Students of English literarture begin with Shakespeare as they approach their subject, and Sanskrit Students starts with -Kalidas .Besides literature some examples of most common references from history, politics philosophy we quote are from works of Sophocles, Christopher Marlowe, Samuel Beckett etc .You can assume all those are playwright and their works have remarkable impact on human society till today.
Over last few years we have observed a sudden surge of readership when it comes to reading novel, short story, poems and even articles in Assam. That’s a very good sign.
But are we reading plays?
‘Not really ‘will be the answer from most of the avid reader.
Why?
Before going to its answer let us think what really is keeping the Shakespearean spirit alive? Definitely the numerous discussion, scholarly article, research and criticisms on Shakespeare over the years. That has lead to numerous adaptations in modern day venture (novel, cinema, songs) by virtue of which the culture is infused over the non reading generation also. So what is the problem we have in Assamese plays?
Now the problem with Assamese drama is that modern Assamese play came late into the picture (1st Assamese modern play was written in 1857, Gunaviram Baruah ) and by that time Assamese short story, novel and poems had already arrived so to reader drama became a full fledged live audio visual art (so it developed a popular believe among common reader no need to read them)
Then come the Bramyaman theatre which is doing immense work in the field, but as it’s a commercial venture and many Bramyaman productions are made for mass audience. While doing so they become copycat reproduction of cheap Bollywood movie. Because of this many critique are distancing themselves from Bramyaman .And again because of it they are ignoring a important aspect of Assamese literature which needs to be discussed /researched etc. (because there are many original good stage venture in Bramyaman also)
So to a top critique drama in Assam they mean only the -Amateur plays.
Now this amateur theatre in Assam are having problem of their own .From lack of facility, money, infrastructure, govt support, vcd aggression, and so on.
And what adding cheery on the top is a new form of change in amateur theatre.
Since last 15 years a new concept is evolving where theatre worker do not follow any text as script .They just take a concept/plot, and the script evolves during rehearsal with visual inputs from all the workers.
I have no problem with that kind of production but…. If this continues then their will is no one left to write an original Assamese play.
That might lead us to a day when no new play being written, so no one will read it so forget the staging / discussion or criticism part.
So as a result a whole genre of literature will lost as we seat our eyes closed.
