Cultural organisation Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi premieres its new play titled “Bidyabhutum” at Bangladesh Mahila Samity in the capital today. The play will be staged as part of the ongoing “Bashori Nazrul Natya Samaraho” theatre festival.

Based on National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s Leto, the  play “Bidyabhutum” has been adapted, scripted and directed by playwright Dr Ratan Siddique.
Kazi Nazrul Islam joined his uncle Kazi Bazle Karim’s Leto group between the years 1910-1912. He was then 11-12 years old. He then joined the team of Ustad Sheikh Chokor Godar. During this time Nazrul wrote the Leto play “Bidyabhutum”.  

About the play, Ratan Siddique said, “Bidyabhutum is a short play. The social and political conditions of the period are highlighted in the play. The rituals and behaviour of Leto team members during their time have also been highlighted. Udichi has tried to present the performances of Sheikh Chokor’s team of 1910-1912.”  

Leto drama “Bidyabhutum” is written based on the proverb “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing”. In its story, a king’s sick elephant faints due to swelling of the throat. The king called Rajbaidya (head doctor) and he found food stuck in the elephant’s throat. Baidya, with the help of his disciples, hit the elephant’s neck with a mallet. When the food runs out, the elephant recovers.  
Rajbaidya gave the disciple the title of “Bidyabhutum”. Then one day an old woman came to him with a sore throat. Bidyabhutum hit the old woman’s throat with the same mallet and the old woman died.