English BA I Optional (The Dread Departure)

(Satish Alekar)

Discuss the plot of The Dread Departure.

‘The Dread Departure’ is a play written by Satish Alekar. Satish Alekar is an important Marathi dramatist. The play ‘The Dread Departure’ is originally written in Marathi. Its Marathi title is ‘Mahanirvan’. It is written in 1989. It is translated into English by Gauri Deshpande. The main theme of the play is ‘death’.

The play is divided into two acts. Bhaurao, Rama and Nana are the main characters in the play. Bhaurao is a middle aged middle class man. Rama is his wife. She is 45 years old. Nana is a son of Bhaurao. The action of the play takes place in Bhaurao’s house and the crematorium.

The first act begins with the death of Bhaurao. Rama asks Bhaurao to wake up. But Bhaurao informs her that he is dead. All the neighbours come into Bhaurao’s house. The neighbours make preparations to take the corpse of Bhaurao to the crematorium. They are waiting for Nana. Nana has gone to play the matches of the Prisoners’ Base. At last, Nana arrives. All the neighbours and Nana carry Bhaurao on a bier to the cremation ground.  At the cremation ground they come to know that the place is now declared as a personal property. The corpses are not allowed to cremate there. So the neighbours and Nana decide to take Bhaurao to the new cremation ground. But the new place is far away. All the neighbours leave the place telling Nana that they will bring a vehicle. Bhaurao tells Nana that the neighbours will not return. Nana is shocked by looking at Bhaurao. But Bhaurao tells him that he is really dead. Bhaurao further tells Nana that he should be cremated in the old crematorium. It is his death wish. So Nana brings home back the dead body of Bhaurao. Here ends Act I.

Act II begins on the 10^th day after Bhaurao’s death. Nana has hidden Bhaurao on the loft. Nana asks Rama to cook Basmati rice. Nana wants to prepare rice balls as an offering to the soul of Bhaurao. Nana reaches the crematorium. Bhaurao follows Nana. He eats the rice. At home, Nana comes to know about one news. His mother is attracted to a man who wears a suit and dark glasses. Rama tells him that this man was present when Bhaurao was taken to the cremation ground. He was “the third one from the left”. Bhaurao tries to meet Rama in the guise of “the third one from the left”. Nana once again goes to the old cremation ground. Here, the watchman tells Nana if he gives him Rs. 2000/-, he will allow to cremate the dead body. At this time, one insurance agent comes home. He tells Nana about Bhaurao’s insurance policy. He gives Nana a cheque of Rs. 10,000/-. From this amount, Nana gives gladly Rs. 2000/- to the watchman. The watchman allows cremating the dead body of Bhaurao. Bhaurao goes to the pier. Nana says goodbye to him. Here ends Act II.

In this way, Bhaurao is cremated in the old cremation ground. His last wish is fulfilled.

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पहा: सतीश आळेकर यांची राज्यसभा टीव्ही वर "गुफ्तगू" या कार्यक्रमात घेण्यात आलेली मुलाखत. मुलाखत पाहण्यासाठी पुढील लिंक कॉपी करून गुगलमध्ये पेस्ट करा.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91tlUDy27ik

           

 

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(econtent developed by Dr N. A. Jarandikar)