Bhigu    :     Samir Das
Kani    :     Namita Das
Rajiv    :    PranGovinda Biswas [Narrator]
Hanumanji    :     Bibhas Mistry [Priest]
Sukh Chand    :     Raju Das [Teacher]
Gajanan    :     Partho Das [Police Constable]
 

Translator’s Note: It is practically a daunting task to translate Dalit literature, where the language itself embodies its marginalization marked by a viscerality of experiences distilled through the usages of multiple dialects which cannot be kept in translation, which tends to be in standard English. Furthermore, translating plays within that repertoire of expressions, along with scriptural poetry, becomes significantly more challenging. This play ‘Bhigu Dusad’ is an example of the playwright’s ingenuity. Raju Das leads the readers to traverse between multiple dialects, namely, Bengali, Jharkhandi, Sanskrit, Bhojpuri, and various emotional graphs, difficult to translate in English. Of course, familiarity with the nuances of these dialects  and theatre vocabulary has been one of my advantages as a translator. In a few places of my translation, I felt that retaining parts of the original text in the translated text would best convey the emotion, geographical locale and the zest of the Bhashas. Accordingly, I also interspersed my translation with vernacular phrases, thus hoping to bring about a part of the original essence. 
Rajiv    :    Namaskar! (Greetings) I am the playwright and director of the play to be performed tonight. I have made you travel great distances to watch this play. But, I regret to inform you that two of my actors in Shanti Kunj Natya company have gone missing. I mean to say, there is no information about those two. That is the reason why we will not be able to perform tonight. I beg your pardon for this. Alvida (Good Bye) Namaskar –
        [a song emerges from amongst the audience. At the fag-end of the song, one could hear- “donate something to this blind kid; God will shower his grace upon you.”]
Bhigu    :    Hey MasterJee (Learned one); why are you leaving in a jilted manner ?
Kani    :    At this venue, we are performing the act of begging.
Rajiv    :    Why? Why are you begging here?
Kani    :    This is our Fundamental Right (Moulik  Adhikāra) [in a sloganeering tone] Fundamental Right…
Bhigu    :    Zindabad (Long Live!)…
Rajiv    :    Eh… Stop that Slogan!
Bhigu    :    Why are you scolding us?
Rajiv    :    Well, as begging is the fundamental right of the beggars, similarly performing a play is also our fundamental right. That’s the reason why I brought you all from the village. Furthermore, spend so much money to show you all the plays like Rudali, Banjara, Charandas Chor, Court-martial.
Kani    :    Yeah, yeah,… you’ve shown us, but we are not gonna be able to do this acting- facting.
Rajiv    :    What? Why did you do rehearsals for these many days, if you are not going to act?
Kani    :    We’ll be able to get a lot of donation (Bhikh) in Kolkata, that’s why!
Bhigu    :    Well, begging is not a right thing!
Kani    :    If it is not right, then why do our politicians continuously beg? 
Rajiv    :    Politicians beg? Who told you that?
Bhigu    :    I have seen it through my own eyes. At the time of the  election, why do they beg for our votes?
Rajiv    : Eh... Cut the crap… let’s begin the play now.
Kani    :    See MasterJi, I can’t do this work of acting. 
Rajiv    :    Now it’s too late to say that. Action!
Kani    :    O…MasterJi, please hear me out,  Believe me…seeing these many people in front of me, I get stage fright…
Rajiv    :    Ok. We will turn off the lights in the audience section. Hello, Lightman Ji, Please switch off the lights in the audience section. Switched off ? Ah. Thank you. So listen to me, the first scene of the play. You will fetch water from the well. Bhigu, you follow me to the wings. Kani…Action.
        [Kani starts moving with a pitcher on her head. Hanuman Prasad enters]
Hanumanji    :    Hey Kani, you have brought water, right?
Kani    :    No, I’ve brought honey. Do you wanna taste it?
Hanumanji    :    He…he… [chuckles] I’ll definitely taste it. Not here though. Bring it to the temple, there I will.    
Kani    :    Yuck Thoo…[spits]By sheer mistake, my mother went to your temple, once. You thought I’ll also go there? 
Hanumanji    :    Why won’t you go? Don’t you remember your mother was so happy?
Kani    :    You’ve declared my mother a witch. You …you got her killed. 
Hanumanji    :     …Oh Lord Rama- what are you saying… No…No…No…
Kani    :    Yes… yes… you snatched away my mother’s clothes… I’m not going to spare you now. 
Hanumanji    :    Don’t make a fuss and raise your voice now, or I will declare you are a witch too. [gropes her tight]
Kani    :    [screams] Arey… help… O.. Raka, Haroyaa, Bodhan,     Bhigu…ho….
Bhigu    :    [from a distance, off stage] Arey e Kani… What’s the matter ?
Hanumanji    :    Jai Shiva Sambhu… Jai Shiva Sambhu…
Bhigu    :    [Entry] Arey… Kani, why were you shouting at the top of your voice ?
Hanumanji    :    She got terrified after seeing a jackal.
Bhigu    :    Arey… Lord Priest, accept my greetings [lying down prostrate with folded palms] lemme touch your feet, O Lord. 
Hanumanji    :    Ayushmaan Bhava [May you have a long life] so Bhigu, how many kids did your goats deliver ?
Bhigu    :    Two doelings and one buckling. It never delivers more than that.
Hanumanji    :    Yes, very strange… Oye Bhigu… has your goat adopted family planning ? [chuckles]
Bhagu    :    What can be done, Lord priest Maharaj. This is my fate [Kani Exits] if you take them for grazing in the forest,  jackals take them away. On the other hand, in the village, the police take them away. 
Hanumanji    :    Jai Shiva Sambhu… Hear me, Bhigu, today the Darogaji ( Head police officer) will visit the temple. We have to offer him some mutton. I am going to take away a goat of yours. 
Bhagu    :    MaharajJi…in return, please give me some money too. 
Hanumanji    :    Money? Are you asking for money from me? Don’t you know in the world, in this society…the place of all these, Daroga, Landlords, also gods come only after a Brahman ? 
Bhigu    :    Maharaj, I didn’t understand what are you sayin? 
Hanumanji    :    How will you understand? This language of gods, is not created for the lowly borns, ones like you. Ok, let me explain it to you in your own language, i.e. lucid Hindi. [hums a tune and attempts to sing a mantra]
        If any lowly born, ever attempt to sell cow, goat, etc.… they all will go to hell. But if you give away cow, goat to brahmin as a donation, then that person is the blessed one, and heaven shall be the ultimate destination. In this life,whoever donates his land to a brahmin with ease, in the next life, he will be rewarded and will earn a king’s prestige. The Blessed one, who offers a pair of shoes to the brahmin as a donation, in next life, will achieve Lord Indra’s stature and appreciation. And the hesitant souls, who still do not act after listening to this donation gospel, it is written in the doctrines, that they will surely go to hell.
Bhigu    :    What you’re saying is correct, Lord priest… but …hunger, you know!
Hanumanji    :     You all guys… all the time keep chanting just this word… hunger…  hunger… Come, touch my feet and pray… O Lord Hanuman, put an end to my misery and emancipate me. [Exits]
Bhigu    :    [Lying down prostrate with folded palms] O Lord Hanuman, put an end to my misery and emancipate me. [He gets up] O Lord, if Landlord, Police, Bhagwan every one together will eat my goat, then how will I survive? Tell me O Lord, Tell me… [Cries]
Kani    :    [entry] Hey Bhigu Dusād, how much money did Hanumanji give you?
Bhigu    :    By preaching religious utterances, that priest lord-Bhagwan took away the goat for free.
Kani    :    Yuck Thoo… [spits] you call him lord Bhagwan? That fucker is a lot more dangerous than a devil. Hey, listen… I’ve prepared some roti (chappati), and granny has given some kheura (lentil curry), Haroyaa’s wife gave me some Karamcha’s pickle and also parsad (offerings) from Chat festival… come now …eat.
Bhigu    :    You eat with me too. I don’t know if we will get the opportunity to eat together once again or not.
Kani    :    Well, Bhigu.. tell me, why do you run away every time?
Bhigu    :    What do I do? I’ve got enemies all around me. In the village, there is the police, priests, landlords, and in the jungle, there’s fox and jackals [says while eating the chappati]
Kani    :    Many years back, we never used to see police in the villages [brings in the container for drinking water]
Bhigu    :    Well, that I don’t know. But I know that when I saw the police for three months at Nayagarh, I ran away to Badagaon. But the police came there too, and I ran out to Tahar. Then from Tahar to Noagarh. Here again, police and priest. Now, where do I run away? 
Kani    :    The stories of the tussle between landowner and sharecroppers ispretty ancient. I still remember, my grandmother used to take me in her lap and tell those stories. Then came Rajasahib, and said to Dukhiya, “Yi Ka Khachdai Hai?” (what is the problem ?… in response your grandpa said ‘KaKhachdai?”, give us our share of the crop and ask your murderous soldiers to go away. Rajasahib got infuriated and fired a bullet. Your maternal grandpa got killed. His chest burst and blood oozed out as if river Ganges in the peak of monsoon. My father got killed too, and my mother became the mistress of Hanuman Prasad. And I became a beggar [Cries]
Bhigu    :    [patting on her head, trying to console her] Don’t cry, Kani, don’t cry. These are all biddings of Sinbonga and the almighty. Tell me, did you meet Raka Dusad ?
Kani    :    Yes, I met him at the village market of Tahar. He gave me sixty rupees for the goat that was sold five days back. Listen to me, Raka and his wife have built a house for you there.
Bhigu    :    Really! They are such wonderful people. 
Kani    :    Yes, you said it right. A few days back, three Babus from the city caught hold of me on the forest road and started harassing me. I shouted at the top of my voice. Hearing the commotion, Raka came there with an axe and babus ran away like rats [Both laugh]
Bhigu    :    Hear Me,Kani, I will go back to the forest before nightfall. Please inform me after the police have left the village. Ok? Now you should go home. 
Kani    :    Home! [Deep Sigh] oh Bhigu Dusad, how did you forget, that as you don’t have a home, there is no home for me too.
Bhigu    :    Kani, I haven’t forgotten it, well, I try again and again to forget it,  ignore it, but still…!
Kani    :    Then let’s get married. We will together rear the goats. They will have kids. We too, will have kids. Tell me, will you marry me?
Bhigu    :    Leave my hand. I am not going to marry any beggar. 
Kani    :    Believe me, begging is not what I like to do. But still….
Bhigu    :    [screams]But still what? What? Just leave me alone. [Paced Exit]
Kani    :    Bhigu, please take care of yourself. Please take care. [Breaks down crying] 
After Many Days
Rajiv    :    Babus, ladies and Gentleman, once again, I had to make my appearance in front of you to clarify a few things. The events that you just saw happen were quite inevitable. These tales are as old as the land and soil of Naoagarh itself. Initially, landlords-owners (zamindars) killed the sharecroppers, then the police arrived. Then came the Communists, some were empathetic towards the Adivasi (tribals) autochthons, and some were extremists. Everyone seems to help the poor farming folks. Raka informed that the police had left Naoyagarh. Thus, Bhigu happily returned to Naoyagarh. [Exit]
        [Bhigu enters humming a song, we see Kani sitting on the floor preparing flour dough]
Kani    :    Here, here… take your bedding, lamp, matchbox and bottle. 
Bhigu    :    Ok… please keep it there.
Kani    :    Did you know…Phulia has run away with Chottu. 
Bhigu    :    [while preparing the chewing tobacco in his palms] Where did they run away?
Kani    :    To Sumadi Village.
Bhigu    :    Kani, why don’t you get married ?
Kani    :    Who will marry a Kani like me? [looks outside the stage] Oh my god, wow .. so how many goats do you have?
Bhigu    :    Five goats. Three kids. Tomorrow I will go to Sumadi village market to sell three of them. Then I will buy a dhoti, gamucha and for you a colourful sari. 
