yakshini-report

Link of the video of 2nd show of Yakshini under the aegis of ICCR :

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwmfqa5xe7DzWE80VGJBdVQydVU/view?usp=sharing

Link of the book YAKSHINI on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.in/Yakshini-Arvind-Kumar/dp/B075233XVH

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“Yakshini” is the first play in Hindi literature written on an antique artifact of archeological
importance, the ‘Didarganj Chowry Bearer Female Figure’, popularly known as ‘Didarganj
Yakshini’, presently exhibited in Patna Museum, Patna. This antiquity is Mauryan, dating back
to 300 BC and this is the first life sized female statue sculpted in Indian archaeological time line.

This play is the first example of application of theatre in Public Museology and Education.

Name of the Play Yakshini (यक्षिणी)
Category Public Museology & Education
Director Sunita Bharti

Writer Arvind Kumar

Historical facts Dr. Shankar Suman, Curator, Patna Museum, Patna.

This play consists of two acts.

In act-one, story of its excavation and retrieval has been fabricated in an entertaining manner
around the documented facts with all real characters of the episode in 1917. All physical,
historic, aesthetic, and archeological characters of the icon have been explained in this act
through the dialogues of the characters, which are easily graspable and interesting so that the
audience learn everything about this sculpture while entertaining themselves.

A special consideration about the 'public interpretation' of this artwork at the time when
sculpture was unearthed has been made in this play. According to Richard H. Davis, there is
always a “cult value” of images in a particular culture or community. But Dr. D. B. Spooner, who
played an important role in retrieval of the image to the Patna Museum and wrote a report on
Didarganj Image in the Journal of Bihar and Orissa Research Society in 1919, considered only
the “exhibition value” of the icon and didn't enquire what the locals opined about the image. If
they were worshiping the icon, what did they think of this icon? In act-one of this play, the
writer has made a logical conjecture of what the villagers would have thought of this image on
the basis of traditional belief and cult-practices.

In act-two of the play, a fictitious story portraying a sculptor, a model and the circumstances
leading to the sculpting of this masterpiece in 300 BC has been fabricated within the limits of
the historical facts and the epoch of time. This story adds to the creative imagination of
audience/visitor to realize the epoch of the time and historicity of this sculpture.

This play educates the audience as well as creates awareness about our heritages and their
importance. The play also inspires people to explore and know about other such heritages,
pulling a large section of audience/public to museums with enhanced interest in antiquities.
Therefore, staging of this play is a form of ‘Art and Antiquity Conservation’.

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“I never watched such a play in India during my 25 years of career!”

--Dr. D. P. Sharma, Former Director, Bharat Kala Bhawan at BHU VARANASI

“Captivating play, very nice experiment!”

--Dr. B. V. Kharbade, Scientist and Head at Regional Conservation Laboratory
(Unit of NRLC), Govt. of India, Siddarthanagar, Mysore

Release of the 2017 edition of Yakshini

“This small book of the play Yakshini is able to popularize Didarganj
Yakshini more than a programme costing lakhs of rupees.”

--Shri Shivchandra Ram, Ex-Minister of Art, Culture & Youth, Bihar (on occasion of
the release of book Yakshini)

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Dainik Jagaran 9 September 2017

Open Letter Competition on Didarganj Yakshini to educate children about the heritage
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Date First Show
Venue
Occasion 5 April. 2017
Patna Museum Auditorium
Centenary celebration of Patna Museum, Patna

Hinduatan 6 April 2017

Prabhat Khabar 6 April 2017
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First Show

Dainik Jagran, 6 April 2017

Rashtriya Sahara 6 April 2017
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First Show

(5 April 2017)

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First Show
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Date Second Show
Venue
Presented by 16 July 2017
Premchand Rangshala, Patna
Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)

Dainik Bhashkar 17 July 2017

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Second Show

Hindustan 17 July 2017

Aaj 17 July 2017

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Second Show

Rashtriya Sahara 17 July 2017

Prabhat Khabar 17 July 2017

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Second Show

(17 July 2017)

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Second Show
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Second Show
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Date Third Show
Venue
Occasion 13 September 2017
Bihar State Archives (Abhilekh Bhawan), Patna
49th Annual Conference of Indian Association for the
studies of cultural Properties (IASC)

Prabhat Khabar 14 September 2017

Sahara 14 September 2017

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Third Show

Hindustan 14 September 2017

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Third Show

(13 September 2017)

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Third Show
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Third Show
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