Nation forced to endorse religion every day, and it creates a sense of fear: Marathi Playwright, threatre director Satish Alekar

Marathi playwright and theatre director Satish Alekar said that for the past few years since 2014, the people of the nation had been forced to ‘endorse their religion every day’ and that created a sense of fear.

Speaking at the valedictory ceremony of the five-day Kalegala Sangada Matukate on Sunday, Mr. Alekar said, “Every day we have been reminded that we belong to Hindu dharma. I am a born Hindu, we followed Hindu rituals at my home. Earlier, we were never asked about religion. But, the present situation is very scary. That fear should be brought on to the theatre space,” he said.

Further, he said that the theatre space was also under threat. Referring to an incident at Savithibai Phule University in Pune in 2024, Mr. Alekar said that a professor and five students were arrested for conducting the rehearsal, not the show, of a play on the university campus. “Some people raised objections and the rehearsal was stopped. Within no time, the police arrived and took the professor and students. They were in the custody for a day. That incident shook the confidence of the professor and students. Such incidents can happen elsewhere,” he said.

Critic S.R. Vijayshankar appreciated the way the five-day programme had been curated. Writers, intellectuals, artists and students from different parts of the State attended the five-day event, a conversation with arts organised by Ninasam at Heggodu on Sunday. As part of the programme, lectures, art performances and staging of plays were held.