BHARATI PAWASKAR
We admit it or not, Indian society has been judgemental towards women. Her actions are seen as condemnatory, disapproving and pass-remarkable. The way she is perceived by the society has not changed for years. She is being looked at disparaging and negative approach. The society seems to be overcritical about her actions however right they may be.
While the concept of beauty varies from region to region, the underlying assumptions are similar all over - that she must look presentable all the time. The criteria for looking good may differ slightly, but overall the demand remains the same - that woman has to look good, come what may.
“It is the first thing that’s being imbibed upon her mind since she is a child that she must look pretty all the time. I feel this is absolutely ridiculous. A woman has an identity of her own; she is more than skin and bones but, unfortunately, most of the times she is treated as a product and not as a living human being. This is what pains me. This is what I want to highlight and comment upon in my play - Dumb Indignation - a 30 minute theatrical version of this dialogue within, with self,” elaborates Keatan Jadhav, director of Dumb Indignation and founder member of ‘Theatre Flamingo’, a travelling theatre world that promotes the strong value and importance to theatre arts in fringe and for youth.
Dumb Indignation poses such questions before the society - what is the definition of beauty? Who is beautiful? Who will decide that, and why? Is beauty skin deep or has it even deeper penetrations, reaching and touching the core of our souls?
“We generally see, what is allowed for the boys in the family is a taboo for the girls, be it the choice of a sport, a toy, a dress, a colour or even while finding their own life-partners. It is important that we must ask these questions and make the people search their own answers,” feels Keatan whose approach to theatre is that of a strong medium which has the capacity to stir and shake the society.
Dumb Indignation is a silent play. There are no dialogues. The lone actor, Amodi Sanap expresses through her body language and there’s only one character in the play. A movement and fitness mentor at Theatre Flamingo, Amodi is an actor and movement architect in theatre Flamingo’s project 5.0 - History of Fear. A young choreographer, performer and physical theatre practitioner Amodi’s affinity to abstract painting and photography, her tryst with bikes and fencing (sword fighting), her mastery in Kathak form of dance and playing traditional musical instrument of Goa, ‘ghumat’ - all makes her a skilful actor who knows to play her character well. “Amodi has done justice to her role,” quips Keatan.
Himself an actor, director and mentor for actors Keatan is currently an assistant professor at Vidya Prabodhini College of Education in Porvorim. Having worked in the same position in PES College of Bed, Ponda, Keatan also has an experience of working as a theatre instructor at Bal Bhavan in Canacona.
Keatan who loves teaching the art of theatre, strongly pinpoints the fact that in Indian homes the daughters are treated as ‘paraya dhan’ (someone else’s wealth) and stress is given not on completion of education but learning and mastering the household chores.
Having completed his master’s degree in theatre with gold medal from Lalit Kala Kendra, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Keatan is a proud mime scholarship holder from Ministry of Culture India (2013-14) and has been associated with theatre for 12 years.
“I want to bring the theatre in close proximity with the people. They must look at it as a part of their own lives and feel and experience the same pain and pinch that the characters depict. When a play is performed on the stage, the audience remains at a distance, aloof of what’s going on the stage. But when a play is performed away from the audience, it makes lesser impact,” explains Keatan who conducts theatre workshops across India, pens poetry and scripts. Playing traditional instruments is his favourite past-time.
“What I have felt deeply within me has filled me with remorse. I feel sad, repentant, guilty and ashamed of what humans are doing to other humans. I am shamefaced and apologetic, especially thinking of men, who are rude, bad and nasty to women. I want to let others experience similar feelings and change after watching Dumb Indignation,” announces Keatan who is also involved in another project Ghumche Kutter theatre that aims at inculcating the reading habit in today’s school children. In association with Abhinav Creations, the project tells stories in the form of plays and goes from school to school teaching moral stories to children through theatrical projections.
“We must catch them young and imbibe moral values if we wish to create a harmonious society. That’s what I do - reaching out to kids and adults through theatre towards making a better Goa and a better India,” concludes Keatan.
(Dumb Indignation will be staged at Sneha Mandir, Bandora Ponda on August 4, at 6.30 pm, Nari Shakti Centre, Ponda on August 4 at 5 pm, GVM’s B Ed College, Ponda on August 6 at 10 am, Vidya Prabodhini B Ed College, Porvorim on August 7 at 4 pm and Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir, Arena Theatre, Ponda on August 12 at 7.30 pm)
