Satirical works of Kshemendra (study)
by Arpana Devi | 2017 | 60,954 words
This page relates ‘Summary of the Gaonboora (1897)’ part of the study on the Satirical works of Kshemendra: an 11th century poet from Kashmir, who composed three satirical works. Kshemendra himself says that in composing the satirical works his only motive is to reform the mindset of the people.—He exposes all the vices and follies prevailing in the society with the intention to reform it.
9.4. Summary of the Gaonboorā (1897)
The Gaonboorā is a social drama composed by celebrated Assamese writer Padmanath Gohain Baruah (1871-1946). Padmanath Gohain Barua was the first president of Assom Sāhitya Sabhā held in 1917. He composed different works belonging to different genres. He is a dramatist, a novelist, a poet and an analyst. The British Government offered him the title ‘Raibahadur’ for his wonderful contributions to the Assamese literature.
The play Gaonboorā comprises five Acts. In the play both humour and satirical elements prevail. In the Gaonboorā, Gohain depicts a realistic picture of the then society through different characters.
In Assam, the British rulers created different administrative posts and the post of Gaonboorā[1] is one of the prominent ones. The Gaonboorā did hard work, observed responsibilities very well but without acknowledgement. In the play, Barua tries to depict their sorrows and happiness, their problems and sufferings through the character Bhogman. The Gaoboorā was forced to do hard work from the morning to the evening without any remuneration only to please the Sahibs and the Mouzadāras of the villages. He never gets time to look after his own family. He always remains bowing down head in front of the Sahibs.
In the play, satire is directed against the bribery system prevailing among the government officials. In the drama, Kacukhowa Chutia, the Gaoboorā and Bapuram Saikia, the Maṇḍala[2] are the two Government officials who take bribe and give the chance to the coolies to run away from doing their allotted duties.
The dramatist also satirizes the people who consider themselves inferior to the Sahibs. In the play, Bhogman hesitates to stand in front of the Sahib considering himself to be inferior.
The dramatist also points out to the system of forcible collection of ration in the contemporary society. In the play, Bhogman, the newly appointed Gaoboorā goes to collect rations like egg, hen etc. forcibly from the villagers without paying money. The character Bilat compares them to Jackal and accused them for doing injustice to the poor villagers.[3] The dramatist also satirizes the officials for not doing their job properly.
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
A Surveyor ibid., p.754