Khabesh Lagyun Cha Khabesh: A Garhwali Drama about Loss by Caste Conflicts /Class Conflicts

(Review of a Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Garhwali Drama ‘Khabesh Lagyun Cha Khabesh ‘(1985)

written by Prem Lal Bhatt)

             Notes on Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Asian Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base South Asian Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base SAARC Countries Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Indian subcontinent Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Indian Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base North Indian Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Himalayan Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Mid-Himalayan Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Uttarakhandi Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Kumauni Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Garhwali Dramas,

 

                                         Bhishma Kukreti

                   Class conflicts and caste conflicts are permanent features of every old, new or future society. Therefore, drams are there depicting caste conflicts or class conflicts all over the world. For example, today there are no caste conflicts in European countries or Latin American countries due to principles of Christianity. However, there were caste conflicts in Spain. Kenneth W.Janes details about caste conflicts and class conflicts in the book ‘Americo Castro and the meaning of Spanish civilization’ with reference to ‘comedia’ drama.

           Though Christianity does not believe in caste system but in colonial rule European created a new caste Ruler and Slave castes. The slave castes were treated as untouchables in colonial rules all over the world.

    Gabrielle H.Cody provides many examples of dramas about class and caste conflicts in his book ‘The Columbia Encyclopedia of Modern dramas –volume-2’. G.H Cody provide an example of a caste conflict base Marathi drama ‘Wata Palwata, 1986’ written by Marathi Playwright Datta Bhagat.

                Stanley Hochman (Mc-Grew Hill Encyclopedia of World drama), Gassner and Quinn (Reader’s Encyclopedia of World Drama), Cody and Sprenchorn (The Columbia encyclopedia of modern drama) , B.Narayan (honor, violence and conflicting narratives, 2003) provide many examples of dramas all over world   about the subject of class conflicts and caste conflicts in the dramas.

                     Bhishma Kukreti already explained in reviewing ‘Farak’ drama that socially there was least difference between rich and poor in villages of Garhwal. Therefore less folk literature are found about the class conflicts in Garhwal and Kumaun regions. However, caste conflicts between Rajput (Khashya) and Brahmin (Bhatda or Baman) have been there in Garhwal and Kumaun for centuries. Many historical changes took place due to caste conflicts between Rajput (Khashya) and Brahmins (Bhatda or baman) in Garhwal. Famous Braj poet Maularam wrote hundred of lines about losses to Garhwal due to caste conflicts between Rajput and Brahmins in Garhwal.

              Famous Garhwali and Hindi fiction writer, epic creator, poet and drama playwright Prem Lal Bhatt effectively brought the negative points of caste conflicts between Rajput and Brahmins in his stage play ‘Khabesh Lagyun Cha Khabesh’. ‘Kha’ represents Khashya (Rajput) and ‘B ‘represents Bhatda (brahmins0 of word ‘Khabesh’. Khabesh means a devil spirit which harms the human beings.  The drama starts by social aware people talking about no-progress in the village in a village Chaunthara. Slowly,  the drama opens with many secrets that whenever there is act of progress in the village the caste conflicts between ‘Kh’ and ‘B’ or  Rajput-Brahmin conflicts stops all social progressive works and even individual’s progress .  The fact is that competition between two castes or classes does not inspire people to acquire competency for progress but people acquire competency to make losses of other community.  The social aware people take the task in their hand struggle for eradication of caste conflicts. The audience becomes anxious whether these social aware people would be successful in defusing caste conflicts or not?.

             The caste conflict base drama ‘Khabesh Lagyun Cha Khabesh ‘has humor and satire too. The dialogues of caste conflict base drama ‘Khabesh Lagyun Cha Khabesh’ are from the day to day life and are very sharp when criticizing the caste conflicts.

                   The caste conflict base drama ‘Khabesh Lagyun Cha Khabesh’ is successful in making awareness about losses due to caste conflicts in the society.

                A drama organization of Gopeshwar, Chamoli Garhwal staged twice in 1985 the caste or class conflict base drama caste conflict base drama ‘Khabesh Lagyun Cha Khabesh

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 8/5/12

Notes on Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Asian Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base South Asian Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base SAARC Countries Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Indian subcontinent Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Indian Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base North Indian Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Himalayan Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Mid-Himalayan Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Uttarakhandi Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Kumauni Dramas, Loss by Caste Conflicts, Class Conflicts base Garhwali Dramas to be continued….