The Hindu : National : Chhatrapati Shivaji play being staged in Gujarat

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Sunday, Dec 03, 2006
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Chhatrapati Shivaji play being staged in Gujarat

Special Correspondent

— PHOTO: AFP

Narendra Modi

AHMEDABAD: The Congress-led UPA government at the Centre may not be compared with the Mughal empire, but Gujarat's Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, is certainly likened to the legendary Maratha warrior, Chhatrapati Shivaji.

That in a nutshell seems to be the message the historical epic based on Shivaji's life, Janata Raja, is trying to convey to the people of Gujarat. The epic drama, written and directed by historian Babasaheb Purandare, is brought to Gujarat at the behest of Mr. Modi 21 years after it was first staged in 1985.

— PHOTO: AFP

HISTORY REVISITED: "Janata Raja," a historical play in Hindi based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji, being performed in Ahmedabad on Friday. The epic drama, which will run for six days, has a cast of over 200 artistes along with elephants, camels, horses, bullock-carts and a folding fort.

According to its organisers, the play has already been staged more than 730 times in different parts of Maharashtra. True to its settings, Mr. Modi initiated the inaugural show of the drama here on Friday night by performing "aarti" wearing a headgear popular during the Maratha ruler's time, and he and his band of supporters watched the show in the same attire. The show at the make-shift open air theatre at the Karnavati Club will run till December 6 and at the behest of the State Government, the proceedings of each day's show have been booked by one organisation or the other.

"The people of Gujarat are getting an opportunity to watch the epic drama, thanks to Mr. Modi who himself walks in the footsteps of Maharaja Shivaji giving a good administration to the State and protecting the lives and property of the people. One can see Shivaji's reflection in Mr. Modi in his style of functioning and steering Gujarat towards development," one of his supporters said.

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