A wave of patriotism and nostalgia swept the audience as ‘Swaraj Ke Prareta: Lokmanya Tilak’, a play on Bal Gangadhar Tilak, was staged at Jupiter Hall, Indira Gandhi Pratishtan in Lucknow. The performance was part of the Rashmirathi Parv, a three-day festival organized by the UP culture department to mark 75 years of Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s epic poem ‘Rashmirathi’. The festival concluded on Sunday evening with two impressive performances.
Play Traces Tilak’s Journey
The play traced Tilak’s journey from Pune to Ahmedabad Jail, Surat, Rangoon, and Lucknow (1916). A key scene recreated the historic Lucknow procession, where young nationalists pulled his chariot alongside Ram Prasad Bismil, drawing loud applause from the audience. Director Mujeeb Khan said the play revives lesser-known history and highlights Tilak’s role as an educator, lawyer, and freedom fighter.
The play featured 18 actors, with Tejas Parekh portraying Tilak. Artists from Ideal Drama and Entertainment Academy, Mumbai, performed. Tilak’s iconic line, “Swaraj is my birth right, and I shall have it,” drew strong applause from the audience.
Atal Swaranjali Dance-Drama
The festival also featured ‘Atal Swaranjali’, a dance-drama based on poems by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It presented 10 works through music and Kathak dance, performed by 21 artists of Kala Sangam Society, Shimla. The poems included ‘Maut Se Than Gayi’ and ‘Aao Phir Se Diya Jalayein’. Director Poonam Sharma said the aim was to highlight Vajpayee’s poetic side.
The show also included verses from Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s ‘Rashmirathi’. Chairperson Neeraj Kumar said the festival aimed to remind audiences of the sacrifices of national heroes. Chief guest and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Satish Mahana congratulated the artists and organizers and paid tribute to the revolutionaries.
