And​ ​gradually​ ​realised​ ​that​ ​the​ ​most​ ​significant​ ​role​ ​of​ ​drama​ ​is​ ​to​ ​create​ ​social​ ​awareness.

There​ ​is​ ​no​ ​dearth​ ​of​ ​dalit​ ​dramas​ ​in​ ​magazines​ ​and​ ​newspapers..but​ ​the​ ​question​ ​is​ ​how
many​ ​of​ ​them​ ​been​ ​staged?​ ​The​ ​purpose​ ​of​ ​dalit​ ​dramas​ ​as​ ​I​ ​had​ ​been​ ​reiterating,​ ​is​ ​to​ ​send
a​ ​message​ ​and​ ​this​ ​is​ ​not​ ​served​ ​if​ ​it​ ​remains​ ​caged​ ​only​ ​in​ ​the​ ​pages​ ​of​ ​magazines​ ​and
newspapers.​ ​But​ ​this​ ​is​ ​the​ ​fate​ ​of​ ​Dalit​ ​drama​ ​because​ ​of​ ​unavailability​ ​of​ ​actors​ ​and
actresses​ ​and​ ​this​ ​unavailability​ ​is​ ​because​ ​of​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​financial​ ​strength​ ​that​ ​can​ ​run
smoothly​ ​a​ ​drama​ ​unit.

Q​ ​How​ ​far​ ​do​ ​you​ ​think​ ​your​ ​Dalit​ ​dramas​ ​have​ ​been​ ​successful​ ​in​ ​bringing​ ​a​ ​change​ ​in​ ​Dalit
condition?
In​ ​my​ ​47​ ​years​ ​career​ ​in​ ​drama,​ ​I​ ​have​ ​staged​ ​and​ ​ ​performed​ ​my​ ​dramas​ ​on​ ​the​ ​lives​ ​of
great​ ​Dalit​ ​leaders​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​everyday​ ​struggle​ ​of​ ​Dalit​ ​in​ ​the​ ​presence​ ​of​ ​both​ ​Dalit​ ​and​ ​non
Dalit​ ​audience​ ​in​ ​villages,​ ​towns​ ​and​ ​even​ ​in​ ​cities.​ ​ ​I​ ​have​ ​been​ ​invited​ ​too​ ​several​ ​times
and​ ​still​ ​getting​ ​invitations​ ​for​ ​staging​ ​my​ ​dramas​ ​showcasing​ ​dalit​ ​struggle.​ ​I​ ​think​ ​definitely
it​ ​is​ ​creating​ ​awareness​ ​and​ ​changing​ ​the​ ​society​ ​as​ ​we​ ​all​ ​have​ ​perceived,​ ​otherwise​ ​the
invitations​ ​would​ ​have​ ​not​ ​followed​ ​me!​ ​ ​Actually​ ​I​ ​strongly​ ​feel​ ​that​ ​short​ ​stories,​ ​poetry​ ​and
essays​ ​and​ ​novels​ ​are​ ​meant​ ​for​ ​the​ ​literate​ ​few.​ ​How​ ​many​ ​Dalits​ ​are​ ​literally​ ​literate​ ​to
have​ ​access​ ​to​ ​such​ ​magazines​ ​and​ ​anthologies?​ ​Also​ ​where​ ​is​ ​the​ ​time​ ​and​ ​mentality​ ​to​ ​sit
for​ ​a​ ​reading​ ​of​ ​these​ ​after​ ​days​ ​after​ ​days​ ​of​ ​struggle?​ ​Therefore​ ​the​ ​only​ ​weapon​ ​that​ ​can
serve​ ​the​ ​purpose​ ​of​ ​creating​ ​awareness​ ​and​ ​give​ ​a​ ​clarion​ ​call​ ​for​ ​a​ ​change​ ​besides
entertainment​ ​is​ ​Drama​ ​and​ ​I​ ​think​ ​my​ ​dramas​ ​have​ ​been​ ​successfully​ ​been
able​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​this​ ​objective.

