Play showcases lesser-known facts about freedom fighter Tilak

Lucknow: A wave of patriotism and nostalgia swept the audience as ‘Swaraj Ke Prareta: Lokmanya Tilak’, a play on Bal Gangadhar Tilak, was staged at Jupiter Hall, Indira Gandhi Pratishtan.

The play was part of Rashmirathi Parv, marking 75 years of Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s epic. Organised by the UP culture department, the three-day festival concluded on Sunday evening with two impressive performances.

It traced Tilak’s journey from Pune to Ahmedabad Jail, Surat, Rangoon and Lucknow (1916). A key scene recreated the Lucknow procession, where young nationalists pulled his chariot alongside Ram Prasad Bismil, drawing loud applause.

Director Mujeeb Khan said the play revives lesser-known history and highlights Tilak’s role as an educator, lawyer and freedom fighter.

The play featured 18 actors, with Tejas Parekh as Tilak. Artists from Ideal Drama and Entertainment Academy, Mumbai, performed. His line, “Swaraj is my birth right, and I shall have it,” drew strong applause.

Atal Swaranjali, a dance-drama on poems by former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, presented 10 works through music and Kathak.

Performed by 21 artists of Kala Sangam Society, Shimla, it featured poems like Maut Se Than Gayi and Aao Phir Se Diya Jalayein. Director Poonam Sharma said it aimed to highlight Vajpayee’s poetic side.

The show also included verses from Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s Rashmirathi. Chairperson Neeraj Kumar said the aim was to remind audiences of the sacrifices of national heroes. Chief guest and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Satish Mahana congratulated the artists and organisers for the event and paid tribute to the revolutionaries.