When honesty is left behind, the person gets into debts of life which he is unable to repay. This is the story of Gaban by Munshi Premchand. Munshi Premchand's story Gaban was staged here on Tuesday at Antarang Hall, Bharat Bhavan leaving the audience enthralled. The play is directed by Balendra Singh and was presented by Hum Theatre Group.
The play Gaban follows the tribulations of a man between honesty and a lust for money. Gaban is a Hindi word for fraud or con. It tells the story of Ramanath, a charming but morally weak young man, who in order to fulfil his beautiful wife named Jalpa's excessive craving for jewellery involves himself in complex economic and personal relationships, which eventually leads to his apparent ignominy, and his escape from home.
He doesn't even bother to realise that by doing so he brings disgrace to his family honour and leaves his dear wife alone. However, Jalpa's brave attitude brings a sense of redemption in Ramanath and they unite again.
Unable to pay jeweler Gangaram for jewelry purchased for this wedding, Ramanath steals his wife's jewelry, and then gets in debt when he gets her a Cha-ndrahaar (a gold necklace).
In order to pay for this, he works as a Clerk, collecting money by accepting bribes. Circumstances compel him into debts which he is unable to return. Afraid of being arrested, he flees to Calcutta, gets embroiled indirectly in the freedom struggle.
One of the classics of Indian literature, Gaban gives an engrossing picture of Indian society. It also captures the social and economic conditions and conflicts of a North Indian society in pre-independence India.
The audiences enjoyed the play and were awestruck by the performance of the artists. The background score and light design added much zest in the presentation.