This is an archive article published on August 16, 2018

Monks Against Hate

A play that popped up on a university campus during lunch time puts a king in the dock for discrimination.

4 min readUpdated: Aug 16, 2018 09:05 AM IST

Ambedkar University, monks, university play, play by monks, Tathagat, Jan Natya Manch, Indian Express talk

A scene from Tathagat

With the clanging of cymbals and loud chanting, the monks appear among the students at Ambedkar University. The latter have been milling around the chai shop between classes, creating a hum of conversation. They part for the bhikkhus and bhikkhunis and follow them to an open space where more than a hundred other students have gathered in the shade of neem and peepul trees. The scene resembles a gathering for a sermon but it turns out to be a play. Shorn of their yellow robes, the monks transform into actors of Delhi-based Jan Natya Manch who are presenting Tathagat, their new production.

Named after Buddha, the play is about the people who worship him. It is presented by the SFI at Ambedkar University and the space, where the performance is held, is splashed with graffiti. One wall bears a battle cry in red paint: “When politics determines education, you must determine your politics.” The pre-play announcement alludes to the attack on Omar Khalid at JNU the day before.

In this hub of youth activism, Tathagat unfolds as a story about a mythical empire, where the king has sentenced a sculptor to death for creating a statute of the Buddha from black rock rather than white marble. The plot is a cover for deep satire. As the sculptor’s case is argued in the royal court, distinctions are made between rajya and rashtra, opposing the government and being anti-national, and the colours of a shudra’s complexion and a king’s. Reality masquerades as fiction, the news of the day as history. For 35 minutes, the actors and the audience are tied together by the sub-text.

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Every so often, the play gets less allegorical and more direct. There are dialogues, such as “Mehlon main Tathagat nahin dikhte… mehlon mein Rahul dikhte hain (In palaces, you cannot see Tathagat… in palaces, you can see Rahul)”. The final scenes show the importance of tears and travel in realpolitik as the climax becomes as much about the sculptor’s fate as the country’s.

The caste of the sculptor is a symbol of multiple others. When the king tells his wife, “Yeh kisi ke nahin hote (They are loyal to nobody)”, the students pick up allusions to communal tensions. Ditto for the daasi’s desperate plea, “Hamaarey jaat ke kitne log aapkey sena mein hai Maharaj… hum kaise rajdroh kar sakte hain? (There are so many from our caste in your army…How can we we be anti-national?)”

Director Abhishek Majumdar has been exploring the space for tark or debate in ancient Indian culture. It featured in award-winning play, Muktidham, and Tathagat reiterates it with the arguments in court. The audience plays the role of crowds at a hearing, clapping every time the sculptor’s defenders made a powerful point and, when his wife denounces the king, shouting in support.

The play is driven by text rather than performances — the former is uniformly steady but the latter is uneven across the cast. When the performers go among the students to get donations at the end of the play, it is as bhikkhus and Rs 10 notes fall into their jholi. A few minutes later, the crowd disperses — and the buzz of academic life take over.

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The play will be held at Sabarmati Hostel, JNU on August 16, 6 pm.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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