Vijay Tendulkar's seminal work "Kanyadaan" is a scathing critique of this caste-ridden Indian society. But what is interesting is that Tendulkar highlights the caste system here, rather identifies how all attempts at social betterment prove fruitless in our progressive and post-independent society. This article shows the plight of Nath Devalikar, the protagonist of this drama when he faces real life dangers in his effort to abolish the caste system. Side by side with these “dalits” and “elites” However, this work also shows the madness of a theorist who stakes his daughter's life to prove the supremacy of his theory. The work also indirectly alludes to the pathetic condition of women in a patriarchal society. Vijay Tendulkar belongs to that avant-garde group of playwrights who can represent reality as it is. Her works become a harsh criticism of Indian society and the condition of women in such a patriarchal society. They also deal with the complexity of human relationships. Each of his works contains a subtle criticism of modern Indian society and a distinct character and message. 'Kanyadaan' explores the plot of modernity and social change in India through the marriage between two people of different castes and backgrounds. It proves that what we consider social and cultural progress in modern India is nothing but a big hoax. The work titled "Kanyadaan" alludes to the traditional Hindu custom of marriage in our society: giving a marriageable daughter from her guardian to a suitable young man who will give her security and protection in life. It is also desirable that the young man proves to be a constant companion of this woman Of course the bride's father worries a lot about his daughter's post-ma...... middle of paper ......mystical game on the wrong philosophy of an ineffective dreamer. Being puffed up with false romantic notions and "otherworldly Gandhian views on Harijans", he destroys his daughter's life. Jyoti achieves her true womanhood by rejecting her father's wrong philosophy and accepting life as it is. Tendulkar received the Saraswati Samman award for this play, because this play glorifies reality and nothing but reality, however crude it is. Works Cited Tendulkar, Vijay. 'Kanyadaan'.Translation.Gowri Ramnarayan. Delhi;OxfordUP,2010Vijay Tendulkar.Delhi;Katha'2001.Print9 (listed as VT)Tendulkar Vijay: Collected Plays in Translation. With an introduction by Samik Bandyopadhyay.Oxford India Paperback (OUP)Ghosh harp: Tendulkar's Kanyadaan: A study of patriarchy' taken from 'Discourses on Indian Drama in English' ed. Ankur Konar Avenel Press,2013