Category: Delhi

What a lovely tribute to Ramesh Chandra Jain of Manohar Publishers and Distributors . Thanks Chandra Chari and The Book Review Literary Trust (see her edit in the June issue). I first met Mr Jain sometime in early 80s with my cousin and his namesake Ramesh Khurana at the latter’s printing unit Eastman Printers in Karol Bagh. We remained in touch thereafter. The two Rameshes, of nearly the same age, were good friends and shared many interests. Mr Jain visited the press not only to get an update on his titles being printed but also for the gupshup. A wonderful human being and always helpful, Ramesh Chandra Jain will be sorely missed. The other Ramesh is also dearly missed. Ramesh Khurana, passed away four years back.

June 2023 

We, at SAHMAT, celebrated Habib Tanvir last evening. This is the centenary year of Habib Saheb (1923-2009). On September 1st this year he would be 100. Habib saheb was the founding trustee of Sahmat. He not only stood with us all these years but also actively guided Sahmat till the last day of his life. He left us on 9th June 2009. Many of his plays were performed by his company ‘Naya Theatre’ at various events organised by Sahmat. A renowned and popular playwright, director, actor, and poet, Habib saheb also wrote lyrics for many songs and even sang in some of his performances. A pioneer of many new styles and ethos in Hindi and Urdu theatre, he worked with tribal groups from Chhattisgarh. Known for his deft handling of complex social issues and a large cast, which ran between 20 to 30 characters, he put up some noteworthy musical-like dramas with an orchestra of over 70 performers. Two of his most popular plays are Charandas Chor and Agra Bazar. He also translated, adapted, and dramatised a hundred plus plays. Honoured with Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Kalidas Sammaan, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award besides others he was also a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1972 to 1978. Together with Habib Tanvir we celebrated an illustrious poet of India Nazeer Akbarabadi (1735-1830) with equal fervour. Nazeer’s poetry was integral to Habib saheb’s plays. I feel both lucky and privileged that I not only had the opportunity to see Habib saheb’s plays in his life-time (while he smoked a pipe and intensely scrutinised every actor) but I also spent time with him on many occasions.

At the Jawahar Bhawan last evening, Moloyashree Hashmi initiated the event with a tribute to Habib saheb followed by songs from his play Moteram ka Satyagrah rendered by Kajal Ghosh and others.The inimitable Subhash Tyagi performed excerpts from Moteram ka Satyagrah. The best part of the evening was the high-octane high energy performance of poetic masterpieces of Nazeer Akabarabadi. The Nazeer Kahtha Kirtan was performed by Khel Tamasha Group directed by Rajneesh Bisht. The group performed and sang  रोटियाँ ,  होली की बहारें, बंजारा-नामा, आदमी-नामा​, मुफ़्लिसी to excellent music composition. Those in the audience wanted more and complained that the performance should have continued. I trudged back home mumbling a couplet of  Nazeer Akbarabadi. 

था इरादा तेरी फ़रियाद करें हाकिम से 
वो भी कम्बख़्त तेरा चाहने वाला निकला 

– Delhi, 10 June 2023

< Foldable memories – unlimited fun with Ha-Nu-Man > I was recently gifted four of these ‘Postcard Cubes’ which I had never seen or heard of before. A product from Thailand, this is an incredible work of a talented designer offering better-than-origami like-creativity by transforming 2-dimensional planes into 3-dimensional keepsakes figures. Done with creased cardboard shapes that can be folded as mythical characters; forts and fortresses; temples and churches etc. are all to-scale and in bright assumed colours. Great design work that expresses beauty and inspires. This one is Ha-Nu-Man, a part of Thai folklore. The designer’s note on the reverse says “ Ha-Nu-Man, known as the General of Pra-Ram, was a very clever and highly skilled white human-sized monkey. He had the amazing ability to transform himself into anything or anyone, to become invisible and, most-importantly, was invincible in war. Thus, Ha-Nu-Man was victorious in his last battle which ultimately brought great honour to King Pra-Ram. Ha-Nu-Man symbolizes strength, intelligence and great ability.” 

Alas, there are only three (one I gifted away). Any one heading to Bangkok for a massage may please bring me a dozen or so.

1923-2023 a hundred years of the great playwright, actor, director, poet and dramatist. Born on 1st September 1923, Habib Tanvir passed away on 8th June 2009 leaving behind a rich repertoire of his plays. Some of the important plays written and performed by his group Naya Theatre are: