LEST I SHOULD FORGET… HOW SHALL I CREATE!!!

      Satyabrata Rout

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Sri B.V Karanth (1929-2002)

He was always in search of that sublime idiom, that elusive metaphor, which captures the intangible reality. He was blessed by the supreme to create new of his creations. Theatre was his canvas and music his colours.  With his music he always seemed to be in tune with the cosmic waves. The heart of his creations used to beat in those primeval vibrations. He was a true follower of Utsavdharmi. Theatre was a big celebration for him; the celebration of life. And life in-turn was nothing but one unending festival. There was a reflection of this philosophy in all his productions. He was none other than Sri B.V Karanth; the grand master of Indian theatre.

Karanth was never known to be associated with any organisation or repertory for long. Though he pioneered many new organisations, he left them right at the peak of their maturity.  In his own words;

        “I can’t stick to a particular kind of life for a long time. I get bored after a certain point. My throat chokes and I long for fresh air. I can’t create any thing if I wouldn’t travel. I want to see the world; people, life, landscapes, mountains, temples, Mosques, Gurudwara, Church, tribes, rituals and everything that a man can see in his whole life. I want to do mistakes and rectify it by my own experiences. I want to learn anything and everything that I could do”.

Thus he became a traveller. He didn’t follow any particular style or form. Nothing was his and everything was his. Where ever he went he adapted the native art forms and converted them into his own creation. That became the style of Karanth. He never followed the grammar rather created his own. His eyes, ears, heart, mind and soul were transformed into a big truth of Theatre: The Holy Theatre.

Karanth had a tendency to forget, which we found rather adorable. It was one of his defining personality traits.  Many a time, he forgot his own compositions which he had created just a few hours ago and if nobody noticed or recalled the original score, he conjured up something entirely new out of thin air. This way, he would end up creating multiple compositions for a single sequence. At times he would not even recognise his own beautiful creations, firmly refusing any credit or accolade for them. This used to confound us.  But for him it was something obvious;

“List I should forget… how I shall create?”

This nomadic yogi unconsciously practiced the spiritual precepts of the Immortal Gita- Do your Karma, but never gets attached to it. For him, creation was renunciation. Karanth not only gave life, but also freedom to his creations- freedom even from himself! There were no repetitions, no turning back, his persona always exuding a sense of satisfaction and uneasiness; satisfaction for his achievements and restlessness for his upcoming new creation.

His harsh external appearance and demeanour was an antithesis to his sensitive heart that always pulsated for Indian Theatre. All his words, thoughts and actions were a constant tribute to Theatre.     He was the most selfless man who loved to give and share his experiences, thoughts and knowledge.  He was the one to teach us to live united in life and in theatre.

“Rang-karma is a medium to bind people heart to heart. It never takes away anything from us rather pays back love. We must work in the medium by our own choice and not by imposition. We are together because of the medium. The medium is important than all of us. We must shed our petty egocentric motivations for the well being of Theatre.”

Our Indian tradition recognises two kinds of teachers- Acharyas and Gurus. Acharya informs and educates, while a Guru inspires and illuminates. He takes you home to yourself.  He is the one, who opens one’s eyes, dispels all traces of darkness with the light of knowledge. He infuses his pupil with positive energy and inspires to follow the right path; our own path.

Karanth was a Guru in true sense.  He shaped my thoughts, ideas, personality and my perception towards this wonderful world of creation. Whoever has crossed him On the Crossroads of Theatre would have been inspired by his philosophy; The Theatre of Celebration; the celebration of life.

Dr. Satyabrata Rout

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(An Excerpt from the book "On the Crossroads of Theatre"

A Vijaya Book, New Delhi Publication-2012)