​ ​Q​ ​ ​Can​ ​you​ ​please​ ​discuss​ ​some​ ​of​ ​your​ ​most​ ​popular​ ​dramas?
​ ​Mouli​ ​Adhikar​ ​o​ ​Bhikari​ ​Dushad,​ ​Ami​ ​Chuni​ ​Kotwal​ ​Bolchi,​ ​Alor​ ​Sandhane​ ​,​ ​Shapath​ ​Nilam,
Ek​ ​Naari​ ​Bhrahmachri,​ ​Kala​ ​Kanoon​ ​2003​ ​have​ ​been​ ​quite​ ​popular​ ​dramas.​ ​Besides​ ​these
dramas​ ​on​ ​the​ ​lives​ ​and​ ​works​ ​of​ ​Mahamanab​ ​Ambedkar,​ ​Mahamanab​ ​Guruchand​ ​er
Shikha​ ​Andolan,​ ​Mahapran​ ​Jogendranath​ ​Mondale​ ​had​ ​always​ ​remained​ ​people's​ ​favourites
and​ ​I​ ​still​ ​get​ ​invitations​ ​to​ ​perform​ ​these​ ​particular​ ​dramas.
The​ ​drama​ ​on​ ​the​ ​life​ ​and​ ​work​ ​of​ ​Ambedkar​ ​is​ ​still​ ​on​ ​stage​ ​since​ ​its​ ​first​ ​performance​ ​in
1990​ ​and​ ​I​ ​think​ ​it​ ​is​ ​so​ ​because​ ​people​ ​are​ ​gradually​ ​becoming​ ​aware​ ​and​ ​therefore​ ​they
want​ ​to​ ​know​ ​more​ ​about​ ​his​ ​contribution.

Q​ ​To​ ​run​ ​a​ ​drama​ ​organization​ ​and​ ​to​ ​perform​ ​regularly​ ​on​ ​stage​ ​requires​ ​a​ ​good​ ​monetary
backup.​ ​Have​ ​you​ ​ever​ ​tried​ ​approaching​ ​Government​ ​for​ ​financial​ ​assistance?
My​ ​theatre​ ​group​ ​is​ ​a​ ​registered​ ​unit​ ​under​ ​the​ ​Government​ ​of​ ​West​ ​Bengal.​ ​Yet​ ​I​ ​have
never​ ​received​ ​any​ ​such​ ​help.​ ​I​ ​might​ ​get​ ​but​ ​for​ ​that​ ​I​ ​have​ ​to​ ​take​ ​help​ ​of​ ​a​ ​broker​ ​and​ ​that
itself​ ​would​ ​require​ ​a​ ​huge​ ​sum​ ​of​ ​money​ ​which​ ​I​ ​can​ ​never​ ​afford​ ​not​ ​will​ ​ever​ ​take​ ​such
help.​ ​Therefore​ ​to​ ​run​ ​my​ ​theatre​ ​group​ ​and​ ​put​ ​shows​ ​regularly,​ ​I​ ​had​ ​pulled​ ​rickshaw​ ​for​ ​18
long​ ​years.​ ​My​ ​theatre​ ​unit​ ​survives​ ​on​ ​my​ ​hard​ ​earned​ ​money.

Q​ ​How​ ​would​ ​you​ ​like​ ​to​ ​assess​ ​your​ ​own​ ​work.

