On 8 November 2020, Centenary celebrations of playwright Lalit Mohan Thapalyal began with the inaugural online programme, which is divided here into three parts.
The programme digitally united participants and audiences from four countries and eleven cities, capturing tributes and memories shared by actors, scholars, theatre makers, friends and family who knew him. There were also readings from several plays.
Below are recordings of the online inaugural programme. A table of contents with timeslots appears below each section.
PART 1 of the recorded inaugural programme
00.09 Anjana Rajan- Welcome
02.00 Ranjana Thapalyal- Introduction to Lalit Mohan Thapalyal
06.26-55.55 Glimpses and discussion of Thapalyal ji’s Garhwali and Hindi plays
07.15 Shri AP Nautiyal-opening lines of ‘Ekikaran’
08.37 Shalendra Maithani- learning Garhwali to act with the Garhwal Sangeet Natak Samaj 12.54 Ajeet Parmar- Significance of LMT’s writing in Garhwali
20.27 Vibha Thapalyal- Some lines from ‘Ghar Javain , comments on feminist messages and social critique in the play
24.42 Smt. Sushila Dobhal – Reminiscences, overview of LMT’s work in Hindi and Garhwali, and depth of his use of language
31.32 Shrish Dobhal- Wider literary contexts of LMT’s writing
41.35 Dinkar Jain- some lines from ‘Achriyon ka Talaab’.
42.08 Anjana Rajan brief interpretation of the play, and reflections on the sutradhar in LMT’s plays
45.12 Vibha Thapalyal- rehearsed reading of sutradhar’s opening soliloquy in ‘Kala Raja’
47.36 Smt. Sumitra Dhulia – Linguistic and literary quality of LMT’s Garhwali plays
52.55 Discussion -Smt. Indira Thapalyal’s influence on LMT’s command of Garhwali
56.32 Rajendra Pancharia- Indira Thapalyal’s support and care of cast and crew
59:23 Indira and LMT’s stance on social justice and resistance to caste and racial bigotry 1.02.28 Slideshow- Images from our archives with music by Shyam Rajan
PART 2 of the recorded inaugural programme.
0.07-47.55 Special Guests Tigmanshu Dhulia and David Rothauser discuss LMT’s ‘Chimte Wala Baba’ and its English translation ‘In Search of the Miracle Man’
0.07 Introduction to David Rothauser, American playwright and peace activist
2.25 David Rothauser- Reminiscences on friendship with LMT, and reading from final scene of ‘In Search of the Miracle Man’
20.34 Introduction to Tigmanshu Dhulia, Indian Film maker, actor, director
23.34-47.55 Discussion between David and Tigmanshu
47.55 Brij Mohan Sharma- the impact of LMT’s philosophical language in ‘Chimte Wala Baba’ with lines from Natthu’s dialogue with Malti. Followed by discussion of these points
54.42 Anjana Rajan on ‘Swapna aur Satya’
56.29 Dinkar Jain on performing in ‘Swapna aur Satya’ and the play’s meaning.
57.55 Dinkar Jain and Deepak Sethi- Excerpt from ‘Swapna aur Satya’
1.04.16 Rajendra Pancharia- on becoming a performer under LMT’s guidance
PART 3 of the recorded inaugural programme.
0.18 Shilpa T-Hyland -Reminiscences of her grandfather and perennial qualities of LMT’s ‘Andha Kaun?’
5.08 Excerpt from ‘An Act of Kindness’ an adaptation by Shilpa T-Hyland of LMT’s ‘Andha Kaun?’
7.52 David Rothauser on his play ‘The First All American President’ with brief reading
16.58 Clip from ‘The Diary of Sacco and Vanzetti’ by David Rothauser
21.21 Anjana Rajan on LMT’s ‘Alag Alag Rahen’ and his recurring theme of living ethically 24.16 Thanks to supporters of the programme
27.18 Tributes to LMT- recorded messages- Neelu Rastogi, Shri Kushal Singh Bisht, Medha Kapoor, Neeta Anand Vishwakarma, Ajay Agarwal, Shyam Rajan, Meenu Gaur.
30.28 Full 16 minute audio/visual recording of ‘An Act of Kindness’- Scottish/English adaptation by Shilpa T-Hyland of LMT’s ‘Andha Kaun?’ a parable for children about society and human value
47.15 Credits
Lalit Mohan Thapalyal Playwright 