Skip to content Skip to navigation

Dwarf theater gets applaud in TV reality show

Pabitra Rabha's amateur theatre group Dapon-The Mirror had recently been showcased in a reality show of Star Plus. The show anchored by Amitabh Bachchan is named ' Aaj ki raat hai zindagi ' The reality is that the performers of the group – once a neglected lot – have now become the cynosure of the eyes of the audience for their talent and conviction.In fact, in this rare venture Rabha raised the troupe involving the dwarves for their unusual body size, and has been training them to perform at the stage and become professional live performers to achieve a better public life. This has also given them a platform to promote culture besides the artistic talent of a negected class. Pabitra Rabha aided a team comprising 40 dwarves from across Assam are part of the worlds only all dwarves theatre group called Dapon.The dwarves are between the age of 6 to 55 years including six women are hopeful today of their future overcoming distress and social stigmas.The Mirror had created an opportunity for them to become self-dependent apart from providing a platform which was contributing towards their empowerment.

Among their many plays the play What to say – a piece of dramatic performance by the dwarves – has become immensely popular in some places. It depicts a dilemma with the confronting question of ‘complete’ and those who are ‘incomplete.’ This drama narrates the melancholy of human dissension, desire, distress, and both physical and mental incapacities. The group had also performed What to say in New Delhi,Kolkatta besides at a few other places that drew huge applause from the audience. Rabha has also created Khil-Khilai, a junior team has been also created as a branch of The Mirror to encourage dwarf children artistes.

It may be mentioned here that Rabha, a resident of Tangla after his postgraduation from Gauhati University, did another postgraduation diploma in Drama from the National School of Drama, New Delhi. He has also performed in King Lear at the Physical Theatre Festival in Tokyo apart from performing in the French film Alexandra Devid Neil, Hindi films like Tango Charlie, Mukhbir, Kaya Taran, Choti and Kannada film Chigurida Kanasu, among others. This apart, Rabha has also participated in several theatre workshops across the country. He is also a singer and composer. The Rhythm of Bordoichila is a unique creation of Rabha in which he used folk tunes of eight north eastern States incorporating 40 folk musical instruments. He has also been conferred The Real Hero award bg Reliance foundation.The musical instrument ‘Prabha’ is his notable creation in folk music and culture.

Author info

Shajid Khan's picture

Recipient of The Annual Colosseum Awards 2014 & 2015 (by The Assam Tribune group), Shajid Khan is an Independent journalist based in Assam. He has contributed numerous political, socio-political stories for bountiful national,international as well as Assam based publications including The New York Times,Firstpost,The Telegraph. He also pens down analytic commentary on print and web based publications.

Add new comment

Random Stories

Shilpi Divas celebrates in Kokrajhar

18 Jan 2019 - 9:29am | AT Kokrajhar Bureau
Along with rest of the state, the Shilpi Divas was celebrated at Sangkhardev Sishu Bidya Niketan in Kokrajhar on Thursday. Students and teachers offered their floral tribute to Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad...

Health check-up camp for scribes

30 Jun 2011 - 4:48pm | editor
Down Town Hospital in association with Guwahati Press Club has organized a health check-up camp for the scribes on June 30 (Thursday). During the camp, starting on 10.30 am, blood sugar...

Teacher orientation in Hojai

30 Mar 2018 - 7:31am | Nikhil Mundra
HOJAI: In Collaboration with District Administration a  Cluster Level Orientation Meeting of Head Teachers on Procurement of Uniforms and A Medical awareness workshop on Measles and Rubella...

Girls outshine boys in Manipur matric

3 Jun 2017 - 10:10pm | AT News Imphal
Once again girls outshone boys in Manipur in the HSLC examination the result of which was declared on Saturday.Priyanka Moirangthem of Nirmalabas High School, Imphal secured the first position,...