Kani    :    You are buying sari for me? Will you now marry…?
Bhigu    :    Yes, I will. I will talk to the barbers at Sumadi market to fix some Dusad widow for me. [ Kani drops the flour dough vessel]
Kani    :    Hey, listen... there is another news about Naoyagarh too. 
Bhigu    :    What news? [preparing tobacco again]
Kani    :    Sarkar Bahadur has awarded a lot of money to Rajasahib (zamindar]). That’s the reason why there will be a feast. There will be a lot of food and drinks. Will you go there?
Bhigu    :    No. I am not going there. I am not a beggar. I am a goat-herd. 
Sukh Chand:    [Entry] Johar, Johar (Greetings) BhiguJi…
Bhigu    :    Johar, Master Ji (teacher)
Sukh Chand:    Today, school, post office everything is shut, so I was going to the market. Thought to check on you. When did you arrive?
Bhigu    :    Just some time back. Please sit, Masterji.
Sukh Chand:    How are you doing?
Bhigu    :    As kept by Dharti Aba (the father of the earth: Birsa Munda), that’s how!
Sukh Chand:    You all must have heard that Rajasahib has received a prize amount of Rs. six lakhs. 
Kani    :    Masterji, how much is six lakhs? Is it more than five hundred rupees?
Kani    :    It must be a little more than a thousand rupees. Isn’t it, Masterji?
Sukh Chand:    [Smiles] No… it is much more than that.
Bhigu    :    How did he land up getting this much money?
Kani    :    He must have won a lottery.
Sukh Chand:    No, he earned it by registering various cases.
Bhigu    :    Case? What that means?
Sukh Chand:    That means an appeal in the High Court, i.e. rather a complaint. You must have heard that the railway line and bus road were constructed on Rajasahib’s property.
Kani    :    So what? Will Government [Sarkar] construct roads in air, if not on land?
Bhigu    :    Well, why did he file the complaint then?
Kani    :    Why will he not file a complaint, as that land belongs to Rajasahib, isn’t it?
Bhigu    :    Ah. Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard that DeutaJi (zamindar) has many other lands.
Sukh Chand:    Therefore, doesn’t he have a right over his lands?
Kani    :    Yeah, he must have the right on his land [starts preparing the flour dough].
Sukh Chand:    The Constitution of India allows everyone to have the right to claim the ownership of their land. It is called a fundamental right. The government's job is to protect the fundamental rights of all.
Bhigu    :    Surprisingly, then fundamental rights are not a bad thing, BabuJi.
Kani    :    Why will it be a bad thing? How did you come up with this idea?
Bhigu    :    A few days back, sharecroppers decried for their fundamental right and police came down upon them.
Sukh Chand:    No, no…it is not about rights. The police were here because it was regarding law and order.
Bhigu    :    Master Ji, please explain to us what is fundamental right… Please…
Sukh Chand:    See this distinction of caste, untouchability, Hindu-Muslim, higher -lower; Everyone is equal in the eyes of the law. This is the fundamental right to equality.
Kani    :    Of course, all these must have been written by English sahibs?
Sukh Chand:    No, Kani…once the English left, the Constitution of India was written by Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. The Constitution means the law.
Kani    :    So there will be no discrimination based on caste? Everyone will be equal?
Sukh Chand:    That’s right. That’s what is written in the Constitution.
Bhigu    :    Still then why the upper caste people don’t drink water from us. They don’t even allow us to fetch water from their wells. Why don’t they allow us to enter their temples?
Sukh Chand:    You both should come to my night school to understand the answer to all these questions. See, it is the fundamental right to property, which enabled Rajasahib to get that money.
Bhigu    :    So, whatever you said about fundamental right is true?
Sukh Chand:    Yes, it is. Remember, Baba Tilka Majhi, Dharti Aba Birsa Munda started the Ulgulaan (Uprising) to assert the fundamental right.
