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Manikhi Bag: A Garhwali Drama Ridiculing Government Bureaucracy, Politicians and Society for Corruption 

(Review of a Satirical Garhwali Drama ‘Manikhi Bag’ (1993) by Kula Nand Ghansala)

 

                                               By: Bhishma Kukreti 
                    Kula Nand Ghansala is well famous name in Garhwali dramas, Ghansala has already written more than ten Garhwali dramas and most of them are staged.  ‘Manikhi Bag’ (1993) by Kula Nand Ghansala was first staged in 1993 in Gopeshwar, Chamoli Garhwal.
             As the Russian drama ‘The Government Inspector’ (1836) by Nikolai Gogol; French film Ridicule; A Pakistani drama Burka Vaganza (Aju ka Theatre); South African play ‘Survival Asinamali’ ridicules white bureaucrats; Mexican theatre ridiculed politicians around 1920; ‘Manikhi Bag’ (1993) by Kula Nand Ghansala successfully ridicules local self-government politicians, bureaucrats, and society together.
             The theme is about gram Pradhan and other characters as government officials and business community apply corrupt methods for taking monitory advantages. The playwright criticizes people for their ignoring these man-eaters. The tiger is the watchman of the goats.
               The playwright Kula Nand Ghansala uses various emotions which are attracting points for the audience.  The satire and humor of drama may create laughter but ultimately compel the audience to think. The real objective of any humor or satire is to create smiles and laughter but in the end, compel the audience or readers to think about the real cause.
         There are nine acts in this satirical drama. There are a total of twenty-six characters in the drama. The story construction of the satirical drama ‘Manikhi Bag’ (1993) by Kula Nand Ghansala is well within the command and the events seem from the daily life. The story is accelerated by lyrics at the beginning of each act.
        The dialogues are fit for the characters, and the timing of the action of the characters. The drama is a realistic modern drama.
              Bhishma Kukreti states that the contribution of Kula Nand Ghansala in international drama art is equal to Honore de Balzac, James Berry, Chekhov, Ibsen, and George Colman, William dean, Bernard Shaw, Sinclair for understanding the social construction and depicting it in the drama.

 Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti

Notes on Asian Satirical Dramas Ridiculing Government Bureaucracy, Politicians and Society for Corruption and self deception, South Asian Dramas Ridiculing Government Bureaucracy , Politicians and Society for Corruption and self deception, Indian  Satirical Dramas Ridiculing Government Bureaucracy , Politicians and Society for Corruption and self deception, North Indian  Satirical Dramas Ridiculing Government Bureaucracy , Politicians and Society for Corruption and self deception, Himalayan  Satirical Dramas Ridiculing Government Bureaucracy , Politicians and Society for Corruption and self deception, Uttarakhandi  Satirical Dramas Ridiculing Government Bureaucracy , Politicians and Society for Corruption and self deception, Garhwali  Satirical Dramas Ridiculing Government Bureaucracy , Politicians and Society for Corruption and self deception

Ab Kya Holu? : A Garhwali Drama about Separate Uttarakhand Movement


                                           Bhishma Kukreti
              Separate state Uttarakhand movement had been a strong base for Garhwali literature in terms of a new subject, new creativity, and new energy in the literary world.
               The creative creates classic literature basing the Uttarakhand movement.  The Garhwali drama’ Ab Kya Holu?’ by Kula Nand Ghansala is an example of the creation of classic literature or offbeat literature at the time of the Uttarakhand movement.
               Kula Nand Ghansala is able to create an atmosphere of Uttarakhand movement in the drama’ Ab Kya Holu?.’ There are various characters in the drama – selfish, sacrificing, ignorant about movement but involved, well aware about movement and involved, well aware about movement and not involved, There is oppression by the government and its administrator (police force).
                Kula Nand Ghansala could dramatize the situation with dialogues fit for each character. Definitely, the aim of Ghansala was to create awareness about the movement and he put many such speeches which are necessary for creating the enthusiasm for the movement.
           In the future, the drama will always work as a refreshing moment for the Uttarakhand movement.
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti 

Jai Badri Narayan: A Religious Garhwali Drama about the Story of Lord Badri Narayan


                               Bhishma Kukreti

                     Lalit Keshwan wrote the religious or spiritual Garhwali drama Jai Badri Narayan’ just after the staging of his first chivalry-based Garhwali drama ‘Hari Hindwan’.  Lalit Keshwan published the religious or spiritual Garhwali drama ‘Jai Badri Narayan’ in 2011.
                  The one-act religious or spiritual Garhwali Drama ‘Jai Badri Narayan’ is about the story of Lord Badri Narayan.  There was a demon Durdam who wanted to be immortal forever. Durdam worshipped lord Sun and gets 1000 shields. Durdam started harassing deities, goddesses, sages, and saints. Lord Vishnu comes to rescue the subject and destroys the 1000 shields of Durdam. Lord Vishnu rests in the Badri region and the place is now called Badri Narayan.
             Lalit Keshwan used eleven Jagars for narrating and accelerating the story. Since the spiritual and religious drama ‘Jai Badri Narayan’ is about Lord Badri Narayan, the play is a mixture of Parsi theatre style and modern style. Jagars create an atmosphere of Garhwali folk feature in the religious and spiritual drama ‘Jai Badri Narayan’.
  The prose dialogues are common dialogues of mythology.   Jagars are capable of creating a religious and religious atmosphere in the drama. 
  The drama is useful for knowing the story of Badri Narayan.                 
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti

