The political leadership of the country is wary of promoting women education as they fear their hegemony would be questioned by the enlightened women. Famous theatre artiste Sushma Deshpande said this while talking with The Pioneer at the sidelines of her play “Haan Main Savitri Bai Phule” on Sunday.
Deshpande said that our society is still patriarchal in character and the women are not allowed the required freedom. She said that condition of women folk of Dalit community in the country is very dismal and has not changed much. Deshpande informed that she is doing her bit to increase social awareness about women’s education and is performing the play on life and times of Savitri and Jyotirao Phule for last 25 years. She said that society should promote women’s education and strengthening them as society at large would be benefitted by this. Expressing her anguish at the increasing female infanticide in the country she said that such social evils reflect the nature of our society.
Deshpande is in the field of theatre for last 35 years and is a recipient of many accolades. She is more active in Marathi theatre and says that “Haan, Main Savitribai Phule” is her only Hindi play. She researched the life and works of Savitri and Jyotirao Phule for two years and written, directed and performed in this solo play. She said that she has reduced the play from 2.10 hours to 1.10 hours as the attention span of the audience is showing a declining trend nowadays.