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By:

Shoma A. Chatterji

21 August 2024 at 10:49:40 am

The Pallbearer’s Tragedy

Three decades after its premiere, Rangakarmee’s Mayyat remains a searing theatrical indictment of caste. Rangakarmee is perhaps the only theatre group that has been producing and performing plays in Hindi in Kolkata for 50 years this year. Founded and headed by the late Usha Ganguly, it is still as active and dynamic in presenting Hindi plays mainly new and sometimes recreating for the new audience, old plays that are timeless in their content and their appeal. The amazing feature of Mayyat...

The Pallbearer’s Tragedy

Three decades after its premiere, Rangakarmee’s Mayyat remains a searing theatrical indictment of caste. Rangakarmee is perhaps the only theatre group that has been producing and performing plays in Hindi in Kolkata for 50 years this year. Founded and headed by the late Usha Ganguly, it is still as active and dynamic in presenting Hindi plays mainly new and sometimes recreating for the new audience, old plays that are timeless in their content and their appeal. The amazing feature of Mayyat is that it was first performed by Usha Ganguly and her troupe way back in 1997 and has already performed around 500 shows spanning 30 years and signifies the cross-generational reach and popularity of the play. We saw a group of absolutely new actors dedicated to Rangakarmee. Their performance defined the strict discipline, the constant workouts and rehearsals to keep mobile and flexible because the very big cast needed to be perfect in body, mind and spirit during each 45-minute performance. What does the word Maiyyat mean? It is said to have its roots in Arabic and literally, it translates as ‘dead body’ or ‘corpse.’ The play is rooted in the deep internalization among the low castes of their exploitation and torture by the Brahmins of their village. The Brahmins are proud in their gait, their body language and even in their pure form of dress with the holy thread of Brahminism proudly on display. The custom of the proud, arrogant and rude Brahmins is to choose at least one among the four untouchables to become the pall-bearer when someone of the upper-caste dies. Instead of feeling sad or insulted, the chosen untouchable feels blessed and proud for being allowed by this strange custom of becoming a fake “Brahmin” if even for one day. Lakku is one such untouchable who lives somewhere near Aurangabad and leads a miserable life of poverty with the burden of a mentally deranged, motherless son he takes care of. The pall is decorated heavily with flowers and instead of looking like a bourse, it is decorated with lots of flowers like a palanquin. Someone obviously among the Brahmins is dead and the other Brahmins draw lots to find out which untouchable will be chosen to offer his shoulder to the bourse. `When Lakku’s name comes up in the shuffling of the paper chips, he is thrilled that at least for one day, he will enjoy the ‘blessing’ of becoming a “Brahmin.” But forced to run through the village on an empty stomach and with a weak body, Lakku collapses and dies before the bourse can reach the crematorium. Now, the question is – who will carry his body and carry it to the cremation ground? The entire performance, with 23 theatre actors, originally scripted, designed and directed by Usha Ganguly, is now performed by a new young cast under the guidance, training and supervision of Amal Saha, Deepesh Rajak, and Anirudh Sarkar. It has been conceived and designed like a musical opera with every Brahmin member of the cast, including the young women, dressed traditionally in pristine white with lots of marigold garlands and a sandalwood tikka adorning their foreheads. Though there are dialogues in the performance, these are either among the leading and decisive members among the Brahmins or scoldings and threats from the Brahmins to the four members from the untouchable tribe, each one representing a different low caste. These four men, alongwith Lakku and his mentally retarded son, keep waiting eagerly in one corner of the proscenium for the results of the lots to be drawn. They hug each other for joy when their names are announced and Lakku specially is thrilled with the responsibility of being pallbearer and becoming a Brahmin for just one night. Whose corpse is being carried in the bourse is not important. What is important is who are the pall bearers? At least, the Brahmins are not. What one carries home after watching a performance-play like Mayyat is the marvellous synchronization of the entire female cast wandering right around the proscenium space singing songs in complete harmony with not a note of error and the Brahmin men discussing, arguing and quarrelling over not how the corpse will be cremated but which low-caste man will become the pallbearer for one night. The bottom-line is caste is a continuous, historical evil. But should it remain so? (The writer is a noted film scholar. Views personal.)

A Smaller India for a Brighter Tomorrow

In the globe’s most crowded neighbourhood, India’s choices will shape not just its future but the world’s.

