Riddle Plays


Riddle Plays

by Nilanjana Basu Kaul

Innocent laughter is rarely seen these days. From very early age, children today are made to carry heavily loaded bags to school. At times, those bags weigh more than their own body weights. Their lives principally rotate round the many C's, Career, Computer, and Competition, to name a few. The number of hours and minutes available to them are strictly divided for each pursuit, lest even a second is wasted! There is just no time for them to read a book, unless it is a textbook. Just no time to look out of the window, just like that, doing nothing!

Being non-critical about the existing system, where is the scope, space or time, for that matter, for moulding the young intellect with the care it deserves? That is a critical question. We may face it, or may ignore it. The choice is ours.

Tagore (1861-1941) always believed in development of superior intellect in complete harmony with time, system and context. Hasya Kautuk (1907), particularly written with this objective, is one of the masterpieces among his numerous brilliant creations. Comprised of short plays, this book is a discovery of adolescent intellect through humour.