Musical mono-act ‘Kabir’ unfolds life of the poet

NAGPUR: The life of Indian poet Kabir may well have been difficult given that his works were critical of Hinduism and Islam. Padmashree Shekhar Sen, singer and actor, retold the story as the poet himself would have in a mono-act musical play ‘Kabir’ at Ishwar Deshmukh College of Physical Education Ground, on Saturday.
The play was the penultimate offering at the Khasdar Sankrutik Mahaotsav before the final classical dance concert by actor-turned-member of parliament Hema Malini on Sunday.Retired Supreme Court judge justice Vikas Sirpurkar, union minister Nitin Gadkari and legislator Anil Sole presided over the Sen’s solo act.
Sen, who played Kabir, narrated the life story while mimicking the characters of friends, family members and individuals with whom the poet might have come in contact during his lifetime. Kabir’s envisioned character was his elderly self who is recounting some of the most interesting events in his life.
Sen also sang some of Kabir’s poems which questioned the hypocrisy of humans in correlation religious beliefs.
In Sen’s version of the poet’s life, Kabir is portrayed to be born into a Muslim family of weavers who are discriminated against by the village society. So much so, that they are not allowed to enter into the local mosque. As a child, Kabir was trying to make sense of the notion of discrimination when ‘Allah’ has created all men equal.
Kabir unfolds his encounters with mualvis and pandits as he questioned them on their religious beliefs, in his adolescence. This often aggravated people and branded him as an atheist. The poet says his mother called him a sinner and that he would be punished for his blasphemous critique. Kabir leaves his home after a fight with his mother but returns on learning of her ailing age.
A young man now, Kabir’s mother requests him to get married which he agrees to. The marriage is arranged with a local girl. To Kabir’s surprise, his wife confesses her love with the son of a ‘banya’ (grocer). However, instead of lashing out at her, Kabir offers to reunite his wife with her lover. But she soon realizes that the poet loved and cared for her and decides to stay with her husband.