Indian People’s Theatre Association seeks Justice against "distorted Lovita" by Abhijit Bhattacharya

• Image Credit: Google

• Oct 12, 2022 | Dhupali Das

It may be recalled that the IPTA, through a memorandum containing six demands, has...

Digital Desk: The Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) has threatened a massive cultural resistance struggle against Abahon Theatre’s distorted representation of Jyotiprasad Agarwala's timeless play "Lovita."

Massive reactions have been continuing across the state over the play "Lovita," staged in an inaccurate manner. Soneshwar Narhe, the convener of the IPTA, said. The association has registered a case against Abhijit Bhattacharya for distorting Lovita and violating the copyright rules of the Asom Prakashan Parishad, run by the Assam government, on Rupkowar’s Rosonawoli and has demanded the immediate halt of the play and for the state government to take strict action against the accused.

Apart from this, the IPTA has also sent a memorandum to chief minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma through the sub-divisional magistrate of Bokakhat on Tuesday, demanding to enforce appropriate law in the writings of the known artisans of the past. He also added, "I am compelled to submit this memorandum. It is a matter of great regret that during the tenure of Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the so-called playwright-director Abhijit Bhattacharya and popular actress Prastuti Parashar have demonstrated the audacity of distorting the play "Lovita," which is a part of Jyotiprasad's writings, whose copyright remains with Assam’s Prakashan Parishad. At least we, the Gananatya Sangha of India and the intellectual-cultural society of Assam, will never tolerate such a condemnable act, at least in the writings of a man like Jyotiprasad.

It may be recalled that the IPTA, through a memorandum containing six demands, has demanded the enforcement of a conservation law without distorting the writings of the Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva, Sri Sri Madhavadeva, Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Hemang Biswas, Sudhakanta, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, etc.

Apart from this, through the Deputy Commissioners of all the districts, the association has demanded that the Chief Minister issue orders to give permission to the theatre only on the condition that they cannot use the names of Jyotiprashad or Lovita in the hoardings, posters, tickets, etc. of the Avahan Theatre and remove the current posters as well. The Assamese community will not tolerate the misappropriation of Jyotiprashad's works, according to the association. Otherwise, the Sangha will be forced to organize a massive cultural resistance movement, according to Narhe.