Known as the foundation novel of India, Gora in its Kannada avatar is going to sow the seeds of modern India
Known as the foundation novel of India, Gora in its Kannada avatar is going to sow the seeds of modern India
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Famous theatre personality and filmmaker Prakash Belawadi believes that Rabindranath Tagore is universal. He says, "I think India has missed Tagore. 
We did wrong in letting Bengalis claim him as theirs. He is bigger than that." Thus on the eve of the Bengali poet, musician, painter and novelist's 150th birth anniversary, Belawadi attempts to bring Tagore closer to Bangaloreans with the Kannada adaptation of Tagore's famous novel Gora or the fair-skinned.
The play by the same name is based on Gora, a classic that is said to be the most complex and longest of the 12 novels that the master penned during his lifetime.
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However, Belawadi cautions thatu00a0 the play should be considered as a separate piece of work and searching for the novel in the play would be futile. He stresses that nothing in terms of intent and the plot has been changed though the length of the novel has been compressed to fit available time and space.
"It is Kannada but not in the colloquial sense as I did not want to take the dignity of the play. It does not remove the flavour," shares Belawadi, the director of the play. He confesses that staging Gora has been the most liberating experience in his theatre life.
Set in the early 20th century, Gora chronicles a period when the then Bengalis in the erstwhile Kolikata were divided into the orthodox Hindus and the liberal Bramhos. Brahmo cultureu00a0 which was the newest fad attracted a lot of young people. However, both the communities were in constant clash.
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Each had its own distinct features but none were devoid of flaws, stereotypes and hypocrisies. And, then we meet Gora, the protagonist. A natural leader with exemplary oratory skills, Gora is a strong advocate of Hinduism and practices it diligently.
Assertive and arrogant to many, Gora is a natural visionary, who dreams of a prosperous and content Bharatvarsha. On the other hand, his best friend, the soft-spoken Binoy gets slowly attracted to Bramho beliefs and lifestyle, much to Gora's indignation.
The duo meet Sucharita and Lolita, two open-minded and liberated Bramho women, who are unlike the Hindu women Gora has met.
Describing Tagore's women characters in this novel as the logical side of Hindu feminism, Belawadi says, "Sucharita has her right to a free mind and belief while Lolita sees the value of righteous indignation. There should be personal liberty in religious beliefs."
However, Gora is in denial of his feelings for Sucharita and resents Binoy's growing intimacy with the Bramha Samaj. However, Gora undergoes a change of heart, when certain truths about his birth and the true meaning of religion dawn upon him.
"I have not come across another work which uses Hindutva so effectively to demolish a host of ideologies and visions. And then it rejects Hindutva in favour of a universal man. The choice he makes is of simple affection," says Belawadi.
Belawadi hopes that Gora will appeal to a confused city like Bengaluru, to people who have grown up in the third generation of independence.
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He says, "We have been confused about our past, present and dynasties. What is local, national and international? The IT guy may not understand but his maid, driver and people around him would identify with Gora. It is not a problem based on ideology but is an existential issue."
Bramhos in Kolikata
In 1830, Bramha Samaj was formed in Kolkata by Dwarakanath Tagore (Rabindranth's grandfather) and social reformer Rammohan Roy. The sect was named after the individuals, who worship Bramha and they wanted to form a religion devoid of the conservatism of Hindutva. Emancipation of women, understanding Western art and culture were some of the highlights of the movement. The Bramhos also did not believe in idol worship. In 1911, after Rabindrantah Tagore took over the leadership of Adi Bramha Samak, there was an effort to integrate the movement with the mainstream and men pursuing other religions also were invited to the gatherings. In fact, some of Tagore's songs are influenced by Bramhosangeet, some of which were composed by his father Debendranath Tagore. Bramhosangeet was an amalgamation of various genres like Dhrupad, Khayayal, Tappa, Western tunes, Baul, Bhatiali and Kirtan.
At Ranga Shankara, JP Nagar
On April 26 and 27, 7.30 pm
Callu00a0 9448050541 For Rs 100
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