‘His smile and oratory skill won everyone’

In 1980s I had founded a theatre group called Jagar which meant awakening. I met Manoj Bhise for the very first time when we were doing a play called ‘Ithe Aamhi Raje’ in which he played the role of one of the political figures. I must say he essayed his role very beautifully. He had a remarkable voice with deep resilience. So when we did another play ‘Sophocles Oedipus Rex’,we asked him to be a part of the chorus. He did not complain and did his part with excellence. This was also the time when he was pursuing MA English. After being a part of ‘Nandaa Saukhyabhare’ a review of Sai Paranjape’s play,although we all wanted him to stay back,Manoj left Jagar as he wanted to pursue professional theatre.

Manoj had this amazing creative thirst and he always wanted to experience something new in theatre. He went on to do ‘Sakhi Shejaarine’ in which he shared the stage with none other than the famous Sharad Talwalkar,a renowned name in Marathi theatre. This was followed by ‘Aamdar Saubhagyawati’. Then theatre group called Trimitee revived ‘Ghashiram Kotwal’,played the lead character and I must add that he was as good as the original Ghashiram,that was essayed by Ramesh Tilekar.

However,in 1990s,he changed his line of profession and joined a college in Rajgurunagar as a professor of English. When he decided to do a doctorate in literature,he asked my advice and zeroed it on writing a thesis on Samuel Beckett’s theatre of absurd. I remember,night after night,we used to discuss views on theatre of absurd. He had a great literary perception,so he never accepted views about which he wasn’t convinced and despite me being senior to him professionally as well as age-wise,he argued with me sometimes.

The very fact that he decided to do PhD in the genre of absurd meant that he had a strong literary background and he was confident about it. When his viva was conducted at the office of the head of the department in Pune University,I was a part of the viva team. Since hardly anybody knew what theatre of absurd was,no one argued and his views were accepted immediately. I remember all of us celebrated at the HoD office itself.

Because of his oratory skills he was doing radio plays on AIR regularly,which continued for a decade. So much so that he was almost a permanent member. AIR radio plays helped him establish his reputation as a speaker and he was invited to various colleges,institutes and associations for conducting theatre workshops.

Even at Nowrosjee Wadia College,where I was his senior,he did Badal Sarkar’s play ‘Saari Raat’. As a head of English department,he wanted to start drama and research department at the college but I guess it was not meant to be.

As a person he was always smiling. Infact his smile and his resilient voice won many people. Because of his cordial nature,he was very popular amongst the students and teachers. Whenever we visited UoP campus,I used to be surprised to see how people from each and every department knew him. Besides,he was very generous and never valued money very much. I remember,whenever we went out,he never allowed me to pay the bill.

Our last meeting was around three months back. As usual,we chatted,debated and discussed views. When I learnt about his health,I was shocked. I went to visit him at the hospital a couple of times but he was unconscious. That Manoj is no more with us is still unbelievable.