Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 1: Internationally acclaimed Dogri play ‘Bawa Jitto’- a mega theatre production of Natrang is being staged at the historic Aghar Jitto Mela on 2nd and 3rd of June, 2015 at the main stage of Mela daily at 7.30 pm.
This was informed here today by the designer and the director of the play Padamshree Balwant Thakur in a press interaction programme. Giving details Balwant Thakur said that with the support of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), Katra and District Administration, Reasi, two shows of this much celebrated Dogri play ‘Bawa Jitto’ are being organised at village Aghar Jitto (Birth place of Bawa Jitto) , Katra which will be the only and major public attraction of Aghar Jitto Mela-2015. He appealed all the stakeholders to come forward and support him to use this as an opportunity to revive the priceless cultural traditions which have the immense capacity to become global tourism attraction.
Natrang took the initiative of staging the play ‘Bawa Jitto’ at his birth place three years back and is presenting two shows each year with the support of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and District administration Katra. Last year also Natrang presented two shows of the play in the similar Mela which were witnessed by thousands of the audiences. Through the staging of this play not only the younger generations are being educated about the great past but they are also being exposed to their glorious cultural traditions. He added that play Bawa Jitto is set in the rural backdrop, story of Bawa Jitto portrays the age-old saga of exploitation of landless farmers by landlords. Due to the constant and persistent pressures of relatives, with a piece of land as bone of contention, Bawa Jitto, a hard working, farm less farmer is forced to leave his native village. Accompanied by his nine-year-old daughter, he takes shelter in the house of a friend in Shamachak, a nearby village. The efforts of his friend Rullo result in a land grant from landlord in Shamachak and one fourth of the produce is fixed as land revenue. The hard work put in by him, the sweat and toil of Jitto turns a barren land into prolific treasure. This makes avaricious landlord to back out on his word and ask for major share of the crop. Helpless Jitto, unable to endure injustice, kills himself. The agony becomes boundless when Gauri, his little daughter immolates herself on her father’s pyre.
Among others who addressed the media included two senior artists of the play Arvind Ananad and Suresh Kumar, who perform as Bawa Jitto and Mehta Beer Singh, respectively.
Follow our WhatsApp channel