3 Review(s)

Final Solutions, an award-winning play written by Mahesh Dattani, focuses on the issue of communalism, an issue that has continued to resonate with the Indian society for a long time now. The story covers several decades of communal disharmony, beginning with the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan and shifting its focus to the present day communal strife. It explores the varying lives and attitudes of three generations of a Gujarati family belonging to the urban middle class. The interplay of the characters highlights the religious bigotry and the stereotypes of religious identity that are highly prevalent in India, more so among the Hindus and the Muslims. The book highlights tolerance as the only clear and positive solution to such mindless strife - a solution that is highly relevant to all communal conflicts around the world. Final Solutions was published in 1993. This particular edition is a 2005 reprint by Penguin Books. Mahesh Dattani is an Indian playwright, director, and actor. He was born on August 7, 1958, in Bangalore, India. He graduated with a degree in History, Political Science, and Economics. He also holds a postgraduate degree in Marketing and Advertising Management. His debut film, Mango Souffle, put him directly under the spotlight. Dattani is known for original and unusual themes and technical experimentation in his plays. Some of his plays include Bravely Fought The Queen, Dance Like A Man : A Stage play in two, and 30 Days In September. He has won the Sahitya Akademi Award for his book of plays.