Rohith Vemula, Dalit research scholar whose suicide in the University of Hyderabad early this year galvanised students across university campuses, is all set to be brought back to life on stage in Kannada this Sunday.
Narration of childhood
Opening with the scene, in which he is writing the poignant last note, Vemula in the play goes on to narrate his childhood, dreams and struggle at the Hyderabad Central University. It leads up to the moment when he decided to end his life.
The hour-long one-man show, in which Kiran Marashettihalli plays the role of Vemula, is aptly titled Nakshtrada Dhoolu , meaning “star dust.” Harshakumar Kugwe, the playwright, says he named it so as in the most moving passage of the last letter, Vemula writes: “Never was a man treated as a mind. As a glorious thing made up of star dust.”
“That line captures the disillusionment of a young man with society and the politics of identity. As Rohith makes that fateful decision on stage, I hope the audience will introspect on the social structures and their complicity in them that leads him to end his life,” Mr. Kugwe says.
Shivamogga-based group
Mr. Kiran, a Shivamogga-based theatre actor who will play Vemula on stage, says he has spoken to many of Vemula’s friends at HCU, family and seen multiple videos to internalise the character. “The play goes beyond Rohith’s story and is introspection on society, the stamping of the dreams of young minds in the name of caste,” he says.
The play is put together by a group of theatre and social activists from Shivamogga and will be first staged at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, on Sunday.
