Rana Ghameru: A Garhwali Lyrical, Dance Drama based on Popular Chivalry Folklore

(Review of a Garhwali Lyrical, Dance Drama ‘Rana Ghameru’ written by Om Badhani)

Notes on Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; Asian Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; South Asian Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; SAARC Countries Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; Indian subcontinent Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; Indian Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; North Indian Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; Himalayan Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; Mid-Himalayan Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; Uttarakhandi Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; Kumauni Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; Garhwali Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores

                                                  By Bhishma Kukreti

                      Still, Dramas based on Chivalry folklores attract the audience. Modern dramatists have been writing dramas based on chivalry folklores of particular regions as Harold Segel provides a couple of examples of modern Russian dramas based on chivalry folklores in the book ‘Twentieth Century Russian Drama. There is a culture of Chinese dramas based on chivalry folklores as A.J.Toynbee and E. Glahn provide examples of modern dramas based on chivalry folklores of China and Japan in the book “Half the World”. Mosusova  (2008) states that ‘Prince of Zeta is Hellenic-Shakespearean drama with full of love and chivalry .  James T.Araki provides examples of dramas (Kowaka) based on chivalry folklores of Japan. Araki further states that Kowaka were often performed in  military encampments in his book The Ballad-Drama of Medieval Japan’(pp-13).

                    Om Badhani wrote a Garhwali lyrical, dance drama based on famous chivalry folklore of Rana Gambheer Singh Rana alias Ghameru. The three hundred years old chivalry folklore of Dayara Bugyal, Taknor Patti of Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand narrates the brave work of Gambheer Singh Rana ‘Rana Ghameru’. Rnana ghameru fought with bravery with Geenthis the encroachers of his Jungle. When Ghameru won the battle, returned back to home, started telling the tale of his chivalry acts,by mistake,  Ghameru Rana injured seriously  his wife Malalya. When Malyalya was dieing she requested her father to marry her younger sister Keedi with Ghameru Rana. 

   One day Ghameru Rana went to beautiful Bugyal (valley of flowers in Taknor), fairies took his life and Ghameru died there.   Keedi became ‘Sati’ with Ghameru’s body.

                      The drama is full of chivalry and love romance and depicts loyalty, devotion too. Dinesh Bhatt directed the drama on the occasion of Uttarakhand Natya Mahotsava held in Dehradun in 2007. Kala Darpan , Uttarkashi presented this  Garhwali Lyrical, Dance Drama based on Popular Chivalry Folklore.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, 21/5/2012

Notes on Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; Asian Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; South Asian Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; SAARC Countries Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; Indian subcontinent Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; Indian Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; North Indian Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; Himalayan Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; Mid-Himalayan Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; Uttarakhandi Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; Kumauni Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores; Garhwali Lyrical, Dance Dramas based on Popular Chivalry Folklores to be continued…..