A newly-formed socio-cultural organization named Shraboni is on a mission to make theatre popular again in Shillong, says Rajib Roy
A GROUP of diehard theatre lovers in Shillong have formed socio-cultural organization Shraboni with a view to rekindling the city’s love with drama. The name was inspired by the Bengali rainy month of Shrabon.
The group opened its theatrical account with the play Notibinodini at Bangiya Sahitya Parishad (BSP) a few days ago.
“Notibinodini was four years in the planning. We rehearsed for a month on the stage of Jail Road Boys’ HS School before enacting it,” said Basu Chakraborty, treasurer of Shraboni who played a Punjabi zamindar in the drama. The effort, he added, was highly appreciated.
“We want to do theatre, bring theatre groups from outside and organize a Natya Utsav in the near future,” said Shyamal Nag, vice-president of the 14-member Shraboni and a play director. Recalling Shillong having had some 20 theatre groups such as Chiro Sobuj Sangha in the past, he added his group intends to stage at least one play a year.
“The theatre groups of those days had a busy schedule from April to Durga Puja celebrations. They were as good as those of Kolkata,” Nag said, insisting reviving theatre in Shillong was a major challenge since the youth are taking more to English literature than Bangla literature. “Then there are odds such as lack of space for rehearsals, but we are trying to overcome that.”
Notibinodini is the story of Binodini, who was in 19th century Bengal regarded as a fallen woman. The script by Brojendra Kumar Dey took one back to time of Ramakrishna Paramhamsa who took great interest in stage plays that were organized by one of his devotees, Girish Ghosh. “In those days women were not allowed to work in theatres. Binodini had great interest in showcasing her talent on the stage. Ramakrishna blessed her and said women cannot be left behind in the society,” Nag said.
Binodini was a member of Star Theatre established and funded by Gurmukh Rai, a Punjabi zamindar, on the condition that she would marry him. “We chose Notibinodini because it was a first for us, like the primary character who was the first woman to be on stage,” said Jayita Dev, Shraboni’s general secretary who played Binodini. 
She rued the fact that makeup artists, lighting specialists and set designers were becoming a rarity in Shillong. Perforce, these behind-the-stage operators had to be hired from Kolkata.
“We are giving it all to promote theatre – even do Syllheti dramas – and show the young generation there’s more to life than internet and imported culture,” said Prabal Chakraborty, president of the group.