Mumbai: Vijay Tendulkar, who towered over the Marathi literary field for over four decades, was no stranger to controversies.

His remarks in the aftermath the post-Godhra communal carnage in Gujarat that "if he had a pistol, he would shoot Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi", evoked mixed reactions, with Modi supporters burning his effigies and others lauding him for the anti-Modi tirade.

Later, when asked if it was not strange that someone known as a strong voice against death penalty had a death wish for Modi, Tendulkar had said that "it was a genuine and spontaneous anger, which I never see as a solution for anything. Anger doesn’t solve problems."

Ghashiram Kotwal, a Marathi play written by Tendulkar in 1972, was considered by many as his response to the rise of the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.

The play, a political satire, was based on the life of Nana Phadnavis (1741-1800), the prime minister in the court of the Peshwas. It portrayed how men in power give rise to ideologies to serve their purposes, and later destroy them when they become useless.

The Progressive Drama Association in Pune first performed Ghashiram Kotwal on December 16, 1972. This play caused a lot of controversy because some people believed that it hurt the feelings of the Brahmin community and showed the statesman Nana Phadnavis in a bad light.

The government did not ban the play officially but the performances were stopped in 1972, allegedly at the behest of the RSS. It was alleged that PDA, which was set up in 1952 by Bhalba Kelkar, had several members owing allegiance to RSS.

Several young theatre persons established the Theatre Academy in Pune on March 27, 1973. The Academy could not perform the play till the political ruckus against the play settled.

Some opponents of the play said it was directed by a Muslim (Dr Jabbar Patel), although most of its actors were Brahmins, that too thorough-bred Chittpavans like Agashe, Gadre, Kale, Pendse and Ranade.

Ghashiram Kotwal faced another challenge in 1980 when the play was invited for the Berlin International Theatre Festival.

The Shiv Sena was in the forefront of the anti-play agitation along with then Union minister Vasant Sathe. Sena activists went to court to get a stay on the international tour planed by Theatre Academy, Pune.

State political heavyweight Sharad Pawar intervened and arranged a meeting with friend and Sena chief Bal Thackeray and Theatre Academy artists. However, Thackeray was firm that the play should not go abroad.

It was only after the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi intervened that the play was allowed to tour Europe where it staged 25 performances and got rave reviews in London Times, Guardian and Der Spigel.

Among the play’s supporters were the then Union minister V N Gadgil, film maker Satyajit Ray, Shombhu Mitra, Utpal Dutt and Mrinal Sen.

However, the staging of the play came with a rider. The Court issued an order that before each performance, a statement, which was approved by it should be read-out.

This statement publicly praised the achievements of Nana Phadanvis and stated that the play was not based on history. Theatre Academy followed the court order.

Tendulkar was vindicated when in 1996,the University of Pune included Ghashiram Kotwal in its BA/MA (Theatre) syllabus as prescribed textbook.

Tendulkar penned 28 plays, seven collections of one-acts, six collections of children’s plays, four collections of short stories, three collections of essays, a novel and 17 film scripts.

Source : PTI