Ghashiram is an offspring of a specific social situation. The character, Ghashiram comes in search of fortune to Pune with his wife and daughter. He becomes the victim of power structure in the beginning of the play when he is wrongly abused of theft and thrown to prison. Later he uses his patriarchal power over his daughter and submits her to Nana Phadnavis in exchange of political power. Right from the first entry of Ghashiram into the city of Pune he has a longing to combine himself with the corrupt power structures of Pune. This is evident in the scene when Nana dances erotically with the courtesans, his ankles sprain and Ghashiram waiting for a chance to find legitimate position clutches the opportunity to curry favour to Nana’s predicaments and offers his back as a support for Nana thus literally suggesting the carrying of Nana’s sexual follies on his back. It is focused that it is for the sexual folly that Ghashiram is able to be use to Nana.

Ghashiram Kotwal buys power through sex. He scarifies the virtue of his daughter in the altar of worship of power. Like a typical tragic hero he suffers from imprudence and fails to have an integrated view of the truth of life.

Having purchased power through sex Ghashiram grows muddled thoughtlessly.

“The way a wounded tiger becomes addicted to blood, so the Kotwal has come to love the smell”.

Ghashiram’s final surrender to angry Brahmans and his reconciliation with his lot puts forth his belated realization of his sin and repentance. Ghashiram like a typical hero suffers from personal flaw which ultimately leads to his destruction.

The moment Ghashiram gains power he loses his self-control and brims with pride enchanted in savagery and barbarousness. Though he feels guilty at times, the hunger for power overwhelms the guiltiness which makes him clamour: “Now he’s in hand… oh, my daughter… The beast… oh you people! Look! I’ve given my beloved daughter into the jaws of the wolf! Look at this father putting his heart’s child up for sale. Look at my innocent daughter – a whore. The overripe bastard eating her like peach… spit on me… “

Thus Ghashiram could clearly perceive that his innocent daughter’s life has been ruined for his egotistic nature but still his mad craving for power makes him continues his operations.

When Ghashiram comes in search of opulence to Poona he was wrongly accused to theft, humiliated and arrested. In addition to this the police prevent Ghashiram from attending the feast given by Peshwas. This utter humiliation suffered in the hands of policemen hits his ego and makes him challenge:

“…I’ll come back to Poona. I’ll show my strength. It’ll cost you! Your good days are gone… There’s no one to stop me now, to mock me to make me bend, to cheat me. Now I’m devil.”

“You’ve made me an animal: I’ll be a devil inside… I’ll make this Poona kingdom of pigs….”

Ghashiram suffers damage of reputation in hands of policemen for no fault of his. The hunger for revenge in Ghashiram combines with the hunger for power so immensely that he hunts the best way to avenge the people of Poona.

After gaining power as Kotwal of Poona, Ghashiram starts patrolling through the streets of Poona during the nights. The men and women have to stay at home at night and are not supposed to have extramarital relationships. As a result of the strict imposition of his rules,

“Prostitutes’ lane was desolate / the chasing of women was halted. / Pimps turned into beggars. / Counterfeit coin were worthless”.

“The nails of the Brahmin’s right hand are pulled out. The fingers are washed with lemon juice and soap. All the lines and signs of his hands are noted. His hands are wrapped in a bag is sealed and ordeal is prepared.”

Ghashiram grows arrogant and mishandles people and strives for strict rules but sometimes he becomes unreasonable and absurd. In one instance Ghashiram arrests a man who is in a hurry to fetch a midwife, Ghashiram inhumanly queries him;

“Why does she deliver in the middle of the night (slaps him)…”.

In another instance Ghashiram punishes a husband and wife on the suspicion of adultery. In another instance Ghashiram suspects a real permit to be counterfeit one; a woman goes straight to Nana and complains:

“My husband and his brother have been arrested by Kotwal’s soldiers. My father-in-law died. They won’t let them hold the funeral. The permit is real but they call it counterfeit. Sir, the corpse has been lying in the cremation ground since morning. The dogs are gathering. Sir please give us justice.” Though people become fed up with the barbarous ways of Ghashiram they were not able to lay hands on him as Nana’s power is behind him.

Ghashiram refusing to listen to the explanation displays a remorseless behaviour making him to undergo the ordeal of holding a red ball iron his hands. The poor Brahmin moans and grumbles with agony,

“You have tormented a poor innocent Brahmin. You’ll die without children! You yourself will endure torment, greater than mine. You’ll die a dog’s death, grinding your heels in the dirt”.

The words of innocent Brahmin forecast the future decline of Ghashiram. The wages of sin are to be paid by him which is suggested by the death of Gauri in the hands of the midwife due to forced abortion. Ghashiram, a common man becoming a monster, is a product by society. It is also the society which is responsible for turning him into devil and being stoned to death.

Finally Ghashiram suffers from imprudence and fails to have an integrated view of the truths of life.

“No one should pity Ghashiram Kotwal because his unmarried daughter died when he was pregnant”

Having purchased power through sex Ghashiram grows muddled thoughtlessly.

“The way a wounded tiger becomes addicted to blood, so the Kotwal has come to love the smell”.

Ghashiram’s final surrender to angry Brahmans and his reconciliation with his lot puts forth his belated realization of his sin and repentance. Ghashiram like a typical hero suffers from personal flaw which ultimately leads to his destruction.

Ghashiram stimulates the hunger of Nana by delaying his meeting with Gauri. Ghashiram tactfully plays the game by not surrendering Gauri totally to Nana but retaining his grip by taking her away whenever he pleases. Nana is so enamored of Gauri that he request Ghashiram to send her to the palace for few days, but Ghashiram refuses it cunningly saying that the name of the girl is at stake and Punekars spread rumours about Nana and Gauri. Nana though initially refuses to this idea of making him the Kotwal finally yields to his carnal desire and condescends to make Ghashiram the Kotwal.

When Nana fears the power of Ghashiram as Kotwal he turns the blood thirsty mob against him without any slightly grievance or lamentation. Through the death of Ghashiram and continuous successful reign of Nana, the playwright suggests that not all the evil doers are punished; some are left free like Nana.