Khaulya: A Contemporary Garhwali Drama about Malnutrition, Poverty Psychology

Khaulya: A Contemporary Garhwali Drama about Malnutrition, Poverty Psychology

(Review of Contemporary Garhwali Drama ‘Khaulya’ by Nitya Nand Maithani)          

                                     Bhishma Kukreti

                            Nitya Nand Maithani is famous Garhwali fiction writer and Garhwali language dramatist. Nitya Nand Maithani was director of Akashvani in Nazeebabad . His radio plays were popular among Garhwalis of rural Garhwal.

                 One hour long play ‘Khaulya’ deals with subject of poverty, child-marriage and related subject of child marriage and poverty. Symbolically, the play is staged in ‘Andhyru Obari’. Saunu is poor and wants to marry his girl child at fifteen hundred bucks that he can marry his eighteen years old son Khaulya resist and acts against his sister engagement.  

      The drama ‘Khaulya’ is one of the jewels of contemporary Garhwali dramas which show many arenas of poverty as malnutrition and its effects, pessimism, energy less life, always afraid of existence and laziness.

    The dramatist is very much successful in characterization and appropriate dialogues for each character as per their characteristics. Dr Anil Dabral appreciates the ‘Pause’ kept by Maithani in his dramas.

References:

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

2-Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna, Gad Myateki Ganga (Modern, Contemporary Garhwali dramas from beginning till 1975)

3-Dr Sudharani, Garhwal ka Rangmanch (Modern, Contemporary Garhwali Dramas from beginning till 1985)

4-Drama special issue of Chitthi Patri magazine (Modern, Contemporary 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 (Modern, Contemporary Garhwali Drams and theatres from beginning till 1985)

6-Dr Bhakt Darshan: Barrister Mukandi Lal Srmriti Granth (Modern, Contemporary 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 Modern, Contemporary Garhwali drama)

8- Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna, 1986, ‘Chakrchal’, 16 Modern, Contemporary Garhwali Drama collection, B2 -B48, Janakpuri, New Delhi -110058

Copyright@ Bhishm Kukreti, Mumbai, India