You​ ​have​ ​put​ ​me​ ​in​ ​a​ ​big​ ​trouble​ ​by​ ​asking​ ​me​ ​to​ ​assess​ ​my​ ​own​ ​work.
However,​ ​I​ ​would​ ​like​ ​to​ ​mention​ ​that​ ​in​ ​spite​ ​of​ ​understanding​ ​the​ ​aesthetics​ ​of​ ​drama​ ​yet​ ​I
have​ ​refrained​ ​myself​ ​from​ ​observing​ ​that​ ​in​ ​my​ ​work.​ ​My​ ​main​ ​objective​ ​is​ ​to​ ​depict​ ​the​ ​pain
and​ ​miseries​ ​and​ ​hard​ ​struggling​ ​lives​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Dalits,​ ​to​ ​motivate​ ​them​ ​to​ ​rebel​ ​against​ ​it​ ​to
bring​ ​a​ ​change.​ ​Therefore,​ ​I​ ​show​ ​of​ ​light,​ ​sound​ ​and​ ​other​ ​stage​ ​props​ ​hold​ ​not​ ​much
significance​ ​for​ ​my​ ​theatre.​ ​I​ ​strongly​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​drama​ ​for​ ​a​ ​social​ ​cause​ ​should​ ​be
presented​ ​in​ ​the​ ​most​ ​simple​ ​form​ ​that​ ​would​ ​be​ ​easy​ ​for​ ​my​ ​audience​ ​to​ ​relate​ ​ ​and
appreciate​ ​it.​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​the​ ​way​ ​we​ ​Dalit​ ​writers​ ​fight​ ​with​ ​our​ ​situations​ ​to​ ​produce​ ​something
meaningful​ ​and​ ​fruitful,​ ​no​ ​body​ ​should​ ​ever​ ​go​ ​through​ ​these​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​challenges.
Today​ ​I​ ​am​ ​known​ ​by​ ​many​ ​Dalit​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​Non​ ​Dalit​ ​people.​ ​I​ ​am​ ​recognised​ ​by​ ​know​ ​and
unknown​ ​academicians,​ ​writers,​ ​drama​ ​audiences​ ​only​ ​because​ ​of​ ​my​ ​writing​ ​and​ ​stage
performance.​ ​My​ ​continuous​ ​striving​ ​for​ ​writing​ ​and​ ​performing​ ​to​ ​create​ ​awareness​ ​and
consciousness​ ​have​ ​met​ ​it's​ ​fulfilment​ ​in​ ​creating​ ​the​ ​desired​ ​results.

Q.​ ​You​ ​have​ ​mentioned​ ​that​ ​you​ ​have​ ​also​ ​tried​ ​ ​other​ ​forms​ ​of​ ​writing.​ ​what​ ​are​ ​those,​ ​if
you​ ​please​ ​discuss​ ​about​ ​them?
I​ ​am​ ​a​ ​prolific​ ​writer​ ​of​ ​short​ ​stories​ ​as​ ​well.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​written​ ​total​ ​43​ ​short​ ​in​ ​two​ ​anthologies.
The​ ​first​ ​anthology​ ​called​ ​Bratyajaner​ ​Golpo​ ​consists​ ​of​ ​31​ ​stories,whereas​ ​the​ ​second​ ​one
that​ ​consists​ ​of​ ​12​ ​stories​ ​is​ ​known​ ​as​ ​Armani.​ ​Besides​ ​these,​ ​I​ ​also​ ​take​ ​interest​ ​in​ ​writing
letters​ ​either​ ​defending​ ​or​ ​protesting​ ​a​ ​cause.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​also​ ​written​ ​a​ ​couple​ ​of​ ​essays​ ​on​ ​Dalit
issues.​ ​But​ ​now​ ​I​ ​don't​ ​take​ ​anymore​ ​initiative​ ​to​ ​approach​ ​anyone​ ​to​ ​be​ ​the​ ​receiver​ ​of​ ​my
writing​ ​or​ ​to​ ​print​ ​my​ ​work.

Q.​ ​The​ ​pains​ ​and​ ​agonies,​ ​suffering​ ​and​ ​struggles​ ​of​ ​a​ ​Dalit​ ​can​ ​be​ ​best​ ​expressed​ ​by​ ​Dalits
only.​ ​Though​ ​it's​ ​an​ ​old​ ​criticism,​ ​yet​ ​it​ ​holds​ ​good​ ​today​ ​as​ ​well​ ​in​ ​current​ ​time​ ​as​ ​well.​ ​What
is​ ​your​ ​observation​ ​on​ ​the​ ​same?

