The theater group SETU presented a trilogy of plays titled the “Evils of Casteism” at the Mosesian Arts Center in Watertown, MA on the weekend of April 1st. 

The plays included:

1. Vijay Tendulkar’s “Kanyadaan”, which roughly translates to “Giving the Daughter Away”, portraying the conflict between an upper-class family and their Dalit son-in-law in 80’s India. Double casts for this play are named as “Caste” and “Tribe”.

2. Munshi Premchand’s “Sadgati” (The Salvation), a short play that Subrata Das scripted based on the translation of TC Ghai, depicting the tragic story of a low-caste village family and a heartless Brahmin couple from 1930’s rural India. Double casts for this play are named as “Chamar” and “Gond”

3. “Mini Love”, a short play set in modern India that Nilay Mukherjee and Subrata Das scripted based on Eugene O’Neill’s Anna Christie, presenting an uplifting story of love between a prostitute and an upper-class Jat, resulting in a single “united caste of India” in the end. Double casts for this play are named as “East” and “West”.

Given the current climate of weaponization of Caste against Indian Americans in the US, this theme had mixed reviews with people wondering if there were political motives. The plays came just as Senator Aisha Wahab of California was bringing caste as a protected category in California.  With laws being put in place to police the Hindu and Indian community in places like Seattle and universities putting discriminatory policies in place against Hindus and Indians with no evidence of widespread caste discrimination in the US and not a single case coming to court and proving the inability of current laws to handle any discriminations, these efforts have been termed Hinduphobic for they have been pushed forward by people who openly have expressed hate for Hindus and Hindu thought. The use of the colonial interpretation of the Purusha Suktam in the marketing material was also  controversial.

However Director Subrata Das clearly said he was not making a political point here. “I have absolutely no political motive here. Whenever we put on a show on any topic we always like to present the context which is why we also hosted a panel discussion Caste” said Subrata Das, who directed the plays. The plays should be viewed purely as a work of art.

The plays were brilliantly done.The sets, lighting, slides and music were perfectly coordinated to transport us to the different locations of the plays.  While all three plays were enacted to perfection, Subrata Das always shines with Vijay Tendulkar’s plays. I remember the magnificent rendition of Kamala in the past. Tendulkar’s plays are complex and Das worked hard to ensure that he brings forth the ideas put forth by Tendulkar in his plays. Each character had worked hard to bring the right emotions forward and the hard work showed. 

The plays presented a potent mix of class issues,  failed relationship and abuse issues. While I suspect these issues do club together when poverty exists in any part of the world, clubbing them makes the plays complex. Perhaps Tendulkar's three daughters' failed relationships made him jaded about relationships in general. However his brilliance in writing such plays shines through. 

 Tendulkar and Premchand are path breaking writers of their times and bringing their work forth is truly laudable. Kudos to each SETU team member for presenting the works of great authors 

A panel discussion on the topic was conducted with two great panelists, Journalist Avtans Kumar and Dr. Solomon Garvin, executive director of the Smart Village Movement at UC Berkley. They had a very engaged discussion and presented a range of views. The panel was moderated by Yogita Miharia and Priya Samanth Parulker.