Notes on Asian Religious Plays, Spiritual Dramas; South Asian Religious Plays, Spiritual Dramas; Indian Religious Plays, Spiritual Dramas; North Indian Religious Plays, Spiritual Dramas; Himalayan Religious Plays, Spiritual Dramas; Uttarakhandi Religious Plays, Spiritual Dramas; Kumauni Religious Plays, Spiritual Dramas; Garhwali Religious Plays, Spiritual Dramas to be continued …..

Khel Khatam Paisa Hajam: A Garhwali Drama about Land Swindling
 
                                    Bhishma Kukreti

               The mother of all desires by a migrated Garhwali is to buy land for houses on plains. There are people busy deceiving others in the name of land sales.  There is a spree for land buying in Dehradun and nearby districts such as Saharanpur. Manmohan Sharma comes to know that there is five Beegha land with mango gardens available for sale. Manmohan Sharma and his maternal uncle make agreements with other three relatives to buy the favorable land for housing in Saharanpur. All five relatives of Manmohan pay fifty percent advance to the landowner after scrutinizing the papers. Manmohan gets a brain hemorrhage when he comes to know the reality.
     The drama story is very simple. There are eight characters in the drama about land swindlers and the dialogues are simple as per their characters. The drama ‘Khel Khatam Paisa Hajam’ (2011) By Lalit Keshwan about land swindlers is an average drama.
     Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti       

 Notes on Asian dramas about land swindlers, South Asian dramas about land swindlers, Indian dramas about land swindlers, North Indian dramas about land swindlers, Himalayan dramas about land swindlers, Uttarakhandi language dramas about land swindlers, Garhwali dramas about land swindlers to be continued…..
         

Audal: A Garhwali Drama Cautioning Bad Effects of Cross Culture Specially Dowry

                                 Bhishma Kukreti
                     Cross culture has benefits and negative effects too. When Garhwalis came in contact with other societies in the plains they learn many positive aspects from other societies and adapted themselves for future benefits.  However, Garhwalis adapted a couple of negative customs from the plains. One the dangerous custom is groom side taking dowry from the bride's side.  Garhwali Drama ‘Audal’ by Mohan Singh Bisht is about a couple of negative effects of cross-culture specially Garhwalis adapting dowry custom. The drama is relevant to date. Mohan Sigh Bisht has been successful in dramatizing Garhwalis leaving their beneficial culture and adapting new unwanted culture in plains and in Garhwal as well. The characterization and dialogues suit the theme of the bad effects of dowry.
 Geetanjali Kala Manch staged ‘Audal’ a Garhwali Drama Cautioning Bad Effects of Cross Culture Specially Dowry in 1982 in Delhi.

References:
1-Dr Anil Dabral, Garhwali Gady Parampara (Garhwali Dramas from beginning till 1990)
2-Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna, Gad Myateki Ganga (Garhwali dramas from beginning till 1975)
3-Dr Sudharani, Garhwal ka  Rangmanch (Garhwali Dramas  from beginning till 1985)
4-Drama special issue of Chitthi Patri magazine (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 (Garhwali Drams and theatres from beginning till 1985)
6-Dr Bhakt Darshan: Barrister Mukandi Lal Srmriti Granth (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 Garhwali drama)

Copyright@ Bhishm Kukreti


Notes on Asian Dramas Cautioning Bad Effects of Cross Culture, Specially Dowry South Asian Dramas Cautioning Bad Effects of Cross Culture Specially Dowry, SAARC Countries Dramas Cautioning Bad Effects of Cross Culture Specially Dowry, Indian Dramas Cautioning Bad Effects of Cross Culture Specially Dowry, North Indian Dramas Cautioning Bad Effects of Cross Culture Specially Dowry, Himalayan Dramas Cautioning Bad Effects of Cross Culture Specially Dowry, Mid Himalayan Dramas Cautioning Bad Effects of Cross Culture Specially Dowry, Uttarakhandi Dramas Cautioning Bad Effects of Cross Culture Specially Dowry , Kumauni Dramas Cautioning Bad Effects of Cross Culture Specially Dowry, Garhwali Dramas Cautioning Bad Effects of Cross Culture Specially Dowry
एशियाई नाटकों में दहेज प्रथा , दक्षिण एशियाई नाटकों में दहेज प्रथा ,सार्क देशो के नाटकों में दहेज प्रथा ,भारतीय नाटकों में दहेज प्रथा , उत्तर भारतीय नाटकों में दहेज प्रथा ,हिमालयी नाटकों में दहेज प्रथा ,मध्य हिमालयी नाटकों में दहेज प्रथा,उत्तराखंडी नाटकों में दहेज प्रथा ,कुमाउनी नाटकों में दहेज प्रथा , गढवाली नाटकों में दहेज प्रथा , लेखमाला जारी .....