Delhi’s theatre fraternity pays tribute to Girish Karnad: He spoke up when all fell silent

Renowned theatre personalities of Delhi gathered at Triveni Kala Sangam on Friday to remember Girish Karnad and his extraordinary life and works. Theatre actors, directors, NSD professors and students paid a rich tribute to the celebrated playwright, director and actor, who died on June 10. Reminiscing about Karnad’s career that spanned five decades, speakers said the intellectual giant was a master of his craft, and his position in theatre would be impossible to fill.
‘I could imagine only Girish as Moby Dick’s Captain Ahab’
Bharat Karnad, national security expert and Girish Karnad’s nephew, shared his childhood memories with the artiste. “Girish was 10 years elder to me. When we were young, we used to watch Hollywood movies. Afterwards, Girish would enact those characters for me. More than the films, I used to look forward to Girish’s enactment. He used to mimic Captain Ahab and when I read Moby Dick later, I could imagine only Girish as Captain Ahab,” he said.
Bharat Karnad
‘We must all speak Girish’s language before it is too late’
Veteran actor MK Raina recalled how Karnad was always championing various causes. “Two such incidents really affected me. When Karnad became the head of Sangeet Natak Akademi, he instituted several health initiatives for artists. He was the first person to be concerned about what happens to the artists later, even after getting an Akademi honour. When Babri Masjid was demolished, we artists decided to go to the Masjid to stage a concert on the theme – Kahan se shuru kiya tha desh ko chalana, kahan pahuncha. Aur Girish Karnad pahunche wahan (Girish Karnad reached there). While I was presenting on stage, a policeman came to me and said if there is any firing, just bend down. Girish looked at me, came on the stage and said, ‘I will compere now’. Uske baad desh badalta gaya, violence badhta raha, woh hamesha khade rahe (after that country kept changing, violence kept increasing but he was undeterred).Today, every writer, painter, dramatist, and actor must speak Girish’s language before it is too late for us,” said Raina.
MK Raina
DP Tripathi
‘Is it enough to remember Girish Karnad only for his writing?’
Even as Karnad’s contribution to literature and theatre is unparalleled, speakers hailed him for his courage to stand for the causes he believed in.
Theatre director Arvind Gaur said, “Why are we remembering Girish Karnad? Main us aadmi ko yaad kar raha hoon jo us waqt bol raha tha, sadak par utar raha tha, jab log nahi bol rahe they. He spoke during Emergency. He had resigned from the position of FTII director. Is it enough to remember Girish Karnad only for his writing? Once, I had to speak at Sangeet Natak Akademi’s festival. I started talking in Hindi and government officials stopped me. Karnad intervened and said, ‘Bolne dijiye unko’. Hum aaj is meeting se ye lekar jayein ki hum chup na rahein. Us aadmi se seekhein jo oxygen laga kar sadak par khada tha ki haan, main urban Naxal hoon."
Tripurari Sharma, NSD professor and theatre director, said, “I find it difficult to talk about Girish ji because he was a private person. I think we all, as a generation, have so much respect for him. He had a fierce connection with freedom, you can see it in his writings.”
Devendra Raj Ankur
Arvind Gaur
Tripurari Sharma
Anwar Jamal
Ashok Maheshwari