O P Sharma
Name of Book : TAANDAV, (Hindi Plays)
Writer : Rajneesh Kumar Gupta
Publishers : Hybrow Publications
Bari Brahmana, Jammu
Price : Rs. 500/-
This book “Taandav” ( a collection of five Hindi stage plays) is just like a breath of fresh air in the world of Hindi literature. Writer of the book Rajneesh Kumar Gupta belongs to non -Hindi speaking area, Jammu who has been serving Hindi and Dogri literature for the past twenty years and has many beautiful writings to his credit. He was praised for his stage plays viz, Thar Link Express, Kirayedaar, Chhote Log, Adalat Mein Giddan Te Loath, Kabuliwala etc. Literary fraternity has been insisting on compiling his plays in the form of a book for many years and at last book “Taandav” has been released.
The book consists of five stage plays which opens with play “Taandav” in verse form. Journey of a wild man with his transformation into a Taandav dancer away when he finds that his lover has become a Nagarvadu who works in the king’s Palace, dances to please the visitors there. Once again he is seen searching for the path of yoga, goes towards the forest saying :
“Tarallochna Paane Badla, Maine Kupathgami chola, Mili mujhe hai brishta, Uska Karm Jo Tola Banta Hoon Vanvaasi, Roke Mujhe Na Koi Mag Mein Natrajan Punha Maadav Hoga, Dharni Tere Tal Mein”.
Delicate composition
Getting upset on the sacrifice of him, his lover, a Nagarvadu, breaks all her jewellery, leaves all worldiness and follows the path of Yoga.
The whole play is just like a long poem with flashing use of Hindi words like Kunjar, Mrig, Ulook. Pichaan, Keki, Sugaa, Kehri, Vyagra, Kikim, Vanpoi etc. make the play both readable and viewable. It appears that the whole play has been inspired from a folk tale. The playwright has enlivened the quotation :
A poet reaches where Ravi does not reach .
The play has been staged in the annual Drama Festival conducted by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Jammu and in 34th Pathiputra Natya Mohpstava at Patna and was well received by the viewers at both places.
“EK PANNA GUMNAAM”is the second play of the book which is based on the life history of great freedom fighter, Ashfaq – Ullah – Khan of Shahjahapur, Uttar Pradesh depicting how our freedom fighters faced hardships and struggles to attain independence. Hindu – Muslim unity is also depicted through the friendship of Ashfaq and Ram Parsad Bismil. It is a pity that Ashfaq was betrayed by his own compatriots. The British took advantage of our weakness and ruined us. Ashfaq and Bismil were both great poets and have created beautiful poems.
Writer of the play has tried to use pure Urdu language and has succeded in his attempt when he says :
“Pinjron ke undar Phadphdaati andleebein dekhi hain na aapne. Parwazon ki keemat jaan sakti hain. Khoob ache se”
Or
“Mere soje – jigar ne jalaa ke mujhe noor jo baksha hai, usi noor ki roshni se mazloom watan ka kona – kona aabad karoonga main”
See some verses of poetry :-
“Uss Bismil ka rang chadaa hai, arsh hai Bismil, charakh hai Bismil
Khalke – khuda saari hai Bismil, Tu bhi Bismil, Main bhi Bismil.”
The dialogues are so crispy and meaningful that reader gets lost while reading. The play was presented in Abhibhyakti Natya Sangh, Shahjahanpur in December, 2019 and was adjudged as best play which it deserved.
Life-blooded characters
Third Play of the book is “Shah – Shahni” which was adopted from the Dogri play “Shah- Shahni” of Sh. Rajneesh Kumar Gupta. It is a poignant love story of Hindu lady Shahni and Muslim Shah who had to settle in Pakistan. When Samjhota Express started between two countries, Shah visits Jammu in Hindustan to find his lover but once more he has to part from her as he has got limited time here. The scene of their departure is so beautifully written that it is sufficient to bring tears in the eyes of readers. The writer says : “Shahni, chahe lakh Pakistan ban jayein insaan ke undar saans leti mohabatt kabhi bhi tukdon mein nahi batti, Shah aur Shahni ek doosre ke liye jeete rahenge, chahe Shah rahe Pakistan aur Shahni rahe Hindustan.”
Informative & instructive
The writer has given message that nothing is gained by bloodshed, all that is got is sadness, pain and loneliness. Love is the only instrument that is useful in the development of humanity. The play is craftly written and it again shows the vast range of ideas of the writer who has used Dogri words in the play giving it a realistic touch viz, Kalarian, Gucchian, baladian , rus bakarskhani, addni wala glass, malai – kulfi ka chunga, gulgale etc. The play has been performed at various places so many times.
“Ek Dhoop Saphed Si” depicts the agony of loneliness of those parents whose children have been settled abroad. Raju has returned India after fifteen years for business meetings. He has no time for his parents here. Parents decide to commit suicide so that their last rites be performed by their son but the moment they are going to commit suicide, their inner – conscience arises and they decide to live their life for themselves. The play is very emotional and depicts how parents become helpless in the affection for their children. At one stage they say;
“Aur aaj who lauta hai poore pandrah barson baad.
Vanvaas kisne bhoga ? Ram ne ya kaushlya ne ?
Vanvaas kaatte to Ram hain, lekin bhogti usse hamesha kaushlaya hi hai, har yug mein ?
The play consists of only two characters yet it has pace and script is tight with meaningful dialogues. The play has raised universal problem of loneliness of parents.
Last play of the book is “Ghumshuda Sant ki Talaash”which is based on child exploitation. POCSO law has come into force to deal with child sexual abuse cases , but despite the fact how many children can raise their voice. It is a serious problem and solution has to be found out.
The writer has successfully raised the case of Mithu who is a victim of sexual harassment by the son of Mohan who is a staunch Gandhian. The play leaves burning question before the society and we all should find solutions for the protection of our children. It is a very good play and its pace does not look weak at anywhere. With minimum use of set, it can easily be played at anywhere.
In short , Taandav is the saga of humanity as far as its contents are concerned. Topic of all plays are totally different from each other. Nothing is repeated. Language is no doubt Hindi but with the use of Urdu, Dogri and Sanskrit words makes it very interesting. Dialogues are crispy and beautifully knitted. Writer Rajneesh Kumar Gupta deserves congratulations for such a nice piece of literary work.
(starline. syndicate.service. gmail.com)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
