Ramlila, Krishnalila, Our Dramatic Traditions Poem by Bijay Kant Dubey

Indian English drama even though we call it,
But is not
As our traditions derive from
The Ramayana and the Mahabharata,
Ramlila and Krishnalila,
The folk and oral dramatic traditions
And the classical Sanskrit,
Satya Harishchandra working as a chandal
Guarding the burning ghat,
Collecting taxes
Even from his wife, Sabya
As for burning snake-bitten Rohit
As subjected to test by Gods.

The language may be English,
But the matter is Indian,
The actors and actresses Indian
Parting in English,
But the audience Indians
Unable to comprehend the version
Just before the parents and guardians
Of the English-medium boys and girls
Or the English department functions
Of the varsities cosmopolitan.