Two Plays: Indian History Made Easy/ Life of Bagala by Badal Sircar

by Badal Sircar

This volume includes two Indian History Made Easy ('Sukhapathya Bharater Itihas', first produced in 1976) and Life of Bagala ('Bagalacharitmanas', first produced in 1998) by renowned playwright Badal Sircar. Dealing with one of the most crucial periods in Indian history, namely British colonialism, Sukhapathya Bharater Itihas (1976) is significant in forging a unique relationship between form and content. To match the content, Sircar uses the form of classroom teaching. With Teachers instructing Students, he covers more than three hundred years of British rule without developing a 'story'. Bagalacharitmanas revolves around Bagala, who having lost his parents in childhood, is brought up and educated at his uncle's house where he suffers constant humiliation. The play is about how, through supernatural intervention, Bagala finds himself and ultimately stands up against injustice. Once he has gained courage, Bagala decides to throw away magic and act all by himself. The play reminds people that no change can be brought about by magic; it is only through human will and action that something worthwhile can be achieved. Along with a comprehensive Introduction, this volume includes an interview with Badal Sircar, production history of his plays, and a special photo section.

Hardcover

First published June 1, 2010

About the author

Badal Sircar also known as Badal Sarkar, was an influential Indian dramatist and theatre director, most known for his anti-establishment plays during the Naxalite movement in the 1970s and taking theatre out of the proscenium and into public arena, when he founded his own theatre company, Shatabdi in 1976. He wrote more than fifty plays of which Ebong Indrajit, Basi Khabar, and Saari Raat are well known literary pieces, a pioneering figure in street theatre as well as in experimental and contemporary Bengali theatre with his egalitarian "Third Theatre", he prolifically wrote scripts for his Aanganmanch (courtyard stage) performances, and remains one of the most translated Indian playwrights. Though his early comedies were popular, it was his angst-ridden Ebong Indrajit (And Indrajit) that became a landmark play in Indian theatre. Today, his rise as a prominent playwright in 1960s is seen as the coming of age of Modern Indian playwriting in Bengali, just as Vijay Tendulkar did it in Marathi, Mohan Rakesh in Hindi, and Girish Karnad in Kannada.
Sarkar was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1972, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1968 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship- Ratna Sadsya, the highest honour in the performing arts by Govt. of India, in 1997, given by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama.
The "Tendulkar Mahotsav" held at the National Film Archive of India (NFAI), Pune in October 2005, organised by director Amol Palekar to honour playwright Vijay Tendular, was inaugurated with the release of a DVD and a book on the life of Badal Sircar.
In July 2009, to mark his 85th birthday, a five-day-long festival titled Badal Utsava as tribute to him was organised by several noted theatre directors. He was offered the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2010, which he declined, stating that he is already a Sahitya Akademi Fellow, which is the biggest recognition for a writer.

He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1968 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship- Ratna Sadsya, the highest honour in the performing arts by Govt. of India, in 1997.[

Reviews

[Chahat]

*only read indian history made easy but there wasn't an individual option for that. almost want to read both for the sake of goodreads posterity, but i cant seem to find the pdf for life of bagala. if anybody has it, pls send!

[Sunandita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterpiece by Badal Sircar

[Krushna Pal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Badal Sarkar, was an influential Indian dramatist and theatre director, most known for his anti-establishment plays during the Naxalite movement in the 1970s and taking theatre out of the proscenium and into public arena.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

*only read ‘Life of Bagala’*