On this World Population Day, July 11, it is worth reflecting on a fact with significant implications: over half the world’s population lives within a circle drawn over Southeast Asia. Known as the Valeriepieris Circle, this area includes India at its center, not by fault, but by history. It is where civilizations have grown and flourished. However, this concentration also places immense responsibility on India. How we manage our population will influence not just our own future, but that of the region and the world.


What if India’s population had grown at the same pace as the global average since independence in 1947? The global average annual population growth rate since 1950 has been about 1.2 percent. If India had followed this trajectory, its population today would be around 500 to 550 million instead of 1.4 billion. This is not about rewriting the past, but imagining what is still possible ahead. This article is written not as a population expert, but as a scientist and citizen. It reflects on how voluntary, informed decisions can shape a future where every Indian thrives. That dream should become a reality one day.


With fewer people, our rich natural resources—fertile land, rivers, forests, and biodiversity—could better support our needs. Today, these resources are under pressure. By 2036, cities alone are expected to house over 600 million people, placing a massive burden on housing, water, and transport infrastructure.


The economy would benefit as well. Although we are now the world’s fourth-largest economy at USD 4.19 trillion, our per-person income is around USD 2,880. With fewer people, that could triple to about USD 8,380, giving each citizen a larger share of national prosperity.


Encouragingly, India is already witnessing an inclusive growth trajectory. According to the World Bank’s 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief, India now ranks fourth globally in income equality, ahead of the US, China, and Germany. The Gini index, a measure of inequality, has improved significantly, and 171 million people have exited extreme poverty over the past decade. These gains show what is possible when policy is aligned with purpose.


Healthcare would also improve. At present, India spends about USD 83 per person on health. With a smaller population, this could double to USD 166, leading to better care, more doctors, and shorter waiting times.


Education stands to gain. Less crowded classrooms allow for more attention to each child. Today, over half of our students learn in overcrowded conditions. Better education leads to smaller families, and smaller families allow for better education. This creates a positive cycle.


Environmental health would also improve. Water availability per person has dropped from over 5,000 cubic meters in 1951 to under 1,500 today. A smaller population would ease this burden, enabling better conservation of rivers, forests and clean air.


Employment remains a concern. Nearly 45 percent of graduates under 25 are unemployed. With fewer young people entering the workforce, the gap between skills and opportunities could narrow significantly.


Gender equity would also improve. Smaller families provide women with greater freedom to study, work, and access healthcare. According to McKinsey, achieving gender parity in the workforce could add USD 770 billion to India’s economy by 2025. This would be a significant gain from empowering half of the population.


India could also perform better in global arenas such as sports. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, India won seven medals. Australia, with just 26 million people, secured 46. With focused investment and talent development, India could nurture many more champions. A vision of a smaller yet stronger India should be taught and celebrated.


Education must start early, shaping aspirations around cleaner cities, better jobs and stronger families. Where schools cannot reach, storytelling can. Films, village theatre, mobile videos and radio dramas, especially in regional languages, can nudge social norms. Government initiatives like Mission Parivar Vikas and Ayushman Bharat show that respectful, culturally attuned messaging works.


The Valeriepieris Circle is a reminder that we live in one of the most densely populated parts of the world. Our choices matter not only for us, but for our neighbors and the planet.


The real challenge is not population size but unmet aspirations. One in five people globally cannot have the number of children they want. India’s fertility rate, at 1.9, is already below replacement level. Yet 36 percent of pregnancies are unintended, and many parents have more or fewer children than they planned. This is not about control but choice. Unlike China’s coercive model, India must empower its citizens through education, healthcare and informed decision-making.


If we act now, real change is achievable within a generation. The economy could grow more quickly, families could save more, and public funds for housing, education, and healthcare could go further. More women could enter the workforce, and India’s performance in global competitions might also improve.


These future possibilities should not remain confined to policy documents. They must be part of everyday discussions, school curricula, and the national imagination. When young minds and communities begin to visualize a healthier, more equitable India, change becomes both possible and inevitable.


We are at a pivotal moment. The decisions we make today will shape not just our demographic profile but our social and economic future. A smaller population, supported by inclusive growth and intentional policy, can ensure that India’s tomorrow is not only brighter, but more balanced, resilient, and just.


(The author is the former Director, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, and Visiting Professor, IIT Bombay. Views personal.)

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