KATRA, Oct 11: Natrang staged Balwant Thakur’s popular Dogri play Gatt at the lawns of the Spiritual Growth Centre, Katra, on Sunday under its weekly theatre series ‘Sunday Theatre’. Based on the famous Urdu short story Khadda by Krishna Chander, the play presented a hard-hitting satire on the decline of human values and the indifference of those responsible for addressing public suffering. The production was directed by eminent theatre director Neeraj Kant.
The play portrays how people routinely shirk their responsibilities and pass them on to others while making lofty claims about serving society and uplifting the suffering masses. Its central character, a man who falls into a ditch and repeatedly appeals for help, becomes a powerful symbol of the common people trapped in hardship while those around them remain unwilling to intervene.
As the man struggles to come out of the ditch, various people pass by, including government employees, young men, a religious figure, a policeman, a political leader and a foreign visitor. Each offers excuses instead of providing assistance, exposing the gap between public claims and genuine compassion.
The unemployed youth are shown as being too preoccupied with their pursuit of romantic interests to help the distressed man. The Sadhu offers blessings and prays for his peace while leaving him in the same predicament. The policeman registers a complaint and asks the man to report to the police station, despite knowing that he cannot climb out of the ditch on his own. Meanwhile, the foreign visitor engages him in questions about whether he would prefer India or Pakistan, further highlighting the absurdity of misplaced priorities in the face of immediate human suffering.
The satire reaches its peak when a minister visits the area following public complaints about deteriorating road conditions. Instead of rescuing the man, Public Works Department employees place wooden planks over the ditch to create a stage for the minister’s public address. The minister then boasts about his government’s development initiatives and criticises political opponents for allegedly exploiting public issues for political gains.
After the meeting concludes, the wooden planks are removed, and the man remains trapped in the ditch. The slogans of development and upliftment fade away, leaving the suffering individual forgotten once again.
In the closing moments, a person from the audience appeals to everyone to extend a helping hand to the common man, who remains trapped despite India having completed 79 years of Independence. The scene delivers a poignant message about the continuing hardships of ordinary people and the failure of those in positions of responsibility to provide meaningful assistance.
Through its sharp satire and engaging theatrical presentation, GATT challenged the audience to reflect on social apathy, political rhetoric and the need for collective responsibility. The play underscored that genuine public service requires action and compassion rather than empty promises and slogans.
The cast included Neeraj Kant as Neta, Pawan Verma as Aadmi, Mohd. Yaseen as Karamchari-1, Kartik Kumar as Karamchari-2, Mahikshit Singh as Foreigner and Aashiq-2, Aryan Sharma as Aashiq-1 and Policeman, and Aadesh Dhar as Sadhu.