Juz – telling the tales of a struggle :

The terrible plight of the people of the world’s biggest river island, Majuli, was brought to stage by renowned dramatist and scholar Sitanath Lahkar through his play Juz as the week-long Brajanath Sarma Memorial Drama Festival concluded at Rabindra Bhawan in Guwahati on Tuesday.

The 75-minute play depicts the plight of four characters from Majuli – 70 year old Harihar Kumar, one pregnant lady Lakhi, her husband Roma and their neighbour Tanu. The drama highlights how corruption at various levels leads to the deteriorating state of the island and decides the fate of the four innocent inhabitants forever.

Some scenes from the play, particularly the one where Lakhi is seen delivering her baby on a barren space surrounded by flood waters only to realise it is dead, stood out as excellent metaphors representing the pain of Majuli’s inhabitants. As the story proceeds, showcasing the corruption of ministers, contractors, bureaucrats and a section of journalists, the people of Majuli decided to commit mass suicide. That development brings an honest journalist to the spot to dig out the reality.

But the situation continues to worsen and the journalist gets stuck in the submerged area where she was taking shelter. Purabi, the journalist, somehow manages to send a message to her colleagues about the condition and the people’s ‘uncertain’ struggle for survival.

Lahkar who directed the play besides writing the script said that he would be happy if he could send the message across of the inhumane condition of the Majuli residents.

“At present, we see a lack of plays which truly reflect our society, which is a bad sign. If we see world history, there is no dearth of example of plays playing a major role in revolutions. So we have tried our best to select the plays which have importance in the social context,” Lahkar said.

He also expressed concern at the ever-deteriorating state of the river island. “It’s a serious problem for the country, I feel. If it continues, one day, it will be lost. So, as an artiste, I too have a responsibility. We are trying to do that,” he added.

Majuli which had a total area of 1,250 square kilometres initially has been reduced to only around 600 square kilometres in 2011 by erosion and it continues to decrease.

The festival which began from September 10 saw some wonderful plays being staged. From Mumbai based drama group Angana’s ‘Kafan’ written by legendary Premchand to renowned play right Mahendra Borthakur’s historical play ‘Xoraguri Sapori’. Samahar Natya Gosthee, drama group has been organising this annual drama event in the memory of Brajanath Sarma, father of modern Assamese theatre since 2007. He was also the man, who first brought women to the stage and introduced co-acting in Assam in 1933.

(News from Seven Sisters Post)

-Abakash Majuli