Satirical works of Kshemendra (study)
by Arpana Devi | 2017 | 60,954 words
This page relates ‘Summary of the Bhut Ne Bhram (1924)’ 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.
9.8. Summary of the Bhut Ne Bhram (1924)
The Bhut Ne Bhram (Bhut Ne Bhram) is another play written by Padmanath Gohain Baruah. In the play Barua portrays different scenes of meeting ghosts and tries to remove the illusory belief in ghosts from the mindset of the people. In the play, Barua actually exposes the ghost that exists amidst the mind of the people. For Barua, ghost is not real but it is delusion of mind. The play contains five Acts.
Barua, in the play satirizes the superstitious believe for ghosts prevailing among the people of the contemporary society for whom there is ghost in the street, in the tree, in the paddy field, in the pond and what not. The dramatist laments that people’s belief on evil spirits has spoiled the villagers.
The dramatist also satirizes a section of opium partaker who takes the advantage of people’s faith in ghosts. They make people more fearful for ghosts and receive their hospitality as people have the superstitious belief that if votary (bhakat) is worshipped, then they will be safe. The dramatist laments that the society has drowned only because of the people addicted to opium. The dramatist believes that until opium is not banned, people’s belief in ghosts will also remain continued in the society.
The dramatist also satirizes lack of knowledge of the people for whom ghost is the root cause for all kinds of ailments. According to the dramatist, because of illiteracy, the people are unaware of actual cause of diseases. Therefore, they invite sorcerer (bej) to drive away the ghost from one’s body. In the drama, a sorcerer is invited by a mother to cure his son from the clutch of a ghost. The procedure of treatment of the sorcerer is ridiculous. To drive away the ghost, the sorcerer tortures the patient in such a way that the patient finally surrenders to death without proper treatment of the disease. Therefore, in the play Muktinath laments that faith in evil spirit and the subsequent tortures done by the sorcerer is the cause of all destruction.[1]
Barua is concerned as to how superstition could be driven away from the society. In the play, he also gives some suggestion to remove fear for ghosts which is deep rooted in everyone’s heart.