Vidhwa Byoli: A Garhwali Drama about Sacrifice and brevity of a Garhwali widow

Vidhwa Byoli: A Garhwali Drama about Sacrifice and brevity of a Garhwali widow

          (Review of Garhwali Drama ‘Vidhwa Byoli’ written by Shanti Swarup Uniyal (1980) )

(Notes on Modern Indian dramas, Modern Himalayan Dramas, Modern Uttarakhandi Dramas, Modern Garhwali Dramas, Hundred Years of Modern Garhwali Dramas)

                                        Bhishm Kukreti

                  Shari Swarup Uniyal published a Garhwali drama ‘Vidhwa Byoli’in 1980. Uniyal informs that the drama was already staged and male performers played the roles of female characters. There are 8 scenes in the drama.

                            The story is about struggle, sacrifice and brevity of a widow who did not experience the physical acquaintance with her husband.  Sushila was engaged with Veeru. Veeru had to rush to army due to war between India and its enemy. Veeru advised his mother that in his absence she could proceed the marriage and sword would be his representative. In old age ‘The Takon Byau’ was commonly a custom of marriage where a sword used to be there to represent groom and all rituals were performed around sword as groom.

                 The marriage of Veeru takes place in his absence and Sushila comes to her mother in law house with the marriage procession. In the mean time, Veeru loses his life in the battle. Now, Sushila is widow who did not touch physically her husband. Veeru’s mother dies in the grief. Sushila had to suffer and passes her life as a widow. From social angle she is widow. One day a business man Pathan comes to her house and wants to rest there. Pathan wants to take benefits of her being alone. Sushila kills Pathan by same sword which was representative as groom in her marriage.

                   The drama shows the struggle of a widow and her problems. The drama is of pathos rapture.

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 Modern Indian dramas, Modern Himalayan Dramas, Modern Uttarakhandi Dramas, Modern Garhwali Dramas, and Hundred Years of Modern Garhwali Dramas to be continue….