Badi Bwari: A Garhwali Family Drama about Unsung Story of Sacrifice by a Daughter in Law

(Review of a Garhwali Family Drama ‘Badi Bwari’ written by Prem Lal Bhatt 1986-1987)

 

               Notes on Family Dramas, Asian Family Dramas, South Asian Family Dramas, SAARC Countries Family Dramas, Indian subcontinent Family Dramas, Indian Family Dramas, North Indian Family Dramas, Himalayan Family Dramas, Mid-Himalayan Family Dramas, Uttarakhandi Family Dramas, Kumauni Family Dramas, Garhwali Family Dramas

                                                        Bhishma Kukreti

                         Prem Lal Bhatt is prolific Garhwali and Hindi fiction writer, verse creator and drama playwright.  Bhatt won the Hindi academy award for Garhwali literature creation. Garhwali critics appreciate Prem Lal Bhatt for his Garhwali epic ‘Uttarayan’ as the story is definitely original.

               Writing dramas by playwright about family subject is an old tradition in literature. The family drama provides space in dramatization for tragedy, sacrifice, chivalry, comedy and other emotions. For example the family dramas – Long day’s Journey into-Night, Death of a salesman, The Glass Managerie, Our Town, Who is afraid of Virginia wolf?, Fences, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Little Foxes, A resin in the Sun,  Buried Child, Raised in the captivity, Lear, Crowtet,  Topdog/Underdog are best  family dramas of America.

 Koreans appreciate ‘Royal Family’ a family base drama. Family, The; Rickshaw boy; Thunderstorm; Woman who is left behind are a couple of examples of Chinese family dramas. ‘Sutera Maya’, is an example of modern Malaysian family drama.  

  ‘Masked’ is an example of family drama of Israel and drama is about family crisis of a Palestine family.  An Iranian film and drama ‘A Separation’ is internationally acclaimed family drama.

            The Garhwali family drama ‘Badi Bwari’ written by Prem Lal Bhatt was staged in Delhi in 1986-1987. Famous Garhwali drama director H.S Rawat directed the family drama ‘Badi Bwari’.

  The Garhwali family ‘Badi Bwari’ is about the sacrifice of an eldest daughter in law in a joint family. The eldest daughter in law does everything for the family along with taking care for the growth of her children. However, the other family members do not recognize her sacrifice and criticize her for petty matters too. One day, Badi bwari (eldest daughter in law) takes an unusual step and family members understand her contributions for unity of joint family.  Bhatt  deals with family aspirations, frustration and benefits of joint family, tension among different nature family members, perceptions, sacrifice and other emotions in this family drama Badi Bwari’. The dialogues of modern Garhwali family drama Badi Bwari’ are from day-to-day life and attract audience.

  References:

A-Curtsey to Parashar Gaur for supplying manuscripts of Garhwali stage plays

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)

8- Notes on Dramas of Uttarakhand by Parashar gaur –MeraPahad site

9-Sovinreers of Garhwal Sabha Dehradun, 2005 and 2007 for Lok Natya Mahotsava

10- Dr. D.R. Purohit of HNB University for various inputs on modern dramas

11- Prem Lal Bhatt, Delhi for providing details about his dramas and other dramas

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti 9/5/12

Notes on Family Dramas, Asian Family Dramas, South Asian Family Dramas, SAARC Countries Family Dramas, Indian subcontinent Family Dramas, Indian Family Dramas, North Indian Family Dramas, Himalayan Family Dramas, Mid-Himalayan Family Dramas, Uttarakhandi Family Dramas, Kumauni Family Dramas, Garhwali Family Dramas to be continued….