Greetings,
We had recently completed our study of one of the most significant novel of the Victorian age, "Hard Times : for these times" by Charles Dickens. In this novel Dickens had profoundly satirized the dehumanization effects of growing industrial revolution in England, in early nineteenth century. Dickens has raised important questions against the materialistic and utilitarian philosophy of mills and factory owners, and their Immodest behavior towards working class people.
To understand the concept thoroughly, we had watched one Hindi play based on this novel. It is quite a surprise that there is drama performance based on novel, and one must say it is truly faithful to the novel, whether it is about composition, script or about dialogues, which really conveyed the thoughts of novel and of Dickens.
Just like the novel this play also is divided into three collective parts,
First is - Sowing
Second is - Reaping
Third is - Garnering
Here is the Play,
Cast of the Play
Aarti Vasan - Jane and Josephine
Aakash Hingorani - Josiah Bounderby, clown
Abhishekh - Childers, Jupe, doctor. Chitra clown, Mrs. Pegler -
Isha Mrs. Gradgrind, Mrs. Sparsit -
Jyotsana - Louisa
Kajori - Rachel
KiranDeep Sharma - singer
Kunal - Tom, clown
Lakshya Goel - Stephen, narrator, stuntman Prakash Mr. Sleary, James Harthouse.
Pulkit - butler, clown
Santosh - Dilkhush, circus crowd
Saif Bitzer, stuntman Sajid Anwer Mr. Choakumchild, Kidder, Stephen's wife
Shubham - Sissy
Sudipto Banerjee - Mr. Gradgrind
V.K. Sharma - narrator
Music Direction - Kashish Sharma
Lyrics - V.K. Sharma
This play starts with the same lines with which novel has begun,
"Now what I want is fact, Teach these boys and girls nothing but facts"
This play is beautifully directed by Kiran Deep Sharma. in this play we find mingling of two dramatic cultures, Indian in the form of "Nat" and "Sutradhaar", and Greek in the form of "Chorus". because of this hybrid form of dramatology this play becomes more powerful and capable enough to provide in depth understanding and concept of the novel.
Moreover, by using of the Indian dramatic elements such as, Nat and Sutradhaar, this play can connect with audience in profound manner. whether, it is in the beginning of the play or after the completion of an Act, they would throw light upon what will happen and what had happened. by using this method they can give more emphasis on the ideas and concepts they wants to convey.
The songs, which are used in the Play are equally important to study as it provides the central ideas and the depiction of surroundings in lyrics. Here, the songs are used as satire of the fictional Cocktown and its atmosphere, in a very humorous way with deep meaning behind it.
These are the opening lines from the play, which sets the initial tone of the play. These lyrics ridicules and satirized the growing industrialism of Cocktown and its effects on human society
कमाल की कहानी यह हेतो बड़ी पुरानी जी।
पर गौर से जो देखेंगे तो साफ नजर आयेगी सच्चाई इसमें आजकी।
छू न जाए छाव अगर आप को ये आजाकी तो जो चाहे वो कहेना जी।
तो चार्ल्स डिकेन्स की तरह हम भी क्यों न करे कल्पना कॉकटाउन जैसे शहर की।
रंग जहां की नदी के निर्मल पानी का भी हो चुका ही बैंगनी,
ये मशीनी कारखानों का जमाना यूं समझो कि आज का है।
मैटेरियलिज्म पेर अपने अच्छी तरह जमा चुका है।
हर व्यापारी नेता को ये खेल समझ में आ चुका है।
आए हो इस दुनिया में तो कम करो कुछ ऐसा,
हाथो हाथ माल बीके, अच्छे खासे दाम मिले,
ताकि और ज्यादा हो मुनाफा।
EMOTION, IMAGINATION या COMPASSION से कभी, पेट किसका भरता है क्या?
इनके बदले डॉलर या फिर पाउंड किसी को मिलता है क्या?
इसीलिए तो नजर में इनकी करना और सहानुभूति या किसी से हमदर्दी चीजें हैं बेकार की?
पर गौर से जो देखेंगे तो साफ नजर आयेगी सच्चाई इसमें आजकी।
These lines appears at the end of the play,
अमीर हो गरीब हो चाहे, है आखिर इंसान।
बेल नही हम जो करे भाग भाग के काम, रात-दिन सुबह-शाम।
इसीलिए हम करे जगन, Tension थोड़ी हो कम।
कुछ तो मोज-मस्ती हो, या कोई ऐसा खेल-तमाशा।
सोच पुरानी बदले जो, नई सोच से करे शुरुआत।
किसकी है ये जिम्मेदारी, कौन करेगा
कल्पना के घोड़े पर बैठे मिलकर साथ सब
दुनियाभर की सैर करे,
और दुसरो की गलतीओ से के सबक…
हर पेचीदा सवालों के जवाब ढूंढे हस्ते-हस्ते
ताकि सबकी जिंदगी में कुछ तो पड़े फरक।
2) Discuss the theme of "Dehumanizing Aspect of Industrialization" with illustration from the novel.
Ans
The novel, Hard Times illustrates the socio - economical condition of England, and portrays mechanization and growing industrialization. Through these portrayals, Dickens had raised moral and ethical questions against these industrial conditions and its effects on human society.
Workers are working in the mill and in the steam factories for hours, that also with low salary. constantly making "Goods" in the factories in big numbers. all the resources are owned by one individual person who earns profit, with the help of countless labors. This shows the capitalist and utilitarian philosophy of the factory owners.
This growing of industries and production of goods in large numbers, not only affected the economy of the day, but had a impact on human society as well. And, the embodiment of dehumanizing impact of industrialization is Thomas Gradgrind's system of education, which is based on facts alone, where there is no room for creative thoughts or emotion.
He is the head of an institution which runs on particular philosophy, solely based on facts.
Opening lines of the novel,
"Now, what I want is facts, Teach these boys and girls,
nothing but facts, facts alone are wanted in life."
Here, word fact is used several times and not have soothing, but a jarring effect. everything is mere numbers and quantifiable which is not the right thing. In the last line, the most complex things, life is reduced to mere reason, numbers, facts and details which can be found in books.
Thomas Gradgrind is manifestation of dehumanizing influence of socio - economical condition.
There are many students in Gradgrind's school, growing with his factual philosophy of numbers and details. He asked them a question,
"Can we have horse painted on our walls in the room?"
Half of them agreed and half were not, Thomas Gradgrind disapproved of them who agreed that horses can be painted on wall, which seems like imagination, and there is no hope for imagination in his school. Gradgrind tells them that, 'they are land animals walk on land not to be seen as walking on wall.' here we can find that Gradgrind is against imagination, wonder and dream and favors only facts and details.
He says to sissy that, "you must discard the word fancy altogether"
By teaching the philosophy of facts Thomas Gradgrind took the power of imagination from children and make them robots without any kind of sympathy or feelings for others. He believe that children are mere "Pitchers" a "Vessel" to be filled with facts only.
.jpg)
.png)