HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, June 11: The Amrit Yuva Kala Utsav took place from June 7 to 10 at Rabindra Shatabarshi Bhawan in Agartala, Tripura, under the auspices of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, ministry of Culture, government of India. As part of the cultural evening on Saturday, Surojit Academy, Guwahati, presented the renowned puppet play – ‘Bishnu Prasad Rabha’, directed by Abhijit Barman. The play, written by Simanta Sarma, a senior fellowship awardee from the ministry of Culture, government of India, showcased the inspiring journey of Bishnu Prasad Rabha, who mobilised the masses through music, recitation, and drama during the freedom movement.
Binita Devi, a prominent resource person in educational and cultural institutions like NCERT, CCRT, SCERT, and Vigyan Prasar, and a National Tagore Research Scholar from the ministry of Culture, government of India, led the performance. The cast included Palak Koiri, Niharika Das, Gitima Das, Dhruba Jyoti Kalita, Hardik Sarma, Kristi Rajbongshi, Trishna Kalita, and Simanta Sarma. Adishna Rajbanshi and Apalak Sharma provided the voices and compositions for the characters in the puppet play.
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The puppet show, combining shadow puppets and stick puppets, enthralled the audience with its seamless movements, creating a lifelike experience. The play’s poignant scenes touched the hearts of spectators, showcasing how Bishnu Prasad Rabha and others fought and defeated the oppressors through cultural expressions, without resorting to physical weapons. The play vividly illustrated how people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, irrespective of their social and economic statuses, were awakened by the freedom movement.
The performance of – ‘Bishnu Prasad Rabha’ received an overwhelming response from the audience at the Amrit Yuva Kala Utsav in Agartala. It captivated not only local theatre enthusiasts but also garnered the attention of esteemed directors, actors, artists, writers, and educators at both national and international levels. The play has been previously staged in various states across India in cultural institutions supported by the government of India.
With its profound impact and cultural significance, the puppet play – ‘Bishnu Prasad Rabha’ will be cherished as a treasure of Assam. It is important to acknowledge that the present situation in the country differs significantly from the past, further highlighting the relevance and relevance of such artistic performances in today’s times.
