Agartala, Sept. 12: Maharathi Shikhondi, the eldest Panchala prince in the epic Mahabharat, was born a eunuch to realise his dream of slaying the invincible warrior Bhishma.
Shikhondi achieved her purpose by standing as a shield in front of Arjun in the battle of Kurukshetra as Bhishma, determined not to raise arms against a lesser mortal, allowed himself to be riddled by arrows. Yet the epic is silent on the tormented existence of eunuchs.
This continues even today as eunuchs still live in segregated colonies. Tripura's playwright, actor and director Partha Mazumder has captured the agony of eunuchs in a drama, Jignasha (query) which portrays the predicament of transgenders.
"I have tried to focus on the rights of eunuchs in a society where they are looked upon with negative curiosity blended with contempt. It evoked a positive response from the audience at Rabindra Shata Varshiki Bhawan," he said.
Mazumder, also a science teacher at Brajendra Nagar Higher Secondary School in Bishalgarh subdivision, has already composed and directed 32 mini dramas meant for students.
"All these dramas, which are performed by my students, convey messages on social issues. My first drama for students titled Aleya focuses on superstitions and depicts the need to develop a scientific temper," he added.
Similarly, his drama Shabda Jabda puts in perspective the problems caused by noise pollution, Bhuter Bati exposes the negative aspects of superstitions and Natun Roddur focuses on students who have fallen victim to drug addiction.
"My plays on Rabindra Nath Tagore's short story Chhuti (holiday), Sukumar Roy's poem Gandha Vichar and a Tagore poem Dushtu are very popular. Students take great interest in performing them," he said.
Born in 1971, Mazumder started working as a science teacher in 1996 after a stint as a journalist with a local paper.
"I was always interested in drama. I have been composing plays and directing students to perform on stage since I joined Chandpur school in Sadar subdivision. Many of my plays and students have won prizes at the state-level competitions," said Mazumdar.
The subject matters of Mazumdar's plays vary from health consciousness, self-reliance, HIV/AIDS, childhood, life-struggle and success of a poor girl student and the like. But the teacher-cum-playwright narrowly escaped being mired in a controversy when his drama Gandha Vichar highlighted the negative side of political power.
Mazumdar has been composing scripts for Sustha Bharat, Krishi Darshan and DD Kisan and directing them for Doordarshan.
"I also have the experience of writing scripts for Classroom and Yuva Vani programmes of All India Radio," he added. His satisfaction, however, lies in working with students and in composing and directing plays for them.
