Baba Bolda Hai (The Old Man Speaks Out) of Gursham Singh is a play dealing with the 1984 riots in Delhi. Gursharan Singh points to the people responsible for this ghastly act and criticises main the political leaders who, in his view, were the real culprits. The common man is the main sufferer. It is the story of a grandfather who became an orphan at a very tender age in similar situation as his own grandson now finds himself in. This confidence gives the drama a poetic subtlety. The play also gains importance due to its contemporary; references, recording of historical facts and representation of a form of \’direct theatre\’.
References :
1. Gursham Singh, “Baba Bolda Hai”(The Old Man Speaks Out), Balraj Sahni Yadgar Parkashan, Amritsar, 1984
2. Sekhon, S.S. and K.S. Duggal, A History of Punjabi Literature, Delhi, 1992.
Exploring Baba Bolda Hai (The Old Man Speaks Out) by Gursham Singh
Baba Bolda Hai is a remarkable play that confronts one of modern history’s most painful episodes—the 1984 riots in Delhi—with a rare blend of poetic subtlety and unflinching political critique. Gursham Singh uses the medium of direct theatre, allowing the play to break formal boundaries and directly engage its audience with a visceral recounting of the events and their long-lasting impact.
A Tale of Generational Pain and the Common Man’s Suffering
At its core, the play centers on the narrative of a grandfather who, having been orphaned at a tender age by earlier communal violence, finds himself witnessing similar injustice in his own grandson’s life during the 1984 riots. This intergenerational misery is not only a reflection of recurring history—it speaks to the persistent vulnerability of the common man. Gursham Singh’s choice to present the story through the lens of an elder who has seen personal loss imbues the work with a deeply human perspective. His voice, laden with the weight of past sorrows and the immediacy of contemporary anguish, becomes a powerful testimony to the cyclic nature of suffering when political failures and societal neglect leave ordinary people to bear the brunt of violence and discord .
A Direct Theatrical Approach and Poetic Subtlety
Baba Bolda Hai is distinguished by its commitment to what is often termed “direct theatre.” In this form, the performance does not shy away from breaking the fourth wall, fostering an intimate connection between the performers and the audience. This intimacy is crucial as it transforms the play from a static recounting of historical events into an active, pressing dialogue about accountability and memory. The play’s poetic language—marked by nuanced metaphors and a reflective tone—provides a counterpoint to the harsh realities it portrays. This balance ensures that while the play is a searing critique of political leadership and the conditions that precipitated the riots, it is also a work of art that captures the fragility and resilience of the human spirit .
Political Critique and Historical Record
Gursham Singh does not mince words in assigning blame. Through the tragic narrative of the grandfather, the play indicts political leaders whom he sees as the true culprits behind the heinous acts of 1984. The work challenges the audience to question the mechanisms of power and the systems that repeatedly fail to protect the innocent. Historical references are woven into the fabric of the dialogue, serving both as a record of what transpired and as a stark warning for the future. The play’s commitment to recording historical facts while presenting them with artistic flair elevates it to the status of a cultural artifact—one that documents pain, questions authority, and calls for reflection on the persistent wounds of communal violence .
Legacy and Cultural Significance
Since its publication in 1984 by Balraj Sahni Yadgar Parkashan in Amritsar and its subsequent discussion in seminal works like A History of Punjabi Literature by Sekhon and Duggal, Baba Bolda Hai has secured its place in Punjabi literature and theatre. It remains an essential piece that not only captures a moment of deep crisis but also resonates with ongoing struggles for justice and accountability in society.
