Two humanitarian thespians
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Kajal Chatterjee
Within just 8-9 months, the Indian theatre world has lost two thespians---Manoj Mitra (November 2024) and Ratan Thiyam (July 2025). Both stalwarts were on very friendly terms with each other possessing mutual admiration during their lifetime and also harboring many similarities.
Ratan Thiyam had redefined Indian theatre by blending the cultural soul of Manipur with the affairs of the contemporary times questioning the state of the society through his medium of art with maximum stress awarded upon the human conditions---their suffe-rings, moral conflict, spiri- tual awakening especially that of the vulnerable folks.
So despite being rooted in the soil of Manipur, Thiyam’s plays had a universal appeal which enriched the theatre lovers of the whole country and globe. So rightly does Thiyam gets credited to absorb the global by retaining the local, uplifting the cultural identity of his homeland Manipur and also drawing inspiration from Kalidasa, Rabindranath Tagore to Sophocles.
Had Manoj Mitra's career in cinema started and ended with one and only Tapan Sinha-directed "Ban-charamer Bagan" (based upon his own written and directed play 'Sajano Bagan'), still he would have remained immortal in the history of film world; such was his excellence in the craft of acting, that too playing the character of a nonagenarian despite being in his early 40s!
However, as a thespian, his stature was of another majestic height - - - be it as writer director or actor (often in all of these roles together) with his plays drawing inspiration from the honest hard struggle and fight against all odds of the toiling nameless faceless "unglamorous" lot ! And therein lies the resemblance of the plays of Thiyam and Mitra as far as the inherent humanitarian theme and spirit are concerned with the vulnerability of human beings at the centre. So no wonder Thiyam had adapted Mitra's plays also and staged it in Manipuri in his own way ! In this context, once Mitra recalled how "Roton" (in Bangla accent) had once sought his permission to adapt 'Sajano Bagan' to the Manipuri stage and said he would have to make the protagonist, the gardener, a woman, because in Manipur, many cultivators and farm labourers are women !
And just like true human beings, both Thiyam and Mitra used to remain accountable to the larger welfare of the society. So, the man of principles and spine, Thiyam didn't hesitate to relinquish his Padma Shri in 2001 to protest against the Centre's decision to extend the territorial limits of the ceasefire with the NSCN (Isak-Muivah).
And as a responsible citizen of the society, Mitra dared to take on a certain unscrupulous developer by launching a "community movement" in his neighbor-hood ! He did fail to stop that particular "development project" (most natural, given the unfathomable clout of the unscrupulous filthy rich investors possessed of immense economic political and muscular might); but as a man of conscience and principles, Mitra had vowed never to visit that luxurious shopping mall ever reminding us of the cardinal call of Netaji- - -"The greatest crime in the world is to compromise with wrong and injustice"!
Following Manoj Mitra, Ratan Thiyam has also undertaken his final journey never to return amidst us in physical terms. But Mitra will continue to remain in the hearts of all cultured art connoisseurs through his art craft and contribution to film and theatre. He will continue to inspire all (ie who wish to draw inspiration from him for self-improvement) so as to strive for a better dawn in terms of refined culture, sensibility towards the vulnerable lot, never-say-die spirit and sense of responsibility towards community welfare.
And Thiyam will always be fondly remembered as a liberal pluralist and secular Manipuri Indian and human being of international progressive mindset with compassion towards the marginalised weak and downtrodden. Thiyam will continue to live on through his thoughts and works amidst the hearts of people who desire to have a sane society where Equality, Justice and Peace must not only prevail; but attain the highest seat.
Within just 8-9 months, the Indian theatre world has lost two thespians---Manoj Mitra (November 2024) and Ratan Thiyam (July 2025). Both stalwarts were on very friendly terms with each other possessing mutual admiration during their lifetime and also harboring many similarities.
Ratan Thiyam had redefined Indian theatre by blending the cultural soul of Manipur with the affairs of the contemporary times questioning the state of the society through his medium of art with maximum stress awarded upon the human conditions---their suffe-rings, moral conflict, spiri- tual awakening especially that of the vulnerable folks.
So despite being rooted in the soil of Manipur, Thiyam’s plays had a universal appeal which enriched the theatre lovers of the whole country and globe. So rightly does Thiyam gets credited to absorb the global by retaining the local, uplifting the cultural identity of his homeland Manipur and also drawing inspiration from Kalidasa, Rabindranath Tagore to Sophocles.
Had Manoj Mitra's career in cinema started and ended with one and only Tapan Sinha-directed "Ban-charamer Bagan" (based upon his own written and directed play 'Sajano Bagan'), still he would have remained immortal in the history of film world; such was his excellence in the craft of acting, that too playing the character of a nonagenarian despite being in his early 40s!
However, as a thespian, his stature was of another majestic height - - - be it as writer director or actor (often in all of these roles together) with his plays drawing inspiration from the honest hard struggle and fight against all odds of the toiling nameless faceless "unglamorous" lot ! And therein lies the resemblance of the plays of Thiyam and Mitra as far as the inherent humanitarian theme and spirit are concerned with the vulnerability of human beings at the centre. So no wonder Thiyam had adapted Mitra's plays also and staged it in Manipuri in his own way ! In this context, once Mitra recalled how "Roton" (in Bangla accent) had once sought his permission to adapt 'Sajano Bagan' to the Manipuri stage and said he would have to make the protagonist, the gardener, a woman, because in Manipur, many cultivators and farm labourers are women !
And just like true human beings, both Thiyam and Mitra used to remain accountable to the larger welfare of the society. So, the man of principles and spine, Thiyam didn't hesitate to relinquish his Padma Shri in 2001 to protest against the Centre's decision to extend the territorial limits of the ceasefire with the NSCN (Isak-Muivah).
And as a responsible citizen of the society, Mitra dared to take on a certain unscrupulous developer by launching a "community movement" in his neighbor-hood ! He did fail to stop that particular "development project" (most natural, given the unfathomable clout of the unscrupulous filthy rich investors possessed of immense economic political and muscular might); but as a man of conscience and principles, Mitra had vowed never to visit that luxurious shopping mall ever reminding us of the cardinal call of Netaji- - -"The greatest crime in the world is to compromise with wrong and injustice"!
Following Manoj Mitra, Ratan Thiyam has also undertaken his final journey never to return amidst us in physical terms. But Mitra will continue to remain in the hearts of all cultured art connoisseurs through his art craft and contribution to film and theatre. He will continue to inspire all (ie who wish to draw inspiration from him for self-improvement) so as to strive for a better dawn in terms of refined culture, sensibility towards the vulnerable lot, never-say-die spirit and sense of responsibility towards community welfare.
And Thiyam will always be fondly remembered as a liberal pluralist and secular Manipuri Indian and human being of international progressive mindset with compassion towards the marginalised weak and downtrodden. Thiyam will continue to live on through his thoughts and works amidst the hearts of people who desire to have a sane society where Equality, Justice and Peace must not only prevail; but attain the highest seat.