Social Issues and Political Interference: Impact of Bal Gangadhar Tilak on Marathi Theatre

Abstract

The literary history of Maharashtra is very vibrant and so does the impact and influences that helped in shaping Marathi theatre into a new direction. Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s name is one of them who indirectly supported Marathi theatre and gave many reasons to convert itself into a new form. Whether it is the issue related to social, political or economical; he was a great supporter of theatre. The plays written during 1880 to 1920 were especially focused on Bal Gangadhar Tilak and his ideology. He was a dominant figure in Indian freedom movement; therefore, it is not surprising but interesting to know that how a political personality can become the major subject matter of the play. For Marathi theatre, Tilak was a ready-made available material. Although he was not fully connected with theatre but it was his magical influence that almost every activity related to him became the subject matter of the plays. Even the name of the plays and name of theatre groups could not remain untouched by his dominant personality and ideologies. The present paper is an attempt to explore the influence of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and his policies on Marathi theatrical practice and how he became the medium to expose the current social and political issues of colonial India.