‘Bwari’: A Garhwali Social Drama Showing the Pain of Daughter in Law

World Social Dramas

 Indian Social Dramas

 Himalayan Social Drama

 Uttarakhandi Social Dramas

 Garhwali Social Dramas

Hundred Years of Garhwali dramas

      ‘Bwari’: A Garhwali Social Drama Showing the Pain of Daughter in Law

  (Review of a Garhwali Social Drama ‘Bwari’ ‘written by Dr. Govind Chatak)

(Notes on World Social Dramas, Indian Social Dramas, Himalayan Social Drama, Uttarakhandi Social Dramas, Garhwali Social Dramas)

                                                 Bhishm Kukreti

                         ‘Bwari’ is one of the seven Garhwali drama collections ‘Jangli Fool’ published by Dr. Govind Chatak in 1956. Dr Chatak contributed in various fields of Garhwali literature.

                 The dramatist took the theme from a normal Garhwali family of fifties when taking work from a daughter in law was the right of a mother in law but there was no duty for mother in law to understand physical and psychological pain of her daughter in law. The story Garhwali Social Drama ‘Bwari’ is that a daughter in law is not keeping well has a high fever. However, daughter in law has to go to forest for collecting grass. When such person requires physical and mental soothing the mother in law can’t tolerate any sympathetic words from his son for his wife. The ‘nanad ‘is catalyst for showing cruel behaviors of a mother in law towards her daughter in law.

              The story is based on realistic incidents or rather custom of Garhwal of that era. The dialogues are perfect in showing psychology of society. The drama length is small but is enough to show the reality. The characters are woven very evenly and least complexity is there in this social drama ‘Bwari’.

                  The dramatist did not try to show any changes through any revolt acts   from the side of son or daughter in law as he found less revolt in the society at that time. In social drama ‘Adalat’ by Swarup Dhoundiyal of nineties we may see the revolt or resistance from daughter in law and from son too. The writer has been successful in showing physical and psychological struggle of normal villager of that time in Garhwal.

           Dr Chatak is successful in creating pathos rapture in the drama ‘Bwari’. There is plenty scope for director to adpt drama as per his directorial methodology.

References:

1-Dr Anil Dabral, Garhwali Gady Parampara (Critical History Garhwali Dramas from beginning till 1990)

2-Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna, Gad Myateki Ganga (Brief History of Garhwali dramas from beginning till 1975)

3-Dr Sudharani, Garhwal ka Rangmanch (Brief History of Garhwali Dramas and Staging of dramas from beginning till 1985)

4-Drama special issue of Chitthi Patri magazine (Garhwali Dramas and plays staged in Delhi, Karachi, Mumbai, Dehradun and other places)

5- Dr Hari Datt Bhatt Shailesh, Garhwali Natak evam Rangmanch: Ek Vihngam Avlokan (History of Garhwali Dramas and theatres from beginning till 1985)

6-Dr Bhakt Darshan: Barrister Mukandi Lal Srmriti Granth (Garhwali dramatists or theatres playwrights till 1985

7-Dr Nand Kishor Dhoundiyal, Garhwal ki Divangat Vibhutiyan (pp108-116, about contribution of Bhagwati Prasad Panthri for developing Garhwali drama)

Copyright@ Bhishm Kukreti

Notes on World Social Dramas,, Indian Social Dramas,  Himalayan Social Drama,  Uttarakhandi Social Dramas,  Garhwali Social Dramas, Hundred Years of Garhwali dramas  to be continued…..