Natak Dekho: Echoes of Oppression and Privilege by Ranga Milana

The societal landscape has perennially been perceived through the lens of a dual narrative - the oppressed and the privileged. This difference has existed for a long time and is still prevalent today. Humanities emerges as a solution to this conundrum by equipping students with the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and empathy necessary to understand, analyse, and challenge such structures.

To illustrate this difference and the struggles of the oppressed, Ranga Milana, the theatre and performing arts club of Humanities, organised an event called “Natak Dekho'' with the theme “The Individual and the Society.” This theatre event provided I PUC students with a platform to showcase their leadership abilities as well as contribute to their cultural assembly.

The opening act featured the club coordinator, Ms. Vandana Victor's enthralling rendition of a Shakespearean monologue of Richard II. Her adept portrayal embodied the character, vividly capturing the emotional nuances of the character.

Following this, the audience was treated to a poignant play written by Munshi Premchand titled “Istifa,” translating to resignation. This narrative showed a day in the life of a submissive clerk named Fatehchand. The story depicted the relentless humiliation he endured at the hands of his boss, eliciting a spectrum of emotions. Fatehchand's subsequent bold step served as a powerful lesson, challenging the need for respectful treatment of subordinates.

The event climaxed with an intriguing enactment of the renowned cafe scene from the film “Heat”. The conversation between Lt. Vincent Hanna and Neil McCauley (played by Al Pacino and Robert De Niro) offered a profound exploration into the minds of two individuals situated at opposing extremes of the legal system.

All these acts together highlighted a common issue - the gap between the privileged and the oppressed. They emphasised on how this societal imbalance, when seized by the oppressed, is often interpreted as acts of violence, while the privileged possess the means to effortlessly liberate themselves from such a system.

Humanities, as an academic discipline, emerges not just as a subject of study but prepares the individuals to face the world of such disparities and bring a change.