Kathai Birali (काठऐ बिराळि): A Garhwali Social Drama depicting Frustration of Intellectual Migrated Garhwalis
(Review of a contemporary Garhwali Drama Kathai Birali (काठऐ बिराळि) by Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna)
(Notes on contemporary Indian dramas, contemporary Himalayan dramas, contemporary Uttarakhandi dramas, contemporary Garhwali dramas, hundred years of modern Garhwali dramas)
Bhishm Kukreti
Kathai Birali (काठऐ बिराळि) is one of the sixteen contemporary Garhwali dramas of ‘Chakrchal’(1986) a contemporary Garhwali drama collection book by Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna. The drama deals with the emotional attachment of migrated Garhwalis of Delhi, and their desire to do something for their beloved motherland Garhwal. However, due to the necessary struggle for a better life in the cities of Delhi, Mumbai, etc they are unable to contribute physically there in Garhwal.
The contemporary Garhwali drama Kathai Birali (काठऐ बिराळि) is about social workers such as Martand (a businessman), Tarang (a poet and intellectual), Aruna (a student leader), Bedhadak (a journalist), Raghu (Peon at Garhwal Sabha Delhi, Ajad (a politician), Bhola (just came to Delhi for his wife‘s treatment) taking part in the conference.
There is no thrill in this contemporary drama but it opens many problems of Garhwal and pertaining to migrated Garhwalis. There is evergreen problem of contemporary Garhwal in the drama Kathai Birali (काठऐ बिराळि) as following dialogue states
मार्तंड - हाँ त आजै मिटिग्यौ कार्यक्रम क्या च?
तरंग- बात त पुराणि ही च गुरजि पण अमणि ज़रा हम लोग वां पर कुछ ण्या तरीका से
गंभीरता पूर्बक स्वचणा छां -पाड़ी माटो सौब उन्दों बौग्यी औणु च.
The playwright of contemporary drama Kathai Birali (काठऐ बिराळि) also deals with the negative points in the contemporary political world. Azad lost election recent election. Now, he joins the ruling party and the characters of the contemporary drama Kathai Birali (काठऐ बिराळि) describe his political characteristics as –
मार्तंड - अच्छा त आजाद जीन ह्रदय परिवर्तन कर यले ?
अरुणा - ये देश मा हौर हूणु क्या च. बगैर स्र्जारी का दिल बदलेणा छन -कमाल
Bahuguna has been a leader in adopting popular Hindi and Sanskrit phrases in Garhwali as
तरंग-सूरज का समणि मु छ्याळो क्य रगर्यौण
The contemporary Garhwali drama ‘Kathai Birali (काठऐ बिराळि)’ is successful in depicting the frustrating state of migrated Garhwali intellectuals and social workers who can only discuss the problems of contemporary Garhwal and Garhwalis in plains but are totally unable to act upon.
Bahuguna wrote this contemporary Garhwali drama ‘Kathai Birali (काठऐ बिराळि)’ for radio medium. Therefore, Abodh Bandhu emphasized more dialogues than the requirement of the stage in contemporary Garhwali drama ‘Kathai Birali (काठऐ बिराळि)’.
References:
1-Dr Anil Dabral, Garhwali Gady Parampara (Contemporary Garhwali Dramas from beginning till 1990)
2-Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna, Gad Myateki Ganga (Contemporary Garhwali dramas from beginning till 1975)
3-Dr Sudharani, Garhwal ka Rangmanch (Contemporary Garhwali Dramas from beginning till 1985)
4-Drama special issue of Chitthi Patri magazine (Contemporary Garhwali Dramas and plays staged in Delhi, Karachi, Mumbai, Dehradun and other places)
5- Dr Hari Datt Bhatt Shailesh, Garhwali Natak evam Rangmanch: Ek Vihngam Avlokan (Contemporary Garhwali Drams and theatres from beginning till 1985)
6-Dr Bhakt Darshan: Barrister Mukandi Lal Srmriti Granth (Contemporary Garhwali dramatists or theatres playwrights till 1985
7-Dr Nand Kishor Dhoundiyal, Garhwal ki Divangat Vibhutiyan (pp108-116, about contribution of Bhagwati Prasad Panthri for developing Contemporary Garhwali drama)
8- Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna,1986, ‘Chakrchal’ , 16 Contemporary Garhwali Drama collection, B2 -B48, Janakpuri, New Delhi -110058
Copyright@ Bhishm Kukreti, Mumbai, India
Notes on contemporary Indian dramas, contemporary Himalayan dramas, contemporary Uttarakhandi dramas, contemporary Garhwali dramas, hundred years of contemporary Garhwali dramas to be continued…..