The Prophet and the Poet

An Internationally acclaimed play developed in Bangalore Little Theatre (BLT)

Date: 24 January 2024 | Wednesday

Time: 6.30pm

The Prophet and the poet is an internationally acclaimed play developed in Bangalore Little Theatre (BLT). It is based on the exchange of letters and articles between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore over 25 years, with the Indian freedom struggle as the backdrop. The exchanges reveal how the two personalities differed significantly on many matters, including the form and content of the freedom movement. The differences widened over the years. However, they maintained genuine respect and love for each other steadfastly in spite of the deep differences. It was the political maturity that prevailed in those times in India.

The play is based on the comprehensive archival research by Prof. Sabyasachi Bhattacharya, former Vice Chancellor of Visva Bharati University. The concept and compilation of the first manuscript was by Shailesh Parekh. (Now published as Gandhi Vs. Tagore by Viswa Bharati, Kolkata, 2010.) Bangalore Little Theatre was entrusted the task of developing the compilation into an adaptation for the theatre. The play script for the stage was developed by Vijay Padaki.

Prof. Vijay Padaki is a theatre educator based in Bangalore. He has worn many caps all his life. One of them is in management, with a special interest in organization and institutional development. He was part of the founding faculty of IIM Bangalore and a tenured Professor there. The other cap has been in the theatre, being associated with Bangalore Little Theatre (BLT) from its inception in 1960. He is particularly committed to dissemination in the Theatre, which is reflected in his long track record in writing and training.