The play is based on the novel ‘Deeksha’ by Padma Shri Narendra Kohli. While maintaining the traditional dignity of the Ramayana narrative, the play interpreted in a contemporary modern contexts. It offers a healthy perspective on understanding Rama on a human level. One experiences it as a worldly yet logical and relevant story, watching the play.
The Ahalya episode is described with novelty in the play, as a truth of the times. Removing the mythological exaggerations, this episode is presented with great credibility and factual accuracy. Through Gautam, an attempt has been made to depict the subservient state of today’s intellectuals and their social revolution. The character of Indra exposes the unrestrained nature of powerful individuals. Passessing power. In fact, through Ahalya, the helplessness of the exploited woman in an intellectually and culturally advanced is portrayed more effectively than that in the traditional narrative. society, keeping in view the demonic atrocities taking place in this vast Jambudvipa and the resulting erosion of moral values and the exsamse ot hideous terror of demonic values, the sole objective behind uniting the vast kingdoms of Kosala and Mithila by establishing auspicious relations between them was to eliminate the differences among the Aryan kings, and organize them to raise a powerful force against the demons. In the play, Rama is inifiatede by Sage Vishwamitra.
Writer
Dr. Narendra Kohli (born January 6, 1940, died April 17, 2021, Chaitra Shukla Panchami, Navratri) was a renowned Hindi writer. He has written in all the major genres of literature (such as novels, satire, plays, short stories) and minor genres (such as memoirs, essays, letters, etc.) and critical literature with antority. He has created more than a hundred excellent literary works. He is credited with initiating the genre of ‘epic novel’ in Hindi literature. Kohli’s unique characteristic lies his ability to unravel the complexities of mythological and historical characters and, through them, present the problems of modern society and their solutions to the public. Kohli is a culturally nationalist writer who, through his works, has provided a proper introduction to the Indian way of life and philosophy. In January 2017, he was awarded the Padma Shri. Posthumously, Kohli’s birth anniversary, January 6th, was established as ‘Writer’s Day’ in the Hindi literary world and was celebrated for the first time in 2023.
Director
Alok Chatterjee (1960 or 1961 – January 6, 2025) was an Indian theatre actor and director, known for his theatrical productions such as ‘Death of a Salesman’, ‘Nat Samrat’, and ‘Anandamath’ (2022). He national level, taught at the National School of Drama (NSD) and FTII in Pune at the He also taught acting at Anupam Kher’s institute, Actor Prepares, in Mumbai. Alok, Chatterjee is known for his wide range of acting (teaching) and deep literary understanding at the Madhya Pradesh School of Drama, Bhopal. He received a gold medal for best acting from the National School of Drama, Delhi. Currently, Alok Chatterjee, throughout his life remained arfine in works in theatre in his hometown Bhopal. He was also awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for the year 2019, presented by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
Group
Darpan Gorakhpur was established in 1976 with the staging of the play ‘Pagla Ghoda’ under the direction of I.K. Gurtu, the then director of All India Radio Gorakhpur, in the presence of Professor Satyamurthy, the founder of the Kanpur Darpan. Experienced artists from the fields of theatre and AIR participated in the production. Anil Mehrotra, came espeaaley from Darpan, Lucknow and Sant Srivastava, Deep Sharma, Ashok Maharshi, Kakoli Das, Piyush Kant Alag, and others from Gorakhpur were among the artists associated with Darpan Gorakhpur. In 1978, the play ‘Abu Hasan’ was staged in the Nautanki style under the direction of Urmil Kumar Thapliyal, from Darpan, Lucknow and in 1983, three short plays were staged under the direction of Mohammad Hafiz Khan from NSD, New Delhi. Following this, the responsibility of direction was taken over by young directors Sant Srivastava, Anil Mehrotra, and Deep Sharma, who directed the plays ‘Kisi Ek Phool Ka Naam Lo’, ‘Ghasiram Kotwal’, and ‘Octopus’ respectively. In 1984, Ravishankar Khare became the president of the organization, and under his presidentship, the play ‘Mahabhoj’ was staged in Kanpur under the direction of Deep Sharma, with the esteemed presence of Rohini Hattangadi on the ocassion. From 1986 to 2015, numerous plays were staged, including ‘Rashmirathi’ (directed by Sant Srivastava), ‘Honeymoon’, ‘Konark’, ‘Andha Yug’, and ‘Yehi-Vehi’ etc. The organization has also presented its plays in collaboration with prestigious institutions such as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Uttar Pradesh, Central Sangeet Natak Akademi, National School of Drama New Delhi, Sahitya Akademi New Delhi, Bhartendu Natya Akademi Lucknow, and North Central Zone Cultural Centre. The institution participated in the prestigious international theatre festival ‘Theatre Olympics-2018’, hosted by the National School of Drama, with its production ‘Rashmirathi’, and in Bharat Rang Mahotsav (Bharangam) 2021 in Shillong and Nagaon with the play ‘Samrat Ashok’, and in Bharangam 2023 in Delhi with the play ‘Mahabali’. The group has also organized national theatre festivals from time to time, with the participation of nationally renowned artists such as Nadira Babbar, Anant Mahadevan, and Manoj Joshi. To train budding theatre artists, theatre workshops were organized by inviting Manoj Sharma from Bhartendu Natya Academy, Lucknow, and Alok Chatterjee from the National School of Drama. By prioritizing quality in its productions, the group has carved a unique niche for itself in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. The institution has always valued and promoted young talent. Currently, many artists like Ravindra Rangdhar, Manavendra Tripathi, Sharad Srivastava, and Reena Jaiswal are playing active roles based on their artistic abilities. Introduction of characters and background.