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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.)

Ulhasnagar drowns in potholes

Commissioner Manisha Awhale’s showy administration exposed again

Ulhasnagar: Despite bagging the first rank in the Maharashtra government’s 100 Days Action Plan initiative, Ulhasnagar city is currently grappling with flooded roads, massive potholes, and widespread public frustration during the ongoing monsoon season. Citizens have alleged that the much-celebrated action plan remains only on paper, as ground reality paints a starkly different picture.

 

Ulhasnagar Municipal Commissioner Manisha Awhale was recently honored by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for exemplary performance under the 100-day action plan. However, locals question the credibility of the recognition, pointing to the deteriorated condition of city roads and the daily struggles faced by commuters.

 

Throughout the city, potholes have emerged on major roads, school routes, hospital access lanes, marketplaces, and residential colonies. These potholes, often submerged under rainwater, have made travel treacherous for both pedestrians and vehicle users. Daily reports of accidents, children risking injury en route to school, and rising cases of waterborne diseases have raised serious concerns about public safety and health.

 

While Speaking to, The Perfect Voice, local resident Sagar Shinde said, “Commissioner Manisha Awhale received the award for being the best commissioner under the 100-Day Action Plan, but the current condition of our city’s roads makes this award feel like salt rubbed into the wounds of the people. Every year when the monsoon arrives, roads disappear under water and turn into a sea of potholes. Despite this recurring problem, no effective solution is ever implemented. Our daily lives have been endangered due to these potholes accidents are frequent, and we fear for our children’s safety going to school. While the commissioner may be celebrated, for us citizens, this feels like a mockery of our suffering. Ulhasnagar needs a responsive administration that delivers real results, not just paper awards.”

 

In light of these realities, the prestigious first rank awarded to Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation seems ironically contradictory. Residents demand that the administration translate accolades into actual action, ensuring Ulhasnagar lives up to its title not just in documents, but in the daily lives of its people.

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