Swang Samrat Pt. Natharam Gaur
– Photo: Social Media
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In the world of theatre, the 150th birth anniversary of Pt. Natharam Gaur, who brought the name of Hathras to the country and abroad through the Hathrasi farce genre, will be celebrated on 14th January, but the folk theater genre like farce nautanki has now become a stranger among our own people. Every year on the birth anniversary of Pt. Natharam Gaur, Hathrasi farce comes alive.
Even today, the farce of Hathras’s Pt. Natharam Gaur is liked in countries like Central-Asia, South-America, Burma, Fiji, Malaysia, Rangoon, England, Canada, Mauritius etc. Pt. Natharam Gaur, who gave recognition to farce, was born on 14 January 1874 in village Dariyapur of Hathras Junction police station of Hathras, the gateway to Braj. At the age of only 14, he got the guidance of Ustad Indraman of Hathras and Ustad Muralidhar Roy taught him Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit and English. Along with this, after becoming proficient in the art of singing, acting, dancing and writing, around 1890 he established an independent Akhara called Bursa Akhara and gave this genre a professional form. Later, by staging self-written farce in the name of Natha-Chiranji farce troupe, he introduced the Hathrasi farce genre to the public at the global level. About 200 farces written by him are still present in the library of Pandit Natharam Gaur Folklore Research Institute.
The genre is becoming extinct in its own city.
Pt. Natharam Gaur had established the name of Hathras district at the world level. There was a time when his name was widely spoken about in the country and abroad, but today the situation is such that the new generation does not even know about him. Due to the efforts of Hathras Municipality, the name of Aligarh Road has now been changed to Pt. Natharam Gaur Marg in his name, but this is not enough to honor a great man like him. This genre is on the verge of extinction in its own city. However, in areas like Mathura, Lucknow, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi etc., there are a good number of troupes staging the farce written by Pt. Natharam Gaur only in theater style on government stages.
Pandit Natharam Gaur did two very important works. Firstly, it brought the Bhagat-music genre, which was limited to the boundaries of traditional Akharas, among the common people and established it at the world level. Secondly, he preserved his literature of more than 200 articles by publishing it in his Shyam Press. -Dr. Khemchandra Yaduvanshi, senior folk dramatist honored with Academy Award-2014
We are proud that we are the descendants of Pt. Natharam Gaur, who brought fame to this land of Hathras in the country and abroad. We have made several efforts at the government level to preserve their literature through personal efforts and to promote it, but till date the government has not taken any concrete steps. The Government of India should decorate him with Bharat Ratna. -Rahul Gaur, great grandson Pt. Natharam Gaur
Farce will be staged in Shyam Press
On the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Pt. Natharam Gaur, the main event will be organized at his birthplace Shyam Press from 10 am. In the first phase, after paying tribute to them, the talents dedicated to the upliftment of this folk art will be honoured. In the second phase, Sangeet: Dastan-e-Laila Majnu will be staged by Dr. Khemchand Yaduvanshi and fellow artists.