Bhuton ka Khoh: A Garhwali Problem Play Inbox x

Critical History of Dramas

Critical History of Indian Dramas

Critical History of Uttarakhandi Dramas

Critical History of Garhwali Dramas

Hundred Years of Garhwali dramas

                  Bhuton ka Khoh: A Garhwali Problem Play

      (Review of Bhuton ki Khoh Drama by Bhagwati Prasad Panthari )

                                    Bhishm Kukreti

                      The contribution of Professor Bhagwati Prasad Panthari (Tihri, 1914-1991) is immense for developing Garhwali literature. That is the reason that Dr. Nand Kishor Dhoundiyal calls the period of 1937- 1942 as ‘Panthari Era’ in modern Garhwali literature.

                   Bhuton ki Khoh drama is not fully a problem play as defined by western drama critics” Problem play deal with contentious social issues through debate between the characters on the stage who typically represent conflicting points of view within a realistic social context.”  However, in many ways the drama is nearest to problem plays as suggested by Ramsden Balmforth in his books as ‘The ethical and religious values in drama ‘(1925) that there have been other social problems than sex and married life as the problem of peace, problem of violence, etc.

                    The drama ‘Bhuton ka Khoh deals two aspects of life. Whether a person should allow his conscious to work for him or he should be victim of parental wishes. The dramatist deals this aspect with philosophical manner. Another aspect is parents want their children get /do jobs and become caws that all milk them. The drama deals the conflict between ‘Follow the bliss’ and ‘Follow the materialistic world’.  Bhagwati Prasad Panthari had been a freedom fighter against Tihri Riyasat and he was aware the conflicting situation between a young boy willing to go for freedom movement against British rule  and parents who want that their son get job for parental and his own security.  

                 Bhagwati Prasad Panthari published ‘Bhuton ki Khoh ‘drama in 1940 through Garhwali Sahity Kutir, Banaras.

             The story   of‘Bhuton ki Khoh ‘drama  is about a boy Kanti who lives in ‘Bhutha Makan’ with parents , is an idealistic youth and due to following his consciousness he is ready to sacrifice everything. Parents want that he should leave the freedom fighting activities of opposing the state and become a family man. Deputy Sahib wishes that Kanti marries his daughter. Due to high persuasion from parents and Deputy Sahib, Kanti agrees to take the job of British government and marry the daughter of deputy sahib. However, at the same time there is severe earth quack and everything vanishes.

              The drama deals with the long going conflicts of parents and young generation about young wants to jump into an unknown well of new creativity, innovation or new path but parents want that youth should take a materialistic path where future for all is secured. ‘Bhuton ki Khoh ‘drama discusses creativity and its fearful but unknown results.

            The ‘Bhuton ki Khoh ‘drama also discusses about the conflicts between ‘Atma ki Awaj’ and ‘Rivaj ki Awaj’ with very interesting and attracting dialogues.  Father is purely materialistic and mother understands the inner values of son but takes the side of her husband who suggests son to choose prosperity, respect in the society against new creative path. .  

Baap-  tu hamari bhi naukari chalao . ijjat mitti ma milalo, sapoot

Kanti- ijjat mitaundaron ki ijjat paili mitdi

Bap- unh

Man- (Nirshyan jyun ma ) aakhir ham kah juanla ?

Kanti – atma ka Pradesh ma , jakh sab prakash ch, jakh andhero ujala ka dar se palla ni fatkdo

Baa- bak, bak , bak t.. t..t. ghrbaar grihasthi par saub bhanglo boi dya.

  The dialogues and language ‘ Bhuton ki Khoh ‘ drama are lively that audience feel that everything is walking . The author of ‘Bhuton ki Khoh ‘ drama took care about keeping dialogues as per the characters. The dialogues for son are poetic, philosophical, idealistic and more sophisticated, while the dialogues of father are of rural vocabulary in nature

   The ‘Bhuton ki Khoh ‘drama is one of the bright stars in the modern Garhwali drama world.

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

 

Critical History of Dramas, Critical History of Indian Dramas, Critical History of Uttarakhandi Dramas, Critical History of Garhwali Dramas, Hundred Years of Garhwali dramas to be continued……