MONDAY 19TH DECEMBER
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10:30-13:00
Adivasi Art and Culture – Creating a Narrative: A conversation
with Ashwini Kumar PANKAJ, Seral Murmu and Jitendra Vasava,
moderated by Gopika Jadeja
This event involved bilingual author readings, short film clips, and a trailer for Seral Murmu’s current film project.
15:30-18:00
The World of Therukoothu: An Introduction
Masterclass #1 with the Purisai Therukoothu Troupe.
Therukootu is the traditional art form of folk theatre of Tamil Nadu with a long history. The dynamic art form combines spoken word, song, and dance. Its themes are drawn from Indian mythologies and epics, particularly from the Mahabharatha and the Ramayana. Therukoothu Masterclass #1 served as an introduction to the basics of the artform. It covered the Adavus (steps), singing, and singing and dancing together. Therukoothu Masterclass #2 discussed the performance and the challenge faced by this ancient artform in today’s world. The two masterclasses are best taken together, before and after the performance on the 19th December.
15:30-17:30
A Round Table discussion and Reading with Gogu Shyamala, Salma,
and Meena Kandasamy, Moderated by Nicole Thiara, Ritu Tyagi, and Chandra Sekhar.
19:30-21:30
Abhimanyu, or Chakra Vyugam, a Therukootu play
It is the thirteenth day of the battle. Dhronar leads the army. Dhuriyodhanan orders Dhronar that Dharmar be bound and brought as captive. Abhimanyu enters the battle to protect Dharmar.
Dhuriyodhanan, Karnan, Sakuni, Dhronar appear on the stage. Dhuriyodhanan commands that Dhronar should lead the troops. He promises Dhronar half his kingdom if he won the war.
Next Dharmar enters. He appeals to Krishna to save him. The brothers had left Abhimanyu to protect Dharmar and had gone in different direction. At the present moment Abhimanyu is not seen there. Dhronar torments Dharmar. Abhimanyu goes to battle with Dhronar. He overpowers and drives away Dhronar, Sakuni and Karnan. They conspire with Dhuriyodhanan. They appeal to Sainthavan to kill Abhimanyu, using the gadha and the konrai garland which Sainthavan had got as boons from Lord Shiva through penance, to kill Bhima. Sainthavan first refuses and then relents.
Now Dhuriyodhanan, Sainthavan, Karnan, Sakuni, Dhronar go to battle with Abhimanyu. They encircle him from behind; Karnan destroys Abhimanyu’s chariot. When Abhimanyu jumps out of the chariot Sainthavan throws around Abhimanyu, the konrai garland. No one can go past the garland. Abhimanyu does not know how to get away from it. Hence staying inside the garland he fights. Saithavan cuts off from behind Abhimanyu’s right arm. He fights with his left. Saithavan cuts off this too. Then goes the right leg, then the left. Now Abhimanyu requests Karnan to place the sword in his mouth. Karnan obliges. Then Saithavan slays Abhimanyu from behind.
Dalit Adivasi Text 
