Nuruldin-er Shara Jibon: <br>A moving study of Indigo Revolt
On the fourth day(July 26) of the ongoing theatre festival by Mahakal Natya Sampraday (celebrating 26 years of the group), Bogra Theatre staged Syed Shamsul Huq's acclaimed play "Nuruldin-er Shara Jibon" at the National Theatre stage, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). The production was directed by Towhidul Islam Emon.
Based on an uprising by farmers in Bengal during 1889, a chapter known in history as Neel Bidroho (Indigo Revolt), the play features the struggles of the masses in British India. Because of the Industrial Revolution in England, the demand for indigo was on the rise, and a major share of it happened to come from the subcontinent. In Bengal, farmers were forced to grow indigo plants -- instead of rice or other major crops -- by the British rulers. Despite repeated complaints and peaceful protests from the farmers, the English turned a deaf ear to them, implementing cruel punishments. Eventually the poor and the deprived united in their protest against the British and their cronies, zamindars (landlords).
The play starts with Nuruldin (played by Deen Mohammad), lying dead at the battlefield of Moghul Hat, a British stronghold in Patgram, which he tried to take by force. The audience is then shown a flashback -- the background of Nuruldin and the uprising. Nuruldin was a farmer in the North Bengal region. Lost in time, his name occasionally surfaces from the fables narrated by local farmers. Under his leadership, farmers from Rangpur, Dinajpur, Kuchbihar and other parts of North Bengal took a stand against the British and the local Zamindars, with the hope of attaining financial freedom. But pitchforks and bamboo sticks were certainly no match for cannon and gunpowder. So, inevitably, while leading a head on attack at Mogul Hat, Nuruldin was defeated and killed. In death, Nuruldin became an unending source of inspiration, an icon, in times of need, whenever the oppressed faced the oppressor.
Other characters in the play are Lizbeth (played by Nasrin Khanam), Thompson (played by Shobuj Islam), Collector Goodlad (played by Kabir Islam), revenue supervisor Morris (played by MM Mahin), Lieutenant McDonald (played by Faruk Hossain), and Ambia, Nuruldin's wife (played by Shilpi).
Apart from Nuruldin, the other central character in the play is Abbas (played by Yunus Khan), a trusted friend and fellow activist of Nuruldin.
"The role of Abbas functions as our collective conscience," said Tawhidul Islam Emon, director of the play. A member of Prachyanat, Tawhidul is the guest director of the play.
About selecting the play, Towfiq Hassan, general secretary, Bogra Theatre, said, "It is an effort to generate interest in our history among the young. Our history is opulent with inspiring tales of valour. It was because of the selfless contributions of many that we have a free country. More should be done to honour the memories of these often nameless heroes.”
The play ends with a message of keeping the torch of hope alive so that the sacrifices of heroes such as Nuruldin is not forgotten. The play also addresses other issues, such as religious harmony between Muslims and Hindus.
This was the 60th production by Bogra Theatre, and the 6th staging of "Nuruldin-er Shara Jibon."
Today at the festival, Mahakal Natya Sampraday will stage "Ahom Tamoshay.”
Comments