Amidst the thousand controversies and questions unanswered, the story about Partition and Mahatma Gandhi as a historical figure remains a riddle. Many people made various attempts, some where admonished and some ignored.
The recent one is made by Rajesh Bali who brought the Father of the Nation at the forefront through his play titled Gandhi: the real story behind the Partition. The play highlights the controversy behind Gandhi’s murder and the role played by Jawaharlal Nehru, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Sardar Ballab Bhai Patel in the Partition of India, along with some facts which are wrapped owing to sensitivity involved.
'My play focusses upon the ugly truth behind Gandhi’s assassination. Not really known to many, but it was clearly a conspiracy. When Gandhi was killed, there were four murder attempts made on him in that very month, still no security arrangements were made for him,’ asserts Rajesh Bali, the director of the play.
‘Though Hindu fundamentalists were involved in Gandhi’s murder, but the hard reality is that the Gandhi family had always known the truth,' he added.
According to Bali, all the facts portrayed in the script and perfromed on the stage have valid and authentic references.
‘Utpal Dutt, the actor, Anu Bandhopadhyay and DG Tendulkar have all done extensive research on Gandhi as a subject. I have taken all the information about his life from their works,’ said Bali.
After being barred by many cultural venues on account of controversy, the play did see a ray of light at the Attic in Connaught Place and at Akshara Theatre. ‘We often rehearsed at Gandhi Hindustan Sahitya Sabha, an autonomous body. But it came as a surprise when they refused to show our play. The reason? They found the script controversial. But the bitter truth is that the same bodies will not be able to grant or take money in the name of the leader (Gandhi) and under the garb of altruistic work he did,’ said Bali.
Bali does defend his play by calling it a positive play which dares to bring out the truth. ‘Though Gandhi was against Partition, he went numb and silent during that catastrophe which had 10 lakh people killed and witnessed a mass bloodshed. He became so lonely at that time, still he decided to visit Pakistan to meet Jinnah on 1 February. But unfortunately got killed two days before that (on 30 January),’ said the director.
The dirty game of politics is further explored in his play where there is a scene about beating retreat between political leaders who are all hatching a plot against Gandhi to get him killed. He was at the end presented as an instrument of hatred vested with selfish motives to bring about Partition and instigate hatred towards him.
At the end of it all, the 75 minute play was a well-crafted production with all elements of entertainment like dance, violence and song weaved in with perfection. The cynosure was a rough and tough Gandhi unlike an old man walking with the support of a wooden lathi.
The recent one is made by Rajesh Bali who brought the Father of the Nation at the forefront through his play titled Gandhi: the real story behind the Partition. The play highlights the controversy behind Gandhi’s murder and the role played by Jawaharlal Nehru, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Sardar Ballab Bhai Patel in the Partition of India, along with some facts which are wrapped owing to sensitivity involved.
'My play focusses upon the ugly truth behind Gandhi’s assassination. Not really known to many, but it was clearly a conspiracy. When Gandhi was killed, there were four murder attempts made on him in that very month, still no security arrangements were made for him,’ asserts Rajesh Bali, the director of the play.
‘Though Hindu fundamentalists were involved in Gandhi’s murder, but the hard reality is that the Gandhi family had always known the truth,' he added.
According to Bali, all the facts portrayed in the script and perfromed on the stage have valid and authentic references.
‘Utpal Dutt, the actor, Anu Bandhopadhyay and DG Tendulkar have all done extensive research on Gandhi as a subject. I have taken all the information about his life from their works,’ said Bali.
After being barred by many cultural venues on account of controversy, the play did see a ray of light at the Attic in Connaught Place and at Akshara Theatre. ‘We often rehearsed at Gandhi Hindustan Sahitya Sabha, an autonomous body. But it came as a surprise when they refused to show our play. The reason? They found the script controversial. But the bitter truth is that the same bodies will not be able to grant or take money in the name of the leader (Gandhi) and under the garb of altruistic work he did,’ said Bali.
Bali does defend his play by calling it a positive play which dares to bring out the truth. ‘Though Gandhi was against Partition, he went numb and silent during that catastrophe which had 10 lakh people killed and witnessed a mass bloodshed. He became so lonely at that time, still he decided to visit Pakistan to meet Jinnah on 1 February. But unfortunately got killed two days before that (on 30 January),’ said the director.
The dirty game of politics is further explored in his play where there is a scene about beating retreat between political leaders who are all hatching a plot against Gandhi to get him killed. He was at the end presented as an instrument of hatred vested with selfish motives to bring about Partition and instigate hatred towards him.
At the end of it all, the 75 minute play was a well-crafted production with all elements of entertainment like dance, violence and song weaved in with perfection. The cynosure was a rough and tough Gandhi unlike an old man walking with the support of a wooden lathi.