Sainik brings Ambedkar's visions on-stage

Sainik brings Ambedkar's visions on-stage
Sumedha Raikar-Mhatre

MAY 21: While Shiv Sainiks are more often than not associated with Ambedkar-bashing, there is one among them whose life's mission has been to celebrate the greatness of the Dalit leader. Former corporator Ramkrishna Keni has written and produced four plays on Babasaheb Ambedkar in the last 15 years, the latest being Bhim Gatha Yug Purushachi, whose 284th performance took place in Vashi on May 18, the heavy downpour notwithstanding.

Bhim Gatha Yug Purushachi, a three-hour ballet depicting the family life of Ambedkar, is unique for another reason. Its cast has 21 child artistes, all residents of Dharavi slums. ``I have deliberately chosen these school-going children. Since they live in the same area, it is easier to organise rehearsals. Most of the children belonging to scheduled tribes or castes perform their parts well,'' says Keni, twice elected as corporator from Dharavi.

Keni has used many audio-visual gimmicks to bring alive Ambedkar's life and times. For instance, Bhaucha Dhakka is represented on stage showing a ship taking Ambedkar to London. Young Bhiva is shown playing in the rain on stage.

Keni wrote the first play Yugpurush in 1984. It dwells on Ambedkar's political life, including his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi. ``As a corporator and even otherwise, I used to attend many Shiv Jayanti and Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations. I had realised that while many leaders waxed eloquent on Shivaji Maharaj, few knew anything about Babasaheb. Moreover, Dalit leaders never allowed anyone else to talk or write about Ambedkar. As if it was their prerogative!'' Recounting his reasons for zeroing in on Ambedkar, Keni says, ``So I thought, why not write on this person whose life was an endless struggle against exploitation?''

Keni, a member of the Mahadeo Koli (SC) community, recalled Dalit leaders like Prakash Ambedkar had threatened to stall the first performance of Yugpurush. ``They calmed down only after I threatened them with a counter-morcha,'' he says. All senior Sena leaders, including Bal Thackeray, have watched the play, Keni proudly adds.

Keni claims he is among Ambedkar's first biographers. ``I was the first to touch on his life, not only in Maharashtra but in India. Unfortunately, the opposition to my productions was merely because I was a Sainik. None of the established writers, theatre-goers or thinkers ever come to see my plays. None of the critics, except for the one in Saamna, has ever evaluated the work I have done in the last 15 years. Is this fair?'' he asks.

Keni's plays, particularly Bhimgatha.. and Suryachi Sauli Ramai Mauli, deal with Ambedkar's relationship with his wife. The playwright has been accused of being overly sentimental and melodramatic, and it is said the song and dance sequences in Bhimgatha.. lack technical finesse. But Keni refutes the charge. ``We have concentrated on Ambedkar's personal life. But no scene has been overstretched. There is recorded music and quality playback singers have lent their voices to the play. Moreover, even if the plays are not up to the mark, the media must take cognisance of them. If not for me, at least to encourage young slum children,'' Keni suggests.

Keni scoffs at recent efforts to represent Ambedkar in the play Gandhi-Ambedkar and Jabbar Patel's yet-to-be-released film. ``Both are bogus. Their actors do not even look like the leader, whereas my artistes (Narayan Dulakhe, Ashish Telavne and Akash Killekar) look very much like Ambedkar. In case of an open contest, not even actor Mammooty will be able to match the stature of my artistes,'' he naively boasts.