Bhigu    :    [Soliloquy] Rajasahib’s land is his property – My goats are my property. [To Kani] see Kani, when Rajasahib’s land was taken away, the government gave him so much money…
Kani    :    Yes, that’s true...
Bhigu    :    Then why I don’t get any money, when police, zamindar, priest, take away my goats?
Sukh Chand:    If they take it away by force, you can also file a complaint against them.
Bhigu    :    [chuckles] Well, me.. me.. how can I file a complaint Masterji? Why do I? Can any Adivasi file a complaint against them?
Such Chand:    [In resolute voice] of course, you can. It is everybody’s right. Dalit -non Dalits everyone’s right. 
Kani    :    No... the right is for the ones who have a lot of money.
Sukh Chand:    Well, I have to go now. I have to buy some groceries from Lala Ji’s shop. 
Bhigu    :    Johar Master ji.
Sukh Chand:    Johar.[Exit]
Kani    :    This evening they are going to burst crackers worth twenty thousand rupees at Shur Mahal… Will you go there?
Bhigu    :    Ok... I will … but now it is the time to feed water to the goats.
Kani    :    Ok… I will get some roti and pickles for you. 
Bhigu    :    (soliloquy) If Kani wasn’t the daughter of a mistress, and if she weren’t a beggar, I would’ve married her. I would’ve built a hut. We would’ve had utensils, and we would’ve had a family. Kani cooks well. Aha… Kochu Sak (Taro veg), Kochu twigs, dumur (fig fruits), ol’s (yam) curry… [ Bhigu enters the hut and changes his clothes, returns. With soap, worn clothes on his shoulder] who knows, how’ll be that Dusad girl, who’ll be my bride. What’ll be her cooking skills like? Whatever might be her cooking skills, at least if I marry, I’ll be able to get the company of my kith and kin and also have a social standing. Then I’ll be much more confident as I’ll meet many of my community people at Bada, Tahar, Naoa etc. Now, lemme go and provide my goats with some water and close the bamboo enclosure for the day.
Gajanan    :    [He gestures to step out, immediately gets startled on seeing Constable Gajanan, who enters with a baton tucked under his armpit, pressing and preparing chewing tobacco on his palm, he enters humming a rustic song] How are you, Bhigu?
Bhigu    :    Oh, Gosh! 
Gajanan    :    Oh,… did I startle you? 
Bhigu    :    I returned as I heard the news that the police picket has moved away from the village.
Gajanan    :    It is good that you returned.. in fact, great that you came back. As you were not around, we faced so much trouble. Tell me, why did you go away? Why?
Bhigu    :    As I was scared of you all, SipahiJi.
Gajanan    :    Scared ? [Jeers]Why scared? Did I ever scold you? Tell me.
Bhigu    :    No.
Gajanan    :    So … give two Bakra (billy goats).
Bhigu    :    No.
Gajanan    :    Saying No is not correct. Rajasahib is planning a feast for the entire police station.  Where will one get mutton for that?
Bhigu    :    No,…you won’t get Bakra  (billy goats).
Gajanan    :    Ok, then give two Bakri (doe goats).
Bhigu    :    Don’t say this Sipahiji, I pray you. [falls on Gajanan’s feet]
Gajanan    :    Oh ho.. don’t touch my feet like that… I feel ticklish.
Bhigu    :    These goats are the only source of my subsistence… please don’t take them away from me, SipahiJi. Please don’t take them away.
Gajanan    :    [Kicks him] Get lost, you rascal…Dusad. Why shouldn’t I take these away… why shouldn’t I!Rajasahib was informed about you, that why the police are here.. now do you think we need to ‘buy’ goats to have a feast? [Sarcastically]
Bhigu    :    [In deep resolute voice] Yes, you need to buy the goats to have a feast.
Gajanan    :    Don’t you stay on the land under the jurisdiction of Rajasahib?
Bhigu    :    Well, I have that much right on my goats, as Rajasahib has on this land of his. Why should I leave what is rightfully mine?
Gajanan    :    What did you say… your right on your goats?
Bhigu    :    Yes, I’ve got a fundamental right on my goats.
