Kabir Das - A Telugu Play By Rasaranjani: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR KABIR DAS - A...

You've certainly mugged up several of his dohas - almost as certainly, without internalizing a single one! This month, Rasaranjani puts one of India's most popular saints on stage.

Rasaranjani is organising a Telugu play called Kabir Das, on 16th and 17th May, at Sri Thyagaraya Gana Sabha. The story is written by Dr Nandamuri Lakshmi Parvathi, adapted by D Vijay Bhaskar, and directed by Duggirala Someshwara Rao. The role of Kabir Das is being played by Mikkili Francis, those of Kabir's father by Someshwara Rao, Kabir's mother by K Vijayalakshmi and Kabir's wife by D Rajeshwari. B Narayana, K Nataraj, Srilakshmi, Ch V V Satyanarayana, M V Kutumba Sarma, V Raghuvir, Goparaju Ramana, Y Mallikarjunam and Mutnuru Kameshwara Rao playing the miscellaneous roles.

Kabir Das was a great saint of the 15th century. Nothing is known about is his parents and his birth, but it is believed at he was born in 1440, near Varanasi. He grew up in a Muslim weaver family, but some say he was really the son of a Brahmin widow, and was adopted by a Muslim childless couple.

In his early days, he studied under Guru Ramananda, a great Hindu scholar. The play deals with the later part of Kabir Das' life, when he teaches both faiths. He had written a number of poems that were later translated into English by Rabindranath Tagore, thus letting the world know of this great saint. His poems were even appreciated by British and American authors.

One popular legend of his death, which is even taught in schools in India (although more in a moral context than a historical one), says that after his death his Muslim and Hindu devotees fought over his proper burial rites. The problem arose as Muslim customs buried their dead, whereas Hindus cremated them. Hindus claimed that Kabir was a Hindu, and Muslims claiming that he was a Muslim.

However, when they finally opened Kabir's coffin, they found the body missing, and in its place found a small book. The Hindus and Muslims then wrote all his sayings that they could remember in the book, and some even say that a bunch of his favorite flowers were placed. The legend goes on to state that the fighting was resolved, and both groups looked upon the miracle as an act of divine intervention.

The entry to the play is by tickets of Rs. 10 per head.