The play Final Solutions by Mahesh Dattani begins with Daksha, a young woman recently married, sitting in her home, reflecting on her life. As she writes in her diary, Daksha reveals her feelings of confinement after marriage. Although India has gained freedom, she feels that women, like herself, are still not independent. She dreams of being a singer like Noor Jahan, but her desires are crushed by the restrictions placed on her by her husband’s family. Her life feels imprisoned within the walls of her home.
In her loneliness, Daksha finds comfort in her friendship with Zarine, a Muslim woman who shares her love for the music of Noor Jahan and Shamshad Begum. Together they bond over their shared passion for music and their friendship becomes a source of solace for Daksha.
The story then jumps forward 40 years. Daksha is now an elderly woman living in Gujarat. She has a son named Ramanik, who is married to Aruna and they have a daughter, Smita. The tension in the air is palpable as a rumor spreads that a Hindu statue has been broken by a Muslim. This sparks a wave of communal unrest between the Hindu and Muslim communities.
Amid this tension, Smita is talking to her friend, Tasneem, on the phone. Tasneem informs her that a bomb has gone off in her hostel. Smita’s father, Ramanik, takes the phone from her and speaks briefly with Tasneem, before hanging up. Concerned, Daksha calls her daughter-in-law, Aruna, asking her to lock all the doors and windows of the house, as the situation outside grows more dangerous.
At this moment, two Muslim men, Javed and Bobby, are introduced. They are fleeing from a mob of angry Hindus and run to Ramanik’s house for shelter. The Hindu group soon arrives at Ramanik’s home, demanding that he hand over Javed and Bobby. Ramanik refuses, despite the angry mob throwing stones at his house. Aruna, who is uncomfortable with Muslims in her home, urges Ramanik to throw them out, but he firmly tells her to be quiet. Ramanik speaks to Javed and Bobby with kindness, while Javed responds bitterly and rudely. It is at this point that Smita recognizes Javed and Bobby—Javed is the brother of her friend, Tasneem, and Bobby is her fiancé.
As the mob continues to throw stones, Ramanik remains unmoved, offering Javed and Bobby food and shelter. Javed, in frustration, tells Ramanik that Hindus, being in the majority, can do whatever they want to innocent people like them. Ramanik calmly explains the origins of the Hindu-Muslim conflict, recounting the historical incident of the Hindu Rath Yatra, when Muslims allegedly threw stones at a Hindu chariot, leading to violence.
Smita, who is growing increasingly uncomfortable with the situation, brings pillows for Javed and Bobby, telling them they will have to sleep on the floor. Javed, with a quiet dignity, says he has no problem with this as he is used to hardship. Later, Smita asks why Javed and Bobby are in her village during such tense times. Bobby explains that they came in search of job opportunities.
Ramanik, despite Smita’s protests, decides to offer Javed and Bobby jobs in his clothing shop. Smita, accuses Javed of being involved in terrorist activities and this leads to an argument between Ramanik and Javed. In a moment of anger, Ramanik mocks Javed and asking about his involvement in terrorist attacks. Javed feels deeply insulted and lashes out, leading to a physical altercation between the two. Bobby steps in to calm them down, explaining that Javed’s anger stems from his past experiences. Javed was once humiliated by a Hindu neighbor for accidentally touching a letter, which led him to lash out by throwing beef at the neighbor’s house.
After hearing this Ramanik begins to understand the deep rooted reasons behind Javed’s anger. Javed and Bobby decide to leave, but Ramanik insists that they stay and work in his shop, threatening to call the police if they leave. At this moment, Smita apologizes to Javed for exposing his past in front of the family.
The tension inside the house continues as Aruna, upon seeing Bobby inside a Hindu temple, asks him to leave. Bobby, however, takes a statue of a Hindu god in his hands and speaks about communal harmony. Eventually, Javed and Bobby leave Ramanik’s house. Before they go, Ramanik confesses to his mother that his father and grandfather had once burned Zarine’s shop, a Muslim woman, just to buy it cheaply. This revelation weighs heavily on Ramanik’s conscience, and he regrets the actions of his ancestors.
The play ends without a resolution. The violence and division between Hindus & Muslims continue and the characters are left with a sense of unresolved tension. The story highlights how historical events, prejudice and personal experiences shape the relationships between individuals, leaving the audience to reflect on the cycle of communal violence and its lasting impact.
Final Solutions does not offer easy answers or closure but invites the audience to confront uncomfortable truths about religious intolerance and the deep divisions in society. The play emphasizes the importance of understanding the human experience behind conflict and challenges the audience to question the “solutions” offered by hatred and division.
