by Ms. Anjana Puri
Bansi Kaul received the 8th Sharadchandra Vairagkar Samman on the 25th of December 2016 during the opening of the 23rd National Theatre Festival. He based his speech on the evident feeling of collective celebration fundamental to the honor. He said the concept of such celebration seemed to be basic to the Raigarh habit and convention. The culture in Raigarh still is firmly rooted in the belief of giving space for relationships to develop and bloom without political and societal influences.
People here give worth to the other’s creativity, recognize and acknowledge it, and very often are critical to the extent of having open debates about this. Relationships among people here are still informal. This is the reason why formal institutes and informal theatre groups have a very strong bonding. They respect each other and their members are there for each other when the need arises. This could mean being together at festivals and functions, at meetings, when there are social gatherings and of course at times when help is required most. Time and funds here have a flexibility that accommodates the sharing of joy and sorrow alike.
This is what Raigarh’s character is built on. It initially had, like many other smaller cities of the country, a large number of amateur theatre groups that met regularly for theatre activity. Theatre activity then was not ‘commercial’ in the sense that it is today. There was a genuine feeling for the need to come together as a collective and celebrate this collectivity.
When Bansi Kaul was here, what happened was something one rarely experiences. This entire concept of ‘not having enough time’ came to a standstill. People came for the award-giving ceremony at leisure. They had come to celebrate and for them this needed time. This was no ‘meeting’ where everything had to be time-bound. Celebration of a joyous moment cannot be set to time. And so as they gradually trickled in to the Polytechnic Auditorium, one saw the seats suddenly filling up. It was not just the people. It was an entire surging of energy. These people brought with them their warmest wishes and felicitations not empty-handed but with shawls and bouquets. Each person represented a group, a tiny institute, or a community. One after the other, in continuity, without any kind of commotion, they came onto the stage where Bansi Kaul with a beaming smile, stood to receive what they so affectionately offered him.
The fact that this sense of celebration still exists in this day and time was something that radiated positivity, a sense of wellbeing. It was contrary to what award-giving ceremonies normally are. The award itself was something that had a physical form to it. But the feelings that the audience came with, was something exceptionally unique. What needs to be recognized is the fact that celebrating togetherness can become possible only in the collective. The collective inspires togetherness and joy. And joy summons laughter. Laughter is what makes the human being stand apart from other beings. It is this sense of joy and ability to laugh that needs to be recognized. Silenced laughter needs to be given back its sound, its strength, for in laughter is veiled the concept of the collective. A person can cry alone, can get angry alone, can feel sad alone… but a person cannot laugh alone. One can laugh only when there is togetherness.
Unfortunately, the entire concept of samuhikta or togetherness has taken on an aggressive character. It is clubbed with violence and abuse; with politics and religion; with everything adverse and undesirable. Juxtaposed to this is the kind of togetherness that theatre brings to light. It exudes positivity, the need to be constructive and it encourages one to be up beat. In highlighting togetherness and the collective, it speaks of issues and true to its character, mirrors society in all its colors.
Raigarh, like many other cities, has this enormous possibility of celebrating the collective. In times that have become uncomfortably individualistic, this sense of collective celebration is still nurtured. It is this sense, if recognized fully, that will save humaneness. It will fight loneliness, isolation and seclusion, and all the negativity these bring along. This is a collective that is fast disappearing. It needs to be safeguarded. It needs being defended. Life needs to be celebrated. It needs to be lived. And theatre will bring back silenced laughter. It will bring life back.
