When she was in her sixties her nephew asked her to write ‘all that she knew’. So she did. And wrote everything she remembered from her childhood, youth and adulthood into a book - unfinished but original, honest, heartfelt. And path breaking because not too many of her sisters, mothers or aunts knew how to read & write, leave alone have a posthumously published book to their name.
But knowing her, she would’ve dismissed this small achievement in light of the magnificence of her illustrious family. Even though she was writing about what she had lived thorugh, she barely featured in her own writing.
Because her nephew was Akbar, known to be one of the greatest emperors of India, her half-brother was Humayun, who set up Delhi, her father was Babur, who journeyed from Kyrgyzstan to set up an empire in Hindustan and make India his home.
They were her emperors. But she was a woman writing about her father, brother and nephew. It’s because of her that we know Akbar to be a willful boy who never listened to anyone, and grew into a complex man prone to slip into trances. And that Humayun would’ve probably been happier as a scholar or avant-garde artist than a king. Or that Babur was a loving husband and father who in a world where brothers killed each other for the throne, was capable of sacrificing his own life for his children’s.
-Based on Rumer Godden’s book.
Shows performed IIC Delhi 2010 New Performances Festival org. by India Foundation for the Arts at Gyan manch, Kolkata.
SET I: Babur (EXHIBITION HALL)
A. SOUND
Microphones: 4 (One condenser, three vocal SM 58)
Stands: Four (one small, three large)
Cables: LONG (20 m) XLR-XLR cables from microphone to mixer x 4
Mixer: At least eight channel with 48 v phantom power, in-built effects desirable but not vital, at least one stereo channel (or two mono channels) essential on mixer.
LONG connecting cable for computer audio out to mixer (1/8 phone mini jack stereo on computer to stereo channel (or mono x 2) at the mixer)
Amplification as per venue (at least two x large wattage ACTIVE loudspeakers minimum), FOUR active loudspeakers is desirable (please check mixer has required number of output slots i.e. FOUR)
LONG Cables for ALL the ACTIVE loudspeakers from mixer to loudspeaker
OR, Two x stereo amplifiers AND FOUR loudspeakers with LONG cables (from mixer to amplifier x2 AND from amplifier to loudspeaker x 4)
Power points at different places for mixer, computer, projector, ACTIVE loudspeakers, amplifiers etc. LONG extension boards x 4 with both power (15 amp) and light points (5 amp). Total number of power slots required = approx. 5 on each board.
B. FURNITURE
2 x low tables for percussion instruments size: minimum 2 feet x 4 feet
6 x high/normal tables
SET II: HUMAYUN/AKBAR (LECTURE HALL/AUIDITORIUM)
A. SOUND
Microphones x 7 (2 x condenser, 3 x percussion SM 57 or better, 2 x vocal SM 58)
Stands: 5 X large, 2 x small
Cables: LONG (20 m) XLR-XLR cables from microphone to mixer x 7
Mixer: At least twelve channel with 48 v phantom power, in-built effects (reverb/delay) , at least one stereo channel (or two mono channels) essential on mixer and one line-in channel (DI box may be required)
LONG connecting cable for computer audio out to mixer (1/8 phone mini jack stereo on computer to stereo channel (or mono x 2) at the mixer)
LONG connection cable from guitar amplifier OUT to mixer (phone to phone mono cable)
Amplification as per venue
Power points at different places for mixer, computer, projector, guitar amplifier etc. LONG extension boards x 4 with both power (15 amp) and light points (5 amp). Total number of power slots required = approx. 5 on each board.
B. FURNITURE
2 x high, 1 x low tables for percussion instruments size: minimum 2 feet x 4 feet
Untitled Document
Tell your friends about katkatha, be a part of the puppet revolution in India and abroad.
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