not been staged all over the world. However, the quality of those plays

is unique. He has emerged as a social reformer through drama. Each of his plays delivers strong messages in an artistic way. Because of his wonderful dialogue, diction, in verse form, these plays never appear as message-oriented plays. Tagore's works are always box-office hits on account of their philosophical content, mastery of the human psyche and artistic presentation on the stage.

Eminent director Ataur Rahman says, " We have done several experiments with Tagore's plays, but the quality of the drama has never declined. Our troupe--Nagorik Natyasampradaya-- has produced six plays by Rabindranath Tagore. Acholayeton directed by Aly Zaker, Bishorjan and Rather Rashi directed by Abul Hayat, Muktadhara directed by Khaled Khan and Raktokarobi and Natyatroi which were directed by me. All of these plays received a good response from the audience. Besides our productions, Theatre has produced Tagore's Dui

Bon and Ghore Baire. Theatre (Baily Road) has produced Shesh Rakkha, Centre for Asian Theatre has produced Raja directed by Naila Azad Nupur, Nandonik Natya Dal has produced Shasti, Drama department of Udichi has produced Tagore's satire Chiro Kumar Shobha directed by Dr Inamul Haque and Teerjak, the troupe of Chittagong has produced Bishorjan and Raktokarobi. Moreover, a few other troupes and campus-based organisations have been staging many popular plays by Tagore. Besides stage, Tagore's plays have been aired on radio and TV. "The staging of Tagore's play began in Bangladesh in the late 50s when poet Mahabubul Alam Chowdhury and Kalim Sharafi jointly directed

Raktokarabi in Chittagong. Before our Liberation, Drama Circle staged

two plays-- Tasher Desh and Raktokarobi. Besides, several student-based organisations frequently staged Shyama, Chitrangada, Chandalika and

others. Director Mostafa Monwar's TV play Raktokarabi is fondly remembered by the audience.

"After our Liberation, Tagore's play Muktodhara was staged at Suhrawardi Uddyan in 1972. The director of the play Mostafa Monwar had used six water pumps on the huge stage to create the sequence of the destruction of the embankment in the play. I was a performer in the play and I still remember the way about two lakh audience cheered at the scene," adds Ataur. As the craftsman of drama, Tagore is different from western playwrights.

The formula of "tragedy" is not followed in Tagore's plays. There is no fall of the 'hero' in his plays, rather resurrection of the human quality of the central characters is evident in Tagore's drama. In the words of Ataur Rahman, "I saw the production Dakghor in Kolkata. The German director of the play

Mehring said, ' I am disgusted with the materialistic theatre of the West. I decided to give up my career as a director of stage plays. However, Tagore's play sparked my interest once again.' In fact, Tagore's characters such as 'Chitrangada', 'Nandini', 'Amal', 'Raja' have a universal appeal. And Tagore is a humanist and revolutionist as a dramatist."