Other Contents by Author

Udalguri: The second phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Assam saw a significant turnout, with 72.99% of eligible voters casting their ballots across the Darrang-Udalguri Parliamentary Constituency. Voting took place on Friday across 11 Assembly constituencies, including Rangia, Kamalpur, Tamulpur, Goreswar, Bhergaon, Tangla, Udalguri, Mazbat, Sipajhar, Mangaldai, and Dalgaon. The high turnout was evident from the early morning, as long lines formed outside polling stations, with voters patiently waiting to cast their votes. Notably, there was a strong presence of young and first-time voters, indicating a growing interest among the youth in the democratic process. To ensure...
Udalguri: Eid-ul-Fitr was a joyous occasion in Tangla and surrounding areas of Udalguri district on Thursday. Muslims from Panery, Dimakuchi, Garuajhar, Ghagra, and Kalaigaon came together to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Dressed in their finest ethnic wear, men and children thronged Eidgahs for special prayers. Hundreds gathered at the Bara Masjid Idgah Maidan and Banseria Eidgah Maidan in Tangla. Special sermons reflected on the significance of Ramadan fasting and emphasized the importance of communal harmony. Children, especially, added to the festive spirit with their colorful outfits and excitement. A key aspect of Eid is Fitra, a charitable donation to the underprivileged....
Udalguri: With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections looming, political fervor has gripped Udalguri-Darrang constituency as major parties announce their contenders. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), and Indian National Congress (INC) have showcased their nominees, setting the stage for a gripping electoral battle. Incumbent Mangaldoi Lok Sabha MP Dilip Saikia will represent the BJP, while the BPF has put forward Kalaigaon MLA and seasoned politician Durga Das Boro. Meanwhile, the INC, part of the 15-party United Opposition Forum Assam (UOFA), has nominated former two-time parliamentarian Madhab Chandra Rajbongshi. The contest is expected to be predominantly...
Udalguri: With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections looming, Assam finds itself embroiled in a controversy following the alleged disappearance of a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine in Bhergaon of Darrang-Udalguri Lok Sabha seat. The incident, which has raised questions about the efficacy of security measures implemented by election officials, comes just ahead of the first phase of polling scheduled for April 19. Assam is set to witness voting in three phases for a total of 14 Lok Sabha seats. According to reports, during the segregation of machines assembly segment wise after the initial randomization process, one VVPAT machine bearing the unique ID EVTEB96784 was discovered...
Tea giant Goodricke Group launched four exclusive brands of Assam Single Estate Tea at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre Tea Lounge on Friday, commemorating 200 years of the Assam tea industry. The range comprises select teas from four of Goodricke Group's tea estates, namely Dejoo, Harmutty, Amgoorie, and Borbam TE located in the Brahmaputra Valley. The Assam single estate range includes both CTC and Orthodox teas, crafted with the finest handpicked leaves and named after their tea gardens. The four varieties offer malty and musky notes and are the preferred choice for tea sommeliers for their rich texture, smoothness, and full-bodied liquor. At the launch event, Atul Asthana, MD and CEO...
Udalguri: Assamese novelist and Sahitya Akademi Awardee, Arupa Kalita Patangia’s son Rajarshi Kalita succumbed to COVID-19 related complications in New Delhi on Wednesday evening. He was undergoing treatment for the past 5 days at a private hospital in Delhi leaving behind his wife and a son. He was 41. Rajarshi Kalita son of retired professors of Tangla College ,Rajen Kalita and Arupa Patangia Kalita was serving as an Assistant Professor at Shyam Lal College under Delhi University. Various organizations and institutions have condoled the untimely demise of the academically bright youth. Former Rajya Sabha MP, Santiuse Kujur,AASU Vice-President, Jayanta Kumar Bhattacharjya...
    Guwahati: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President and Congress top gun ,Ripun Bora has stepped down from his post and resigned from the top post owning responsibility for the party’s debacle in the assembly election. Following the party’s poor show, Bora dashed off  a letter to All India Congress Committee(AICC)  President Sonia Gandhi tendering his resignation. The Congress leader tumbled down and lost from the Gohpur seat to BJP’s Utpal Borah by a margin of over 29,000 votes. “I do hereby tender my resignation from the post of president, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, owning the responsibility of the humiliating defeat of my party in the Assam...
        Udalguri:  Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and member in the Rajya Sabha from Assam, Biswajit Daimary won  by a landslide margin of over 35,000 votes defeating his arch-rival Karuna Kanta Swargiary of Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) from Paneri LAC constituency. In the 2011 Assam assembly elections, Kamali Basumatari of BPF won from the constituency defeating Santiuse Kujur of India National Congress (INC) by a margin of 556 votes.In the 2016 state assembly elections, Kamali Basumatari again won from the constituency defeating independent candidate Nanda Ram Baro by a margin of 15,802 votes but this time the incumbent MLA from Paneri...
Guwahati: A Facebook post just before 7 hours of massive earthquake which jolted Assam and some NE states is doing rounds in the social media,  According to reports  Sasanka Talukdar, a budding journalist  of Pathsala in Bajali district of Assam had  posted in his Facebook account on Wednesday (April 28)  "Earthquake Aaayga"(sic) which have garnered 189 shares in Facebook . "There are scientific phenomenos before it happens I anticipated it after 11 pm. Sometimes heat gas like water vapor comes out from the soil and there also seems that the oxygen level decreases." Brand Ambassador of Forest and Environment department of Assam, Ananda Khataniiyar said, "As...
Guwahati: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) have filed chargesheet  on Friday before the NIA special court in Guwahati against three National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) militants in connection with the killing of Gulzar Hussain, then additional SP, Sonitpur, on January 28, 2014 allegedly by NDFB terrorists. The three accused identified as Bishnu Narzary alias Berama,  Nitul Daimary alias Naihab and Runiluish Diamary alias Monthai were booked under section 16,18,20 of Unlawful Activities (P) Act read with section 34,120B,302,307 and 326 of Indian Penal Code and section 27 of Arms Act.  The case was initially registered as FIR No.61/2014 dated 28.01.2014...