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Shyam Kumar: Giving new dimensions to Bahujan theatre

Shyam’s organization has earned a name for itself in Lucknow for bringing social problems to the fore through theatre. He has also staged plays at several places outside Lucknow

The success of the fourth Children’s Drama Festival and second Dr BR Ambedkar Drama Festival held at Lucknow recently have come as a reassurance that Bahujan theatre has a bright future. Shyam Kumar, a young theatre artist committed to the Ambedkarite mission, has been toiling incessantly for giving a new dimension to Bahujan theatre through Bharatiya Bahujan Drama Academy, which he founded in Lucknow a couple of years back.

Shyam hails from the backward Dhanuk caste. Initially, he was active in the sports arena. However, deeply influenced by the thoughts of Dr Ambedkar, Shyam Kumar wanted to do something more for his community. He zeroed in on theatre as a vehicle for propagating the Ambedkarite ideology and, in 1996, he got associated with the world of drama. He began by working with various theatre groups. He learned the finer nuances of the art by joining the Rang Vidushak Rangmandal of Bansi Kaul of National School of Drama at Bhopal. He worked for a year with Kaul in 1996-97. Thereafter, he joined the Bhartendu Drama Academy, Lucknow for a year. He got an opportunity to participate in the World Performing Arts Festival, held at Lahore in 2005. There he essayed the role of the protagonist in the drama Begum Aur Baghi (The Begum and the rebel) and his son Manvendra Kumar played the role of the Begum’s son.

But working with these groups did not satisfy his creative urge. He was always restless and wanted to do something to associate Babasaheb’s ideology with theatre. In pursuance of his objective, in 2004, he established the Samyak Natya Sansthan. The objective was to provide a platform to Bahujan writers, directors and actors committed to theatre. Also, he wanted to involve the common man with theatre by
staging well-produced, purposeful plays. In addition,he tried to ensure that plays based on novels, stories and issues centered on the deprived section of the society were produced and staged. His group has been
staging plays in the Lucknow drama fest every year. In order to expand his work, in 2011 he established the Bharatiya Dalit Drama Academy. This year, he re-named it Bharatiya Bahujan Drama Academy.

His family is also associated with theatre. Shyam and his wife Archana have, so far, acted in around 40 and directed nearly 25 plays. Some of the notable among them were Ek Tha Gadha Urf Aldad Khan, Tukke Pe Tukke, Chadrika Singh Urf Chamku, Mricchkatikam (Mitti Kee Gadi), Har Sham Vida Hai, Sada Sarthak Buddha, Niti Mankikaran, The Great Raja Master, Begun Aur Baghi, Naya Beej, Deshdrohi Kee Maa, Dahshat, Atmaagni, Chunav Chakram, Resham,. Salim Sherwani Kee Shadi, Swapna Mrityu, Barah Sau Chabbis Bata Saat, Katha Ek Ped Kee, Purab Se Paschim Ki Or, Ahsas, Ashwatthama, Ravana, Bharatnatya (Misfit), Dom Pehelwan, Comrade Ka Baksa, Jab Maine Jat Chupai, Aashad Ka Ek Din, Buddham Sharnam Gacchami, 23 March Bhagana Kand, Therigatha and Dilli Ki Daddi Par Khusro.

Shyam’s organization has earned a name for itself in Lucknow for bringing social problems to the fore through theatre. He has also staged plays at several places outside Lucknow. A play Dom Pehelwan, which was directed by him and in which he played the central character, was staged at the International conference organized by the Centre for Dalit Literature and Art, New Delhi in 2012. His play Comrade Ka Baksa drew wide appreciation at the Ambedkarite Yuva Sahitya Sammelan held at Yavatmal in Maharashtra in 2012. He has also worked in many TV productions. Among them is Hum Bhee Insaan Hain (Tele-film), Apne Huye Paraye, a documentary on Sajjad Zaheer and a play based on Jaishankar Prasad’s story Gunda. His wife Archana Arya has worked in Sarson Ke Phool and Phaans – both produced for TV. He has been conferred with Yuva Rangkarmi Samman, Samanvay Sewa Samman, Dalit Rangkarmi Evum Samajik Utthan Sewa Samman, Yuva Ambedkarite Natya Nirdeshak Samman and Rashtriya Yuva Natya Samman.

 

Published in the September 2014 issue of the Forward Press magazine

Forward Press also publishes books on Bahujan issues. Forward Press Books sheds light on the widespread problems as well as the finer aspects of Bahujan (Dalit, OBC, Adivasi, Nomadic, Pasmanda) society, culture, literature and politics. Contact us for a list of FP Books’ titles and to order. Mobile: +919968527911, Email: info@forwardmagazine.in)

The titles from Forward Press Books are also available on Kindle and these e-books cost less than their print versions. Browse and buy:

The Case for Bahujan Literature

The Common Man Speaks Out

Mahishasur: A people’s her

About The Author

Rajneesh Kumar Ambedkar

Rajneesh Kumar Ambedkar is a researcher in Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University, Wardha

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