigates the dramatic techniques such as the stylized Chorus and the recurring motif of the diary that Dattani employs to expose the deep-seated prejudices within the Indian middle class. By analyzing the intersection of historical trauma and modern secularism, the paper argues that Dattani’s work challenges traditional cultural representations, suggesting that communal “solutions” can only be found by deconstructing the linguistic and psychological walls that define the “Other.”