An Activist Engaged in the Process of “Guilt to Responsibility”: Revisiting the Remains of Badal Sircar in Bangladesh

Abstract

Badal Sircar is a major figure in modern Bengali theatre. His imprint on Bengali theatre of the late twentieth century was strong, his plays also produced in this same era in Bangladesh, which shares language and cultural features with east India. This article investigates Badal Sircar’s theatre of activism of the radical humanist brand, noting the history of productions of his work in Bangladesh and discussing why, even if the embrace of his vision may not fit the current sociocultural situation, he is most alive in generating “floating islands” that repudiate all attempts at eradication.