Vijay Tendulkar – Silence! The Court is in Session
Vijay Tendulkar’s play Silence! The Court is in Session is a powerful social drama originally written in Marathi as Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe. It exposes the hypocrisy of middle-class morality, the cruelty of social judgement, and the oppression of women in a patriarchal society. The play is structured in three acts and centres around a mock trial that slowly turns into a brutal real trial of Leela Benare.
Act-wise Summary
Act 1 – Arrival, Rehearsal & Mock Court Begins
A group of amateur theatre artists arrives in a village to stage a mock court play for the villagers. The group includes:
- Leela Benare – school teacher, energetic, outspoken
- Kashikar – self-important leader, plays the judge
- Mrs. Kashikar – his wife
- Ponkshe, Karnik, Rokde – fellow members
- Samant – a simple villager who helps them
While waiting for the audience and time of performance, they decide to rehearse the mock trial. They choose Benare as the “accused” for the sake of practice and fun. On the surface, it looks like harmless joking, but:
- Benare is teased constantly about her personal life.
- Comments on her “character” and independence are made.
- We get hints that she has a hidden past involving a man named Prof. Damle.
By the end of Act 1, the stage is set for a mock trial that will slowly reveal real, painful truths. The act ends lightly on the outside, but tension is already present beneath the jokes.
Act 2 – Mock Trial Turns Serious
Act 2 begins as the group fully enacts the court scene. The characters take their roles:
- Kashikar – Judge
- Ponkshe – Witness
- Karnik – Lawyer
- Rokde – Helper / Observer
- Benare – Accused
At first, it is still playful. But slowly, the “charges” against Benare become disturbingly personal:
- She is accused of having an illicit relationship with Prof. Damle.
- She is accused of being pregnant out of wedlock.
- There is also a charge of attempting to kill the unborn child (infanticide).
The line between play-acting and reality breaks. The so-called “friends” use the trial to:
- expose her private life
- judge her morality
- humiliate her in front of others
Benare tries to laugh it off, but slowly her defence changes from joking to silence and visible pain. We learn:
- Prof. Damle, a respected intellectual, seduced her.
- He refused to marry her.
- Society blames Benare, not Damle.
The mock trial has now turned into a cruel real trial of Benare’s life and character.
Act 3 – Cruel Verdict & Benare’s Monologue
In Act 3, the group continues the trial with even more intensity. They now behave like real judges of society, not amateur actors. Benare’s past is laid bare:
- Her earlier love affair with her own maternal uncle is mentioned.
- Her loneliness and search for love are mocked.
- Her pregnancy becomes a weapon used against her.
The court delivers its “verdict”:
- Benare is declared guilty.
- They say she should terminate the pregnancy.
- They decide she should be dismissed from her job as a teacher.
Symbolically, this “verdict” represents what society does to women like Benare— it destroys their reputation, livelihood and hope.
Finally, Benare breaks her silence and delivers a powerful monologue. She talks about:
- her right to live and love
- her love for children and teaching
- her pain at being betrayed by Damle and judged by society
Her speech reveals the deep injustice faced by women who dare to live freely. After the mock court is over, the actors leave casually, treating it as a performance. But Benare collapses emotionally; she lies motionless on the stage. The title “Silence! The Court is in Session” becomes bitterly ironic— the court silences the victim instead of giving her justice.
Major Characters
- Leela Benare – Central character, school teacher, bold and independent; victim of social judgement.
- Kashikar – Self-righteous leader, plays judge; symbol of fake moral authority.
- Mrs. Kashikar – His wife; also participates in judging Benare.
- Ponkshe – Fellow member; educated but joins the cruelty.
- Karnik – Plays the lawyer; uses logic and language to attack Benare.
- Rokde – Young, hesitant; sees the cruelty but remains mostly silent.
- Samant – Simple villager; relatively innocent, less cruel than others.
- Prof. Damle – Never appears on stage but central to the plot; seduces and abandons Benare.
Major Themes
- Patriarchy & Oppression of Women – Benare is punished for her sexual freedom; the man goes unpunished.
- Hypocrisy of Middle-Class Morality – The so-called respectable people are cruel and judgemental.
- Public vs Private Life – Benare’s private life is dragged into the public court.
- Abuse of Power – The mock court becomes a tool to humiliate, not to give justice.
- Silence & Voice – Benare’s forced silence contrasts with her final monologue.
- Game vs Reality – What begins as a game reveals the true nature of society.
Symbols & Motifs
- The Court – Symbol of society’s judgement.
- Mock Trial – Shows how casually people ruin others’ lives.
- Silence – Represents suppression of women’s voices.
- Benare’s Pregnancy – Symbol of life, turned into a “crime” by society.
Critical Analysis
- Tendulkar uses a simple stage situation to explore deep social issues.
- The structure of a rehearsal/play-within-a-play exposes hidden truths.
- Benare is one of the strongest female characters in Indian drama—bold, emotional and tragic.
- The play criticizes how society protects powerful men like Damle but destroys vulnerable women.
- The ending is open, but emotionally devastating—Benare’s silence speaks louder than words.
Quick Revision Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Playwright | Vijay Tendulkar |
| Original Title | Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe (Marathi) |
| English Title | Silence! The Court is in Session |
| Structure | 3 Acts |
| Central Character | Leela Benare |
| Main Themes | Patriarchy, hypocrisy, social justice, women’s oppression |
| Setting | Village school / hall where mock court is staged |
| Message | Society often acts like a cruel court that silences the victim instead of punishing the guilty. |
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