A short thread on how nationalistic sentiments came to engulf Madras’ theater world in the early 20th century creating a long-lasting legacy of using the stage as a medium of protest. #WorldTheatreDay 1/n
India at the beginning of the 20th century was beaming with nationalist fervor and anti-colonial sentiments and it was showing itself in all forms, especially in forms of performing arts and theatre. 2/n
Though Bengal was considered a pioneer in protests through the stage, it was not long before other regions of the country started using it as a medium. 3/n
Tamil theatre from its onset with its blend of Parsi and European influence created a niche for itself, showcasing plays on various social and contemporary topics. However, it was not isolated from the freedom movement that engulfed the country during the early 20th century. 4/n
One of the early protagonists of the protest theatre was S.S.Viswanatha Dass. Dass was a powerhouse of an performer specializing in both male and female roles with a unique talent for singing. 5/n
He was deeply affected by the barbaric act of Jallianwala Bagh in 1919. In his subsequent stage plays, his song பஞ்சாப் படுகொலை பாரில் கொடியது “Punjab massacre is the most horrible act on the earth” garnered a huge appeal among the masses. 6/n
In 1925 he was invited to sing at a sabha in Tuticorin where Gandhi was present. Dass was enthralled after the meeting, he accpted Gandhi’s offer of wearing khadi, and also made sure that his fellow actors started using khadi while portraying their characters on stage. 7/n
Soon the theatre’s of GeorgeTown became a hotbed of anticolonial activities. It became a common sight to see characters in plays such as Kovalan, Valli Thirumanam, Harischandra Mayana Kandam being staged by various other theatre groups singing patriotic songs on stage. 8/n
Dass is said to have been arrested multiple times on charges of sedition, even the mere act of signing a patriotic song sometimes landed him in jail. Other proponents of the movement were T.P.Krishnaswamy Pavalar, Subramania Siva & Subramaniya Bharathi. 9/n
Pavalar was working as a school teacher when in 1917 Annie Besant was arrested on charges of sedition, for Pavalar that was the final straw. His tryst with the stage started with Pammal Sambanda Mudaliar’s Suguna Vilasa Sabha (a theater group). 10/n
However, Pavalar soon started his own group The Pavalar Boys Company. The Boys Company performed patriotic plays such as, “Kadharin Vetri”, “Desiyakodi” and “Pathi Bhakti” across Tamil Nadu not only drawing huge crowds but also the ire of the authorities. 11/n
Palavar’s biggest success came when his Boys company performed Kadharin Vetri at the British Empire Exhibition in Wembley Park in 1924. It was a monumental achievement for a theatre group from India to stand up & showcase their prowess Infront of their oppressors. 12/n
In 1947 the first bulletin of the All India Radio on 15th August proclaiming Independence was read out by Poornam Viswanathan, who later became one of Tamil stage’s most renowned personalities. 13/n
Post-independence stalwarts like C. N. Annadurai and M. G. Ramachandran all played their part in carrying forward protest theatre’s unique legacy, though for more contemporary political issues. 14/n
Mujib’s 1974 Lahore visit was a watershed moment in Bangladesh and subcontinental politics. Hoping to gain recognition from Pakistan and China, he tried to distance Bangladesh from Indo-Soviet axis. But that it would bring greater doom never crossed his mind. Thread. 1/17
Mujib's decision to attend the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit in Lahore in March 1974 - trading Pakistan’s diplomatic recognition of Bangladesh for dropping the trial of 195 heinous Pakistani war criminals - opened the flood gates of conspiratorial politics. 2/17
This decision not only destabilised Bangladesh but also helped in the resurgence of banned pro-Pak Islamic forces who fuelled communal tension and anti-India sentiments. 3/17
When a plane crashes, the world demands answers. The recent Air India tragedy left millions searching for truth. But, when all goes quiet, one device speaks: the black box. A device nobody wanted until it started telling the truth. Thread on the birth of the Black Box.
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Today is Dr. David Warren’s birthday – a fitting day to remember the man behind the “black box.” It’s hard to believe now, but his life-saving device almost never meant to be built. It’s remarkable that something so essential to safety was buried under layers of red tape. 2/15
Warren’s path to inventing the black box began with tragedy. He was born in 1925. When he was nine, his father Reverend Hubert Warren mysteriously disappeared in a tiny biplane over Bass Strait. The last thing his father gave him before the flight was a crystal radio set. 3/15
Prisons are a strange place for people to meet. In the 1960’s Nelson Mandela met a Bengali man in prison who interestingly went to East Berlin under a false name learning espionage at the peak of the Cold War, but who was this man? Read on
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Circa 1961, the world was clearly divided, the Cold War was at its peak. In the middle of that chaotic war between pre-war morality and modern ethics, a young man called Das Gupta entered East Germany hoping to learn new printing techniques. 2/16
On one fine morning, Das Gupta woke up to find the world literally divided. A Wall had been erected right across Berlin separating West and East Berlin which had already been under separate control for a while. 3/16
On this day, as the cricketing world fondly celebrates the birthday of Sunil Gavaskar, it's worth remembering that in 1993, in a city fractured by bombs and riots, Gavaskar didn’t just stand tall, he stood between life and death.
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1993.
Bombay was still reeling from the serial blasts. The air was thick with fear and suspicion. Communal riots had turned neighbours into enemies.
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But in this chaos, on a tense afternoon, Gavaskar looked out from his balcony and saw something no one should have to witness — an armed mob surrounding a taxi carrying a terrified family.
Vasanth Kumar Shivashankar Padukone was born on this day in 1925. His name was changed Gurudatta Padukone after a childhood accident.
Guru Dutt remains a legendary figure in Indian cinema. Here is a story about one of his most popular films at the time of its release. 1/10
The 1942 film Khandan, featuring Noorjehan and Pran, was a massive success. Written and directed by her husband, Shaukat Hussein Rizvi, the film showcased his strong scriptwriting skills. Following partition, Rizvi moved to Pakistan, leaving the film's story and script ownership with Asia Theatres. 2/10
Guru Dutt purchased a script written by Rizvi from Asia Theatres for a substantial amount of 5,000 rupees, only to find it was in Urdu. He then tasked his close friend, confidante and collaborator, Abrar Alvi, with translating the script, including dialogues, into English. 3/10
Charles de Gaulle, the founder of France’s Fifth Republic, is said to have survived more than 30 assassination attempts. One in particular stands out — here’s why. 1/20
On 22 August 1962, Charles de Gaulle, founder of France’s Fifth Republic and then-President, was en route to his country home in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises. Accompanied by his wife Yvonne and protected by elite security personnel, the journey was meant to be routine. 2/20
At around 8 p.m, the presidential convoy passed through Petit-Clamart near Place de la Résistance on Route Nationale 10. 3/20