Veer Vadhu Devki: A Garhwali Drama based on Ballad of a Heroic, Brave Woman Fought against sex Attack

Notes on Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; Asian Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; South Asian Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; SAARC Countries Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; Indian Subcontinent Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; Indian Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; North Indian Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; Himalayan Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; Mid Himalayan Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; Uttarakhandi Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; Kumauni  Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; Garhwali Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women

                                     Bhishma Kukreti

                    The brave woman takes birth in every society in every era. There are ballads regarding heroic, brave women in every community.  There are books about heroic , brave women described in ballads.  The Chinese ballad ‘The ballad of Mulan’ describes the bravery of brave heroic, woman Mulan. There are descriptions of heroic brave women in many Irish ballads. Laura Secord was a Canadian heroic, brave woman described in modern ballads. Alfred Henry Miles (1909) provides records of many heroic brave women in the book ‘Ballads of Brave Women’. Dianne Dugaw provides various examples of heroic and brave women in the book Warrior Women and popular Balladry from 1650-1850. H.D. Rawnsley 91896) describes many heroic, brave women in the book   ‘Ballads of Brave Deeds’.  Dinesh Chandra Sen (1988) gives details of heroic brave women of Bengal in the book The Ballads of Bengal, vol.1. Ballad of Suh Dong is based on a story Korean heroic, brave woman princess Sonhwa.

             Since, heroic and brave women is common in ballads in every society, it is common factor that these heroic, brave women of ballads inspire dramatists to stage drama or produce films based on ballads of heroic and brave women. There had been film based on Mulan a Chinese ballad based heroic, brave woman. There has been stage of a drama Ballad of Suh Dong based on a story Korean heroic, brave woman princess Sonhwa.

              Veer Vadhu Devki is famous heroic brave woman of Rath, region of Garhwal. Devki became widow as her armyman husband died in war with Germany.  The heroic brave woman Devki dedicated her life in helping people of her area by all means. Once in night a strange Pathan business man came to her door and requested for shelter to spend the cold night in her house. The heroic, brave woman Devki was generous woman and kind person and she offered Pathan businessman a room to stay on. In mid night Pathan knocked her room and when heroic, brave, generous woman Devki open the door Pathan business man attacked poise widow for sex. Initially, Devki was at sudden loss due to unwanted acts of guest. Later on, she focused her strength and killed Pathan by an axe. Heroic, brave woman was caught by police and a case was registered in Pauri court. When the judge heard her case, the judge not only freed heroic, brave woman Devki but he gave her special honor too for protecting her vanity. There are folk songs and modern poems on the subject of heroic, brave Garhwali woman Veerangana  Devki.

                         Navankur Naty Samooh , Pauri staged a fine drama based on the ballad of heroic, brave woman Veer Vadhu Devki  in 2005, at the occasion of Akhil Garhwal Sabha’s Veer Singh Thakur Smriti Uttarakhand Lok Natya Mahotsay , Dehradun. Young Garhwali drama activist Bhupnesh Kumar directed the Veer Vadhu Devki, a Garhwali Drama based on Ballad of a Heroic, Brave Woman Fought against sex Attack. Audience, intellectuals and drama critics appreciated Veer Vadhu Devki, a Garhwali drama based on ballad about a heroic, brave woman.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, 17/5/2012

Notes on Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; Asian Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; South Asian Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; SAARC Countries Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; Indian Subcontinent Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; Indian Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; North Indian Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; Himalayan Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; Mid Himalayan Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; Uttarakhandi Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; Kumauni  Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women; Garhwali Dramas based on Ballad of Heroic, Brave Women to be continued…