Rakta Abhishek, a play based on the only incident of army coup in the entire Indian history that happened centuries ago. The play was beautifully staged at Antarang Hall, Bharat Bhavan on Sunday.
The play was staged under the guest performances of Rangmandal wing of Bharat Bhavan. Written and directed by Daya Prakash Sinha, the play was performed by the artists of Sanskar Bharti theatre troupe, New Delhi.
Rakta Abhishek is a historical play, set in the times of last Maurya king Brihdrath. It is based on the only incident of army coup in the entire Indian history was that of Army Chief, Pushyamitra Shung overthrowing and killing the last Mauryan king, Brihadrath, when he hesitated to defend the country against foreign invasion.
From the days of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of Maurya dynasty, Greeks had influence in the Mauryan Court. After being defeated the Greek invader Selucus Nikator had married off his daughter to Chandragupta. During the reign of succeeding Mauryan rulers, hordes of Greeks had come and settled in India. With their clout in the court, they occupied important positions in Indian society and empire.The Greek ruler of Batria Menander planned to attack India and overthrow the last Mauryan king Brihdrath with the help of powerful Greeks settled in India. It was to avenge the defeat of SelucasNicator at the hands of Chandragupta Maurya and complete the unfinished agenda of Alexanderthe great, of conquest of entire India.
Brihadrath was a weakling. In the foot-step of his illustrious ancestor emperor Ashok, he was fired by lofty ideals of peace, non-violence and non-war. He neither had the will nor means to stop the invading Greek army. Senapati Pushyamitra came forward to defend the motherland.
The play is not mere narration of history. It is a creative exploration of those times, in dramatic idiom, to give contemporary audiences a meaningful theatrical experience.