Shakespeare stirs a Bhojpuri 'Tempest' at Lucknow University

LUCKNOW: "Bhagwan Karihan Ki yeh sansaar ke sab kasht, peedha Prosperua ko hove. Okra bhootvan sab sunat hoiye, hum tabahu okra shrap deab (May all the pain and suffering of this world be inflicted upon Prospero. I know his spirits must be listening, but then too I will curse him)."Lucknow University's Malviya Hall echoed with resounding cheers the moment this famous dialogue from 'The Tempest' was delivered in Bhojpuri by the student actor Akshay Bhardwaj who played the character of Caliban, a servant of Prospero.The occasion was the first edition of the Shakespeare Literary Fest organised by the students of English and Modern European Languages (EMEL) department of Lucknow University.While the scenes from the plays of William Shakespeare were staged in Bhojpuri, Hindi and Urdu languages, students also presented Shakespearean sonnets in semi-classical dance forms.The event was a theatrical attempt at exhibiting aspects of William Shakespeare's dramatic craft, which has been translated/adapted into over 75 langauges spoken the world over.A team of four students: Varsha (narrator) and actors Akshay Bhardwaj, Prerna Anmol and Vatsal Sharma played the Bhojpuri version of Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano from The Tempest respectively.It was the first ever Bhojpuri adaptation of the play performed on LU stage."The idea came from our teacher Vineet Maxwell David. We just lapped it up and delivered it to the best of our abilities. We are happy that it was applauded," said PhD student Prerna Anmol.Akshay translated the dialogue in Bhojpuri.Be it student Shashwat Pandey enacting Mark Antony's speech: "Friends, Romans, Countrymen" from Julius Caesar, Sachin narrating Sonnet 18 of William Shakespeare, Gargi who enacted the character of Calpurnia (wife of Caesar) or Mansi playing the role of Julius Caesar almost every enactment touched hearts of the audience.Motivation from the department head Prof Matrayi Priyadarshini and Prof Meenakshi Pahwa inspired students to perform on and semi-classical dance on the writings of Shakespeare.Manya Jain performed kathak on the compelling rendition of Lady Macbeth's reading of Macbeth's letter and Shubhangi Soni performed a semi-classical dance in Macbeth's sleepwalking scene. Alina Nasir's enactment of the witch from Macbeth give goosebumps to audience. "It is our first attempt to link arts with education and learning as envisioned in National Education Policy," said Meenakshi Pahwa, English faculty, LU.