‘Evam Indrajit‘ is a three-act play by the Padmasri Award winning writer Badal Sircar. One of the best examples for the genre of ‘Absurd Drama‘ by an Indian playwright, Evam Indrajit is set in Calcutta during 1960s. It is about a writer who falls short in writing his play and his conversation with his protagonist Indrajit.
Evam Indrajit is a tragi-comedy, first published in 1963. Indrajit is the protagonist of the play and his persona splits among Amal, Kamal and Vimal. These three personalities have three different roles to play in society.
Evam Indrajit Summary
ACT 1
‘Evam Indrajit’ centers around an unnamed writer and narrator who falls short of content to write his story. He has no firm identity and he may be identified with the playwright himself.
As he struggles to find content for his story, he chooses to turn to his audience for content. But he soon realises that this is an unproductive attempt. He gets vexed and tears his manuscripts, and becomes more angry and restless.
Finally, he finds an inspiration in the woman named Manasi. Manasi is but just a representation. He chooses four people among the audience to write about, namely Amal Kumar, Vimal Kumar, Kamal Kumar and Nirmal Kumar. The last one, Nirmal Kumar, seems not authentic to the writer. Eventually, on the insistence of the writer, Nirmal Kumar reveals himself to be Evam Indrajit.
Indrajit looks afraid that he may bring unrest by breaking norms and so he wants to hide his identity. The further narration hangs around Indrajit. Indrajit is a common man with a simple upbringing. He is discontent with his own life and identity and frequently changes his persona. Indrajit’s persona splits among Amal, Kamal and Vimal.
Indrajit is deliberately obsessed in love with Manasi. He is ready to write even at the cost of his life. Even he neglects his bodily needs to his passion of writing. His conversation with the writer reveals his anguish to depart from this world. But his responsibility towards his mother stops him to do so.
At the request of the writer, Indrajit goes on to talk about his relationship with Manasi. Manasi is not her actual name, but Indrajit prefers to stick on to this name. They have a good relationship and often have a dialogue on the bias that prevails between men and women in society.
In the next scene, the writer joins the four other characters who are there to attend an interview. The writer reveals his anguish as to why it is an instant need for him to acquire a job.
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ACT 2
This act takes place seven years later. All the characters have settled down with a family. They have the same routine work daily in the office. Indrajit is still unmarried and looking for a relief from this futile life. Manasi and Indrajit are planning to marry and settle in abroad.
ACT 3
The writer receives a letter from Indrajit which reveals his instinct. He feels that there is no meaning in all his achievements and he has again thoughts of departing from this pointless world.
The writer reveals to Manasi that he is once again stuck with his story, unable to either leave Indrajit or to put him in a different meaningful plot.
Indrajit himself appears on the stage and announces that he has married Manasi which the writer denies to believe. But this is not in fact the same Manasi which the writer knows. He gets ready to accept all the highs and lows of life. He wants lead an ordinary life. He changes his name as ‘Nirmal Kumar Rey’, the name with which he was introduced at the beginning of the play.
‘Evam Indrajit’ ends without a solid conclusion to his story. The play reveals the futility of life and absurdity of all endeavours.