Mohan Upreti (1928–1997) was an Indian theatre director, playwright and a music composer, considered one of the pioneers in Indian theatre music. A popular figure in Kumaon, Mohan Upreti is remembered for his immense contribution towards the revitalisation of the Kumaoni folk music; and for his efforts towards preserving old Kumaoni ballads, songs and folk traditions. Upreti is best known for his song " Bedu Pako Baro Masa".

Biography

Early life and education

Mohan Upreti was born in 1928 in

Almora Almora ( Kumaoni: ') is a municipal corporation and a cantonment town in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Almora district. Almora is located on a ridge at the southern edge of the Kumaon Hills of the ...

, where he also received his early education. Almora was then a quaint little town, still untouched by rapid development that the British brought to other hill stations like

Nainital Nainital (Kumaoni language, Kumaoni: ''Naintāl''; ) is a town and headquarters of Nainital district of Kumaon division, Uttarakhand, India. It is the judicial capital of Uttarakhand, the Uttarakhand High Court, High Court of the state being ...

and

Shimla Shimla, also known as Simla ( the official name until 1972), is the capital and the largest city of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of British India. After independence, the city ...

. It was this environment that drew, dancer Uday Shankar to create his institute at Almora in 1937. He was deeply influenced by trade union leaders like P. C. Joshi, who later became a prominent leader of the

Communist Party of India The Communist Party of India (CPI) is a political party in India. The CPI considers the Foundation of the Communist Party of India, December 26, 1925 Cawnpore (Kanpur) conference as its foundation date. Between 1946 and 1951, the CPI led m ...

( CPI) and also Upreti's mentor. In the 40s, Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and the Progressive Writer's Association were formed, as a response to the Indian freedom struggle by the artistic community, Mohan Upreti couldn't remain untouched by this burgeoning movement, and while still at Allahabad University he formed his theatre group, 'Lok Kalakar Sangh'.

Career

As a young man in the 1940s and 50's, Mohan Upreti travelled across Uttarakhand, along with B. M. Shah, and collected the fast vanishing folk songs, tunes, and traditions of the region to preserve them for posterity. Upreti was instrumental in bringing the Kumaoni culture and music into national focus by establishing institutions like the ''Parvatiya Kala Kendra'' (Center for Arts of the Hills), which he constituted in Delhi, in 1968. The institution produces plays and ballads strongly rooted in the Kumaoni culture. In fact, B. M. Shah and Mohan Upreti together, are credited with the revival of the theatre in the Uttarakhand He remained in the faculty of

National School of Drama National School of Drama (NSD) is a drama school situated at New Delhi, India. It is an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It was set up in 1959 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi and became an independent school ...

(NSD), New Delhi, for many years, and also directed plays for NSD Repertory Company, where his most known work was the play, ' Indra Sabha'. His most important work is the epic ballad 'Rajula Malushahi', published in 1980, offers never before insights into the Kumaoni folk culture. His other important plays are 'Nanda Devi Jagar', upon which he made a film as well, 'Sita Svayamvar', and 'Haru Heet'. Apart from that he also gave music for many theatre productions, including 'Ghasiram Kotwal', his music for Hindustani version of Brecht's Three Penny Opera was vastly appreciated and still remembered as his finest. He worked for many years to revive traditional Ramlila plays and bring them to urban audiences. He also gave music for a number of television productions in the 80's including in a series based on

Ruskin Bond Ruskin Bond (born 19 May 1934) is an Indian author. His first novel, ''The Room on the Roof'