Dastangoi is a lost art form of urdu storytelling that traces its roots back to 13th century.
The word “dastangoi” refers to the art of storytelling, and is a compound of two Persian words “dastan“ and “goi” which means to tell a dastan. Dastans were epics, often oral in nature, which were recited or read aloud and in essence were like medieval romances everywhere. At the centre of dastangoi is the dastango, or storyteller, whose voice is his main artistic tool in orally recreating the dastan or the story.
In this rendition, Lucknow-based dastango Himanshu Bajpai and Chennai-based composer Vedanth Bharadwaj come together to reimagine the art of dastangoi as they bring together storytelling and music in a retelling of some of the most inspiring tales of contemporary modern India.
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Friday, 22 November 2019 – Dastan-e-Tamanna-e-Sarfaroshi
Dastan-e-Tamanna-e-Sarfaroshi is based on the Kakori Revolution, also known as Kakori Episode, that happened on 9 Aug, 1925. This musical dastan brings to life the political beliefs, courage and the struggle for freedom of the revolutionaries of that time. The dastan primarily focuses on Ashfaqulla Khan and Ram Prasad Bismil. Although these revolutionaries came a generation before Bhagat Singh, and greatly inspired him, not much has been done to keep them alive in our history.
Ashfaq and Bismil, were not only the main thinkers behind the Kakori Episode, but also shared a deep friendship. In India’s National Movement, their friendship was a great example of Hindu-Muslim unity. Both of them were born in the same city and became close friends. Together, they fought the battle for freedom and sacrificed their lives for it.
They both dreamt of an India where everyone was treated equally and no one was discriminated against on the basis of caste or religion. This dastan is a form of a protest in the face of the divisive politics which is tearing at the very fabric of our culture and society. Passionately written and narrated by Himashu Bajpai and woven together with the poetry by Ashfaq and Bismil that has been beautifully set to music and sung by Vedanth Bharadwaj. Saurabh Joshi will be accompanying them on percussion.
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Saturday, 23 November 2019 - Dastan Gandhi Abhay Ki
Dastan Gandhi Abhay Ki is based on Mahatma Gandhi’s life and how he overcame fear. As a child, Mohan was scared of thieves, ghosts, darkness and other petty things. This story takes us through the life of Mahatma Gandhi and how he overcame his fear and went on to lead the freedom struggle and finally win India’s freedom. The practice of ahimsa by Gandhi was not for the weak hearted, in fact, only people with boundless courage can practice it. This dastan is woven together and narrated by Himanshu Bajpai. Gandhi believed that music was one thing that can bind people together. In his Ashram Bhajanawali there are songs of different religion, caste, creed, region, languages, and so on. The songs in this dastan are taken from this Bhajanawali, and have been set to tune by Vedanth Bharadwaj who will be singing them while accompanying himself on the banjo.
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Sunday 24 November 2019 - Gaatha Tulsi
Gaatha Tulsi is based on the life and works of the mystic saint poet Tulsidas. Rambola was an orphan and had a very tough childhood. He, later, found his Guru and went on to become Tulsidas. With the help of his wife, he went beyond the worldly ties and ways and became a great poet. He wrote the Ramcharitra Manas, which is a great volume of poetry. This dastan takes us through the life of this great poet. The songs written by Tulsidas in this dastan are composed sung by Vedanth Bharadwaj.
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