Drama in Modern Rajasthani Literature

Sivchandra Bhartiya`s Kesar Vilas, published in 1900, may be said to be the first drama in Rajasthani. This and his other dramas Phatka Janjal, and Budhapa ki Sagai are about social evils and are motivated by reformist objectives. They are idealistic and have a didactic note. Even in the dramas of Bhagwati Prasad there is a similar as was noticed in the dramas written by Sivachandra Bhartiya.

Narayandas Agrawal`s Mahabharat ko Sri Ganes and Maharand Pratap are mythological and historical dramas. Pranvir Pratap by Girdharllal Sastri and Panna Dhay in 1963 by Agyacand Bhandari are also historical dramas. In the former, characters speak in colloquial Mewadi.

Tas ro Ghar writte by Yadavendra Sarma in 1973 deals with modern life in cities and its complexities, unemployment, corruption, sexual liberty, etc., and is forceful and effective.

Badriprasad Pancoli`s Pani Pali Pal in 1973 is a stage play in five acts. It is based on a plot in the times of Mahabharat. It is mainly in colloquial Hadauti. The dramatist lays emphasis on two principles for the progress and prosperity of the country. They are: `arjan ar samarpan` that is earn and spend on good causes and `pani pali pal` which means forewarned is forearmed.

One-Act Play is an important component of Rajasthani drama belonging to the modern period in terms of literature. The One-Act Plays consist of dialogues in two scenes and are generally gets wrapped within an act and hence the name One-Act Play. The plays generally deal with social evils. In most of the One-Act Plays very little attention is paid towards modern stage-technique.

Vriddh Vivah Vidusan in 1930 by Sobhachand Jammad, and Ganvv Sudhar ya Goma Jat in 1931 by Srinath Modi are about social reforms. Bolavan or Pratigya Purti by Suryakaran Pailk depicts the Rajput trait of keeping a pledge even at the cost of life.

Govindlal Mathur wrote about a dozen plays on social evils and various burning problems of rural and urban life. They are realistic and can be staged. Similar plays were written by Narayandatt Srimali, Damodar Prasad, Srimant Kumar Vyas, Jagdish Mathur, Surendra, Satyanarayan, Yadavendra Sharma, Srilal Nathmal Joshi and many others.

In some one-act plays, solutions of social problems have been suggested. Such plays are more moved by idealistic views. Many writers have taken their themes from Rajput history. Among the One-Act Plays there were several plays which had satire and humour as its central theme.

The inference which can be thus stated is that dramas belonging to Modern Rajasthani Literature are mirror of the society depicting the social evils in a closer manner.