Raja

Raja (রাজা in the original Bengali script) is a play by Rabinadrath Tagore (1861–1941)[1].

The original text

Written in 1910, it is a symbolic play, an allegorical work about an individual’s spiritual and personal awakening in their quest for beauty and truth, loosely borrowed from the Buddhist story of King Kush from Mahāvastu.

Translations and adaptations

The Bengali play became known internationally when it was translated into English as The King of the Dark Chamber by Tagore himself, and published by MacMillan and Co. in 1914.

Another short stage version of Raja was published under the title of Arupratan in 1920.

Performance history in South Africa

1961: A New York production of The King of the Dark Chamber was brought to Durban, South Africa, by its Indian born, New York based, director Krisha Shah.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raja_(play)

Facsimile version of the 1914 English text, Hathi Trust Digital Library[2]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabindranath_Tagore

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/6521/6521-h/6521-h.htmGo to ESAT Bibliography

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page