Maletha ki Kool: A Garhwali drama about Self-Sacrifice for building Infrastructure (irrigation canal) by Brave soldier Madho Singh Bhandari

(Review of a Garhwali drama ‘Maletha ki Kool’ written by Jeet Singh Negi (1987)

 Notes on dramas based on building irrigation canal, Asian dramas based on building irrigation canal, South Asian dramas based on building irrigation canal, SAARC Countries dramas based on building irrigation canal, Indian subcontinent dramas based on building irrigation canal, Indian dramas based on building irrigation canal, North Indian dramas based on building irrigation canal, Himalayan dramas based on building irrigation canal, Mid-Himalayan dramas based on building irrigation canal, Uttarakhandi dramas based on building irrigation canal, Kumauni dramas based on building irrigation canal, Garhwali dramas based on building irrigation canal

                                         Bhishma Kukreti

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                 Irrigation canal had been on first priority for the social groups in ancient time in every civilization from the old time till date.

              Helaine Silverman (Cahuachi in the Ancient Nasca World) state that there was ceremony –‘Limpia Acequia’of cleaning the irrigation canal by social groups in Nasca world. In Japan, still, there is custom of celebrating ceremony for social causes as making or cleaning the irrigational canal (Jennifer Robertson). In Thailand, people of Lamphun (lampoon) Songkran festival to remember old tradition of 1300 years old city. There are dramas about –Dam making, Harvesting, and Dam Hua ceremony in the festival.  Henry C.Shetron (a Unique Prehistoric Irrigation Project) provides details of how Red Indians- Hohokam civilization (before 17^th century) built irrigation canals in Arizonan regions in America through social causes and ceremonies.  Clark Erickson (Raised field Agriculture in the lake Titicaca basin, putting ancient agriculture back to work, 1988) opens many aspects of old society finding new ways of irrigation and building canals collectively.

               In Garhwal, before British took over, there was always need of building infrastructure in the villages by society collectively or individual taking the task individually. It is less known that Garhwali king taking interest in improving the village infrastructure. Each infrastructural activity in Garhwali village was taken either by villagers collectively or individually and there was no role of Garhwali king in improvement or development of the village.

         Madho Singh Bhandari an army officer in The Garhwal kingdom army is famous as brave soldier against Tibetian enemies and more is famous for his social cause of building Maletha canal. He alone dug the tunnel in the mountain to bring water from one side of mountain to other side. When the tunnel was made the water did not flow. Madho Singh Bhandari asked for non-flow of water after tunnel is made to his astrologer. The astrologer asked Madho Singh Bhandari for a life sacrifice to satisfy the deity of irrigation. Madho Singh became ready to sacrifice the life of his only one son Gaje Singh (another mythological and historical hero of Garhwal).

                 Famous stage activist Jeet Singh Negi wrote a prose-poetic drama on the above historical and folklore subject ‘Maletha ki Kool’. Parvteey kala Manch staged the drama ‘Maletha ki Kool’ first in Dehradun and later on various cities of India. Jyotish Ghildiyal directed the drama ‘Maletha ki Kool’. The organization staged ‘Maletha ki Kool’ in Delhi on 3oth and 31^st May 1987. Surprisingly, on both days the organizer had to put board of ‘House Full’ on the gate of exhibition hall and hundreds of viewer saw drama standing in the hall.  The attracting aspects of drama ‘Maletha ki Kool’ were inspiring dialogues, energizing dialogues, Chaufala dance-song, Thady dance-song, Pando dance-song, Devi Jagar, Saron dance-song (a war wining dance-song sequence) and folk music.

    In an Internet era, the drama ‘Maletha ki Kool’ still attracts the youth as the drama is about basic need of human thinking for the benefits of society and individual’s sacrifice too.

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

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti

Notes on dramas based on building irrigation canal, Asian dramas based on building irrigation canal, South Asian dramas based on building irrigation canal, SAARC Countries dramas based on building irrigation canal, Indian subcontinent dramas based on building irrigation canal, Indian dramas based on building irrigation canal, North Indian dramas based on building irrigation canal, Himalayan dramas based on building irrigation canal, Mid-Himalayan dramas based on building irrigation canal, Uttarakhandi dramas based on building irrigation canal, Kumauni dramas based on building irrigation canal, Garhwali dramas based on building irrigation canal to be continued…