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Readings on Indian Literatures

IV. 1.
Play

Beyond the Land of Hattamala

Badal Sarkar

Intro

Badal Sarkar (1925 – 2011) is a renowned playwright and director. He is known for
his anti-establishment plays.
Sarkar was not happy with the conventional stage. Taking inspiration from the well-
known Polish theatre director and theorist, Jerzy Grotowski and his Poor Theatre movement,
Sarkar started a new movement in the Indian theatre called the ‘Third Theatre’. It did not
require a stage, heavy set-up, spotlight, furniture or costumes. It fulfilled Sarkar’s intention of
bringing theatre to the working class and the marginalised people.
Beyond the Land of Hattamala was originally written in Bengali in 1977. It is a satire
that questions the ideals of the materialistic world. The play explores themes of materialism,
societal norms, and the search for a meaningful existence.

Summary
The characters
K: Older thief
B: Younger thief
U: Utopia: Characters of the new land
D: Doctor

The story revolves around two thieves, K (Older Thief) and B (Younger Thief). They escape
from their pursuers by jumping into a river. They end up in an unfamiliar place called Utopia.
The people in Utopia know nothing about the ways of the materialistic world. As they
interact with the people of Utopia, K and B begin to question their own values and
perspectives.
Essay

Q. Discuss the play Beyond the Land of Hattamala as a satire on contemporary society.

Beyond the Land of Hattamala, by Badal Sarkar is a satirical play on contemporary

society. It questions the ideals of the materialistic world.

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A satire is a literary work that holds up human vices and follies to ridicule. It uses
exaggeration, irony, humour or ridicule to criticize or expose flaws. The protagonists of the
play are two thieves (K) Kenaram and (B) Becharam. They jump into a river to escape from
their pursuers and reach a strange society, a new land.
The new land represents the values and ideals of the new society. There are no
concepts of ownership or material possessions. People live without individual ownership. The
place is the embodiment of cooperation, collective contribution, and a rejection of
materialism. People work collectively for the greater common good. Everyone's needs are
met through everyone’s contributions.
The characters of Utopia symbolise the potential for positive transformation and the
importance of community and shared responsibilities. Kenaram and Becharam are
representatives of the materialistic world, where everything can be bought and sold. They
struggle to understand the new way of life. As they interact with the people of Utopia, they
begin to question their own values and perspectives.
The thieves' journey from a world of self-centeredness to a community-oriented
society allows the audience to reflect on their own values and priorities. The play also
highlights the importance of work, contribution, and cooperation in building a meaningful
life. Through the transformation of K and B, the playwright emphasises that personal growth
is achievable when individuals embrace new perspectives and actively engage in productive
endeavours.

Short Answer

1. What forces Kenaram and Becharam to jump into the river?

Kenaram and Becharam jump into the river to escape from their pursuers.

2 What was the response of the character from Utopia while he listened to the words,
“pay” and “cash” from Kenaram?
When the character from Utopia listened to the words, “pay” and “cash” from
Kenaram, he wondered what these words meant. He did not understand what he was talking
about. He asked, “Cash??? Ash??? Sash??”

3. How did the character from Utopia respond to the words “police station”, “prison”
and “dungeon”?
When Kenaram asked about the location of the police station, the character from
Utopia said he had not heard of a place like that. Regarding “prison” and “dungeon”, he gave
him the directions to the eatery.

4. What was the response of the character from Utopia for Kenaram's confession that
they are thieves?
The character from Utopia didn’t understand the word “thieves”. He asked why they
had not entered through the front door.

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5. Why did the people of Utopia misunderstand Kenaram and Becharam as architects?
Kenaram and Becharam poked a hole in a wall. They also said that they were testing
the soundness of their buildings. Then the people of Utopia misunderstood them as architects.

6. What was the attitude of the people of Utopia towards gold and silver?
The people of Utopia didn’t care about gold and silver. They were more interested in
fresh flower ornaments which were so lovely, amazing, beautiful and fragrant.

7. Why did the characters of Utopia feel strange when they listened to Kenaram's
comment about eating “doctor's jackfruit”?
They felt strange because in that land nobody owns anything. The jackfruit just grows
on trees. Everyone eats them. Everything is for everyone.

Paragraph

1. Write a short note on Badal Sarkar's “Third Theatre”.

Taking inspiration from Grotowski’s ‘Poor Theatre’, Badal Sarkar started a new
movement called ‘Third Theatre.’ He was not happy with the conditions of the conventional
theatre's proscenium stage. This dissatisfaction paved the way for the formation of the ‘Third
Theatre’. It did not require a stage, heavy set-up, spotlight, furniture or costumes. So, the
theatre became portable. Instead of people going to the theatre, the theatre went to the people.
It eliminated spaces between the actors and audience as they staged plays in halls, courtyards
or in open spaces. It fulfilled Sarkar’s intention of bringing theatre to the working class and
the marginalised people.

2. How is the new land different from Hattamala?

The new land represents the values and ideals of the new society. There are no
concepts of ownership or material possessions. People live without individual ownership. The
place is the embodiment of cooperation, collective contribution, and a rejection of
materialism. People work collectively for the greater good. Everyone's needs are met through
everyone’s contributions. The characters of Utopia symbolise the potential for positive
transformation and the importance of community and shared responsibilities. K and B,
representing materialism, struggle to understand this new way of life. As they interact with
the people of Utopia, they begin to question their own values and perspectives.

3. Write a short note on the socio-political and economic issues that are discussed in
the play.

The story revolves around two thieves, K (Older Thief) and B (Younger Thief), who
escape from pursuers by jumping into a river. They end up in an unfamiliar place called

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Utopia, where they encounter a society that challenges their worldview. K and B represent
materialism. In the new land, there are no concepts of ownership or material possessions.
People live without individual ownership. The play highlights the importance of work,
contribution, and cooperation in building a meaningful life. Through the transformation of K
and B, the playwright emphasises that personal growth is achievable when individuals
embrace new perspectives and actively engage in productive endeavours.

Prepared by:
Prof. MURUKAN BABU C.R.
(formerly) Associate Professor of English
Panampilly Memorial Govt. College
Chalakudy

email: mbabucr@gmail.com

https://www.youtube.com/@MurukanBabu