Fictionalizing India

India through characters in Indian fiction.*

-Brian Mendonca

In a tribute to India, students put up a creative display of characters from India's fictional narratives. Staged to commemorate Independence day, the cast mimed various characters from the works of writers like R.K. Narayan to Gurdial Singh. In doing so they embraced languages as diverse as Punjabi, Odiya, Urdu, and of course English. 

The first to go onstage were Swami, Rajam and Mani from R,K. Narayan's Swami and Friends (1935). The title music of the television serial transported us to Malgudi within minutes. Shakuntala and Sukhi from Two Lady Rams by Mulk Raj Anand (1905-2004) were up next. They gazed at each other fiercely and struck a pose. 

Begum Jaan from Ismat Chughtai's short story 'Lihaaf' (1942) looked every inch the part with her dazzling attire as she did her aadaab before the gathering. Rabbo provided a good counterpoint to her desire. The song Voh Tere Mere Ishk Ka heightened the mood.

Rebati skipped in to the beat of Unch Maza Zoka next with her slate symbolizing the urgent need for girls to be educated - and the opposition they face, often from the elders at home. The grandmother and the tutor Basudev took the stage with grace giving life to Fakir Mohan Senapati's story written in Odiya called 'Rebati' (1898).  

Stepping out of Gurdial Singh's short story 'Season of no return' were Kauri and Santokh's wife. Kauri moved painfully on stage, while Santokh's wife looked busy and uncaring with the song Charkha Chalati  from the movie Pinjar (2003) supplying the nuance of nostalgia. 

The powerful script read with spirit by the narrator, together with the mesmeric music had the audience at the edge of their seats. The most beautiful moment was when all the characters come together at the end and hold hands to the tune of A.R. Rahman's Yeh Jo Des Heh Tera from the movie Swades (2004). 

Perhaps the only thing left was to ascend into the Sufi realm where all is one in A.R, Rahman's 'Kun Faya Kun'. (2011)

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The presentation was curated by Dr. Tanvi Bambolkar and Gauravi Khaunte supported by Dr. Deepa Prajith and Brenda. *From left to right Swizel, Prisco, Muskan, Varsha, Rupanjali, Varsha, Raman, Niyati, Tanvi, Brenda, Gauravi, Amreen, Anusha, Leena, and Sifa. Pic courtesy Tanvi Bambolkar. Video courtesy Brian Mendonca. Government College, Quepem, Goa on 12 August 2023. Updated 13/8/23.