Apr 30 2022 to Apr 30 2022 6:30 p.m.

EVENT HAS ENDED

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

The Prophet and the Poet is an internationally acclaimed play developed by Bangalore Little Theatre (BLT). It is based on the exchange of letters and articles between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore over 25 years, with the Indian freedom struggle as the backdrop. The exchanges reveal how the two personalities differed significantly on many matters, including the form and content of the freedom movement. The differences widened over the years. However, they maintained genuine respect and love for each other steadfastly in spite of the deep differences.

It was the political maturity that prevailed in those times in India. It is a subject of utmost significance today. The play has been used as a base in several senior level leadership development programmes, raising the critical question: what organizational conditions can create the culture of maturity, both within the organization and in external transactions.

Bangalore Little Theatre was privileged to be invited to stage the opening shows of the play at the places hallowed by Gandhi and Tagore in their lifetime – Sabarmati Ashram, Santiniketan (Visva Bharati) and Thakurbadi-Jorasanko (Rabindra Bharati). The play had a command performance for the President of India.

There have been over 105 performances of the play since its opening all over India and abroad. The play has had productions outside India as well. In 2014 Prasar Bharati commissioned a tele-film of the play. The film was telecast several times over Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti. It is most fitting that the play is presented close to the 160th birth anniversary celebrations of Rabindranath Tagore in Bangalore.

Acknowledgements to Prof. Sabyasachi Bhattacharya, previously Vice Chancellor of Visva Bharati University, for the archival research. Mr. Shailesh Parekh, Tagore scholar, for concept of the play.

In collaboration with Bangalore Little Theatre.