The Plights and Persecutions of the Dalits and the Deserted in the Plays of Bhikhari Thakur: A Critical Exploration

By : Amar Nath Prasad

Page No: 1-10

Abstract
The present paper is devoted to a critical study of the pitiable plights and oppressions of the downtrodden and the deserted in the plays of Bhikhari Thakur, a great Bhojpuri playwright. It also makes an attempt to explore the subject in the light of the ideology of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar which exercised great influence on the works of Bhikhari Thakur. Bhikhari Thakur, often hailed as the “Shakespeare of Bhojpuri,” used the stage as a mirror to reflect the harsh realities of rural and marginalised life in colonial and postcolonial Bihar. His dramas—such as Bidesiya, Beti Bechwa, and Gabarghichor—are not mere folk performances but powerful social commentaries that expose the plights and persecutions faced by the oppressed, especially women, Dalits, and migrant labourers. Through vivid storytelling, lyrical Bhojpuri language, and emotionally charged characters, Thakur brings to light the pain of caste discrimination, gender injustice, poverty, and forced migration. His works challenge feudal norms and caste hierarchies while offering a voice to those historically silenced. This study explores how Bhikhari Thakur’s dramatic art that becomes a vehicle for resistance, empathy, and reform, blending folk aesthetics with a deep moral and social consciousness.

Author
Dr. Amar Nath Prasad, Professor and Head, Department of English, Jai Prakash University, Chapra, Bihar.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/POET.2026.39.01.1