Gajanan    :    What.. fundamental right. So the sharecroppers taught you these words about rights? [beats him up with his baton] If the police won’t take bribes, if they won’t eat mutton.. then who else will eat it? Do you think our rights and rights of you people are the same? Tell me… who taught you all these shit? [ Beats him again]
Kani    :    [Enters] Oh Sipahi.. why are you beating him up? Leave him...Please.
Gajanan    :    [Pushes her away] Go away.. he is now showing me fundamental right….
Kani    :    [In anger] It’s good that he’s showing it to you. Now you go away or else…
Gajanan    :    Or else, you will also be part of the community feast…. OK. [catches and twitches her arm]
Sukh Chand:    SipahiJi, please leave Kani’s arm. Otherwise, I will file a complaint of abduction against you.
Gajanan    :    Now I understand, it is you who taught them all this shit about fundamental rights.
Sukh Chand:    Teaching is my fundamental right.
Gajanan    :    Ok.. let me inform Rajasahib about this development. Now let’s see how long you would stay in this job. [Exit]
Kani    :    See Masterji, that bastard is taking away two goats. 
Sukh Chand:    Let him go... I will deal with him later [sits down]. Bhigu got a lot of thrashing, isn’t it?
Bhigu    :    [In grief and hurt self-esteem] lies.. all lies. The fundamental right doesn’t exist. Otherwise, why the government of India doesn’t provide us with the fundamental right to live with our goats? [cries]
Kani    :    Don’t cry, Bhigu.. here drink some water.
Sukh Chand:    Kani, please take this fifty rupees. Go to the doctor, get some medicine and also get some flour and vegetables.
Bhigu    :    [snatching the money] give me the money… give it to me. 
Sukh Chand:    What will you do with the money?
Bhigu    :    Now, I’ve sold you all the remaining goats.
Sukh Chand:    But how will you live, Bhigu?
Bhigu    :    I’ll go away to any  town.
Sukh Chand:    Will you go to the town and beg?
Bhigu    :    No... I’ll sell incense stick... I’ll sing for a living.
Kani    :    I’ll also come with you.
Bhigu    :    No.
Kani    :    Why not? Because I am lame and a beggar…is that the reason?
Bhigu    :    Yes, yes.. that’s the reason... I don’t like the ones who beg. [He snaps]
Kani    :    Please, believe me, it’s not that I like begging. I pledge and promise you that I won’t beg ever again. [Pleading gesture]
Sukch Chand:Then what will you do, Kani?
Kani    :    Both of us together, we’ll sell peanuts on railway platforms. Bhigu, just wait a bit. Lemme gather some utensils and clothes. 
Bhigu    :    No... forget it… as we leave, we’re donating all our stuff to Rajasahib, police and the priest.
Kani    :    Why, why should we? You just spoke about our fundamental right.. isn’t it?
Bhigu    :    Masterji, I fought for my fundamental right, but… farewell, Masterji. Let’s go … Kani. [Miming action of leaving]
Sukh Chand:    O my Adivasi, Mulnivasi (autochthon) brothers and sisters, where are you all going away, leaving behind your motherland, this forest, hills, untillable land. You all are fading away as if being lost in some distant land.. where art thou going away… where…where… [stretches his arms into the void in front of him, the background music slowly fades in] Saare Jahan Se Accha- Hindostan Hamara (Better than the entire world, is our Hindustan…), from the background we hear voices echoing with the slogan]
Farmers and workers of the world call out,
Long live the revolution. Long Live…
Sharecroppers call out
Long live the revolution. Long Live…
Jal-Jangal-Jamin [in a collective echo] (The water- jungle-land) was ours… will be ours.
Jotdar-Zamindar-Mahajan [In a united voice] Go away, go away.
Dalit- tribal unity,  live-live…long live [ Kani and Bhigu stop the miming action, listen with rapt attention]
Sukh Chand:    Kani, Bhigu…See the micchil (procession) of Dalit people has gheraoed the police outpost. Next, the same procession will go to zamindar’s house. Come join us. [Mimes walking]