​ ​When​ ​the​ ​pain​ ​is​ ​Dalits’,​ ​when​ ​it​ ​is​ ​the​ ​Dalits​ ​who​ ​suffer​ ​and​ ​struggle​ ​,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​quite​ ​well
understood​ ​that​ ​it​ ​is​ ​Dalits'​ ​only​ ​who​ ​can​ ​realise​ ​and​ ​feel​ ​it​ ​better​ ​than​ ​other​ ​non​ ​Dalits​ ​who
haven't​ ​experienced​ ​this.​ ​After​ ​reading​ ​my​ ​autobiography​ ​many​ ​critics​ ​have​ ​observed,​ ​“​ ​the
autobiography​ ​fails​ ​to​ ​reflect​ ​the​ ​intense​ ​oppressed​ ​life​ ​of​ ​Raju​ ​Das”.​ ​To​ ​this​ ​ ​criticism​ ​I​ ​have
replied,​ ​“​ ​I​ ​have​ ​no​ ​intention​ ​of​ ​selling​ ​my​ ​struggles,​ ​pain​ ​and​ ​humiliations​ ​to​ ​the​ ​literary
world​ ​because​ ​the​ ​only​ ​weapon​ ​of​ ​my​ ​poverty​ ​and​ ​living​ ​is​ ​my​ ​Struggle​ ​for​ ​Existence.

Q​ ​Critic​ ​Griffin​ ​has​ ​spoken​ ​about​ ​Textual​ ​Healing​ ​as​ ​a​ ​Dalit​ ​writer's​ ​way​ ​of​ ​achieving
satisfaction​ ​and​ ​peace​ ​by​ ​expressing​ ​about​ ​his​ ​pains​ ​and​ ​struggles.​ ​How​ ​far​ ​do​ ​you​ ​agree
with​ ​this?
No,​ ​I​ ​can​ ​not​ ​agree​ ​with​ ​Critic​ ​Griffin​ ​completely​ ​because​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​though​ ​I​ ​have​ ​written​ ​quite
extensively​ ​for​ ​Dalit​ ​people​ ​and​ ​on​ ​their​ ​concerns,​ ​ ​I​ ​have​ ​achieved​ ​satisfaction​ ​but​ ​not
peace.​ ​My​ ​thirst​ ​for​ ​social​ ​ ​a​ ​change​ ​will​ ​be​ ​pacified​ ​only​ ​when​ ​my​ ​work​ ​reaches​ ​the
majority,​ ​stirs​ ​them,​ ​motivates​ ​them​ ​to​ ​get​ ​up,​ ​rise​ ​and​ ​rebel.

Q​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​have​ ​any​ ​special​ ​plans​ ​for​ ​activating​ ​and​ ​catalysing​ ​Dalit​ ​movement​ ​and
Literature?
I​ ​feel,​ ​wish​ ​and​ ​also​ ​strongly​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​an​ ​Academy​ ​on​ ​Dalit​ ​Literature,​ ​Drama​ ​and
Sangeet​ ​ ​should​ ​be​ ​established.​ ​Dalit​ ​poets,​ ​singers,​ ​record,​ ​actors​ ​and​ ​orators​ ​are​ ​much​ ​in
demand.​ ​The​ ​need​ ​of​ ​the​ ​moment​ ​is​ ​to​ ​reach​ ​the​ ​illeterate​ ​Dalits​ ​masses​ ​with​ ​the​ ​help​ ​of
more​ ​conscious​ ​and​ ​educated​ ​Dalit​ ​people.​ ​Only​ ​Dalit​ ​short​ ​stories,​ ​essays​ ​and​ ​lectures​ ​can
not​ ​bring​ ​change​ ​and​ ​revolution​ ​unless​ ​and​ ​until​ ​it​ ​reaches​ ​the​ ​core​ ​problem.
Q​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​have​ ​anything​ ​to​ ​say​ ​about​ ​Dalit​ ​female​ ​protagonists​ ​in​ ​your​ ​work?
​ ​The​ ​architect​ ​of​ ​Hindu​ ​Moral​ ​codes,​ ​Manu,​ ​has​ ​relegated​ ​all​ ​women​ ​to​ ​the​ ​position​ ​of​ ​a
Shudra.​ ​However,​ ​on​ ​my​ ​dramas​ ​my​ ​female​ ​protagonists,​ ​whether​ ​they​ ​belong​ ​to​ ​Upper
caste​ ​Brahmin​ ​family​ ​or​ ​to​ ​an​ ​untouchable​ ​shudra​ ​caste,​ ​have​ ​risen​ ​from​ ​this​ ​position​ ​of
shudra​ ​through​ ​their​ ​bold​ ​assertions,​ ​broad​ ​mindedness​ ​and​ ​by​ ​showing​ ​their​ ​desire​ ​to
challenge​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​a​ ​change.

Q.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​preface​ ​of​ ​one​ ​of​ ​your​ ​Drama​ ​collection,​ ​a​ ​critic​ ​has​ ​once​ ​observed,​ ​“in​ ​the​ ​plays​ ​of
Raju​ ​Das​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​many​ ​issues​ ​are​ ​discussed​ ​but​ ​none​ ​are​ ​properly​ ​addressed​ ​or​ ​dealt​ ​on
depth​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​a​ ​solution.”​ ​What​ ​is​ ​your​ ​observation​ ​on​ ​the​ ​same?
The​ ​observations​ ​that​ ​the​ ​critic​ ​has​ ​made​ ​about​ ​my​ ​collection​ ​that​ ​consists​ ​of​ ​three​ ​dramas
is​ ​definitely​ ​true​ ​for​ ​those​ ​particular​ ​dramas.​ ​But​ ​probably​ ​he​ ​fails​ ​to​ ​understand​ ​the
challenge​ ​of​ ​putting​ ​up​ ​a​ ​one​ ​act​ ​play​ ​in​ ​a​ ​time​ ​limit​ ​of​ ​only​ ​55​ ​minutes.​ ​As​ ​a​ ​Dalit​ ​dramatist​ ​I
am​ ​not​ ​blessed​ ​with​ ​lots​ ​of​ ​time​ ​and​ ​good​ ​receptor​ ​audience​ ​to​ ​receive​ ​my​ ​dramas​ ​exactly
the​ ​way​ ​I​ ​want.​ ​Therefore,​ ​my​ ​desire​ ​and​ ​need​ ​to​ ​put​ ​across​ ​as​ ​many​ ​issues​ ​and​ ​concerns
in​ ​that​ ​time​ ​frame​ ​becomes​ ​my​ ​priority​ ​then.​ ​My​ ​main​ ​objective​ ​of​ ​putting​ ​up​ ​a​ ​performance
is​ ​to​ ​sensitise​ ​people​ ​on​ ​as​ ​many​ ​sociology​ ​Cultural​ ​and​ ​religious​ ​issues​ ​as​ ​possible.
Consequently​ ​by​ ​deliberate​ ​choice​ ​I​ ​overcrowd​ ​my​ ​dramas​ ​with​ ​too​ ​many​ ​concerns,​ ​with​ ​the
sole​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​people​ ​might​ ​at​ ​least​ ​know​ ​about​ ​them.
I​ ​am​ ​not​ ​those​ ​fortunate​ ​ones​ ​who​ ​are​ ​blessed​ ​with​ ​lessons​ ​on​ ​of​ ​good​ ​writing​ ​skills,
effective​ ​theatrical​ ​techniques​ ​and​ ​acting​ ​skills.​ ​Therefore​ ​I​ ​don't​ ​regret​ ​the​ ​way​ ​I​ ​write,
present​ ​or​ ​perform​ ​and​ ​stage​ ​my​ ​dramas.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​accepted​ ​the​ ​harcore​ ​bitter​ ​truth​ ​that​ ​for​ ​a
Dalit,​ ​the​ ​essence​ ​of​ ​life​ ​is​ ​struggle​ ​and​ ​I​ ​have​ ​become​ ​quite​ ​comfortable​ ​in​ ​this​ ​and​ ​even
happy​ ​as​ ​long​ ​as​ ​it​ ​helps​ ​me​ ​to​ ​reach​ ​my​ ​objective​ ​of​ ​my​ ​life.