An autobiographical story that left the audience stunned in their seats was performed to mark the conclusion of the Maharashtra Mahotsav. On Wednesday, the Marathi play Aaydan was staged at Antarang Hall, Bharat Bhavan. Based on the autobiographical story of Urmila Pawar the play is directed by Sushma Deshpande.
Deshpande has worked on the most humorous and the most serious instances of Parwar’s life. Notably, Urmila Pawar’s Aaydan was published 11 years ago to resounding acclaim. It traced the rocky journey of a plucky and hugely gifted woman from a deprived childhood in a direly poor Mahar family in the Konkan, to her determined pursuit of a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mumbai, to becoming a celebrated writer of fiction in Marathi.
Glowing at the centre of the tale was her family’s Ambedkar-led conversion to Buddhism, which brought enlightenment into her life and a release from the casteist bonds of Hindu society. She married the man of her choice but later discovered that he was as much part of patriarchal society as anybody else. She realised then that the dalit woman was twice oppressed, first for her caste and then for her gender. The problem could only be addressed by consciousness raising and solidarity. So she became a dalit-feminist activist.
Aaydan is full of beguiling detail. It sparkles with Pawar’s sharp wit, disarming candour and ability to laugh at herself. Also the play ends with a very touching note where Pawar says, “life had taught me much, also trashed me. Who knows what shape my life will take… I have lived it as it has given me enough strength to face what comes in my way.. My life.. Me”
The play was much enjoyed by the audience. With the matured acting skills of the actors, the play turned out really well.