The Enigma of Malevolence: Exploring Kuṭanī's Motiveless Malignity in the Plays of Bhikhari Thakur

Abstract

Bhāṣā literature is the "confederation of (Indian) literatures" rooted deep in the cultural
richness and diversity of India. The literary works of these languages are the living reservoir
of the thousands of years of experience, knowledge, hopes, aspirations, and cultural
sensibilities shaped by the struggle of the ancestors. These literatures have a distinct and
powerful sense of individuality stamped by the socio-cultural and geographic ethos of their
region. The present paper takes into consideration, the literature produced in Bhojpuri, a
major proponent of Bhāṣā literature. Bhojpuri is the language spoken by more than 5 crore
60 lakh people, mostly in Western Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. It has a vast corpus that
falls under the domain of Bhāṣā literature. Their songs, stories, plays, and novels capture the
authentic lived experiences and cultural expressions of the Bhojpuri speakers. Bhikhari
Thakur, the "Bhartendu of Bhojpuri", is the literary phenomenon of Bhojpuri who put
Bhojpuri on the map of Indian languages. Also known as the "Shakespeare of Bhojpuri", he
was a poet, playwright, actor, director, and social reformer who transformed Bhojpuri folk
theatre into a powerful medium of social critique. His plays, like Bidesiyā, Gabarghicor and
Beṭī Becavā address contemporary social issues like migration, the pain of separation of
newly married couples, and the plight of women. The thematic concerns of his plays offer a
profound insight into the subaltern consciousness of the region and elevate Bhojpuri
literature from mere entertainment to an instrument of social awakening. His characters are
archetypes, and they represent basic human traits. These characters are based on real people
and their behaviour patterns. These characters are based on real people, and they occur
across cultures and nations universally. This paper analyses "Kuṭanī", the crooked old
motiveless villain's portrayal in Bhikhari Thakur's Bhāī-Virodha and Putra-Badha using the
techniques of close reading, comparative and psychological analysis.