“What’s written on our foreheads cannot be
altered” asks Bhagavata to Hayavadana. Finally, the inevitable time has
approached the creator of the noteworthy play Hayavadana to abjure and drown the life book. The doyen of Indian
theatre, Girish Raghunath Karnad has bid adieu to the literary world by
creating an impeccable void in the intellectual space. His versatility as an iconic
actor, litterateur, playwright and above all a fearless social cum political
activist saw a cosmos where nothing was beyond the human reach. This literary
colossus buried himself in his own thoughts and creative arena unaffected and
unaltered by the public sound and fury that signified absolutely nothing to his
unfailing honesty. He never wanted to please or praise any and he was blunt in
his opinions always and in all ways. His repertoire of plays spoke for him on
and off the dais. He was a man of strong will and tempestuous mind of his own
and he never bridled his freedom of expression despite receiving death threats
in plenty. His beguiling blend of the mythology and history, the folk and the classics
continue to convey the richness and legacy of Indian culture and civilization
in alien shores too. His pan- Indian approach seamlessly adorns and transcends
all manmade barriers and boundaries. This Jnanpith awardee had the magnificent
insight of modern life that enables one to sail through diverse language,
culture, custom, tradition and so on. He taught the admirers to walk a path
without light and the impossibility to walk one bereft of dreams. His grandeur
across films, television and theatre cannot be overlooked and his role in the
TV series of Malgudi Days remains an
excellent testimony to the 90’s kids in particular. How can one forget the
unruly Swami and his imposing Father figure, W.T. Srinivasan, the role made
immortal by Girish Karnad? His imagination knew no borders and he remained in
his own creative domain allowing others to poke or make scathing attacks on
him. He endured in his imaginative realm with a magic wand creating stories
that can hit anyone hard. He and his plays did not shy away from the public and
the day to day politics. His novel mode of writing enabled the readers to
breathe a fresh air and his demise marked the loss of a cultural ambassador. He
has inspired and molded the minds of keralites too. The progressive drama and
theatre artists of Kerala were extremely carried away by his sole characteristic
of remaining stable and same, inside and outside the stage, with and without
the embellishment of makeup demanded to gratify a specific character. Although
he marked his presence in Malayalam flicks, he is admired by the Malayalis
especially for his undaunted fight for social justice and his imperative
contribution to the theatre art. He always wanted to be a poet but he turned
out to be a playwright. Who knows it was already written on his forehead to
become a playwright? His rare repository of plays are brimming with the
vitality to extinguish a fire in the heart of every youth. Everyone dies but
not everyone lives. But, Girish Karnad has universalized his life with his
incredible plays and he can feel contentment in his new horizon for the fate
that made him an exemplary playwright par excellence.
