The children’s theatre festival ‘Azaad Bansuri’ 2018 began with an impactful play on ‘Thakur Ranmat Singh’. The play was performed at Shaheed Bhavan auditorium here on Wednesday. It was the first day of a five-day theatre festival.
Directed by Sindhu Dholpure, the play is, written by noted writer Wasim Khan.
The story of Thakur’s heroism and martyrdom was depicted in a very interesting manner. Working with children of slum area on the life of revolutionary and brave warrior like Thakur Ranmat Singh the play was a new experiment to raise the theatrical talent of these children and connect them with social environment.
The play begins with folklore on Thakur Ranmat Singh. Thakur emerged in support of people of Rewa and Panna to liberate the area from the British rule.
When the Revolution of 1857 ended Maharani Laxmi Bai was martyred. In 1858, a military force in Banda, started pursuing Thakur Ranmat Singh.
A reward of Rs 2000 was also declared on Thakur Ranmat Singh. Thakur was hidden in Kaori's Garhi, a group of British army surrounded him with the help of Rewa's army. But, he escaped from there too.
The British made the last move to catch them. When Ranmat Singh was resting in the basement of his friend Vijay Shankar Nag's house. Ranmat Singh was arrested and he was hanged in Agra jail in 1859.
The saga of sacrifice of Thakur Ranmat Singh is sung in folklore.
On the same day another drama Shaheed Udaychand Jain was also staged. Directed by Sushruta Gupta the play Udaychand Jain drama depicted the story of the valor and martyrdom of an 18 year old young revolutionary of Mandla. More than 30 children of Shri Naavikatan Higher Secondary School, Karond, performed the play leaving the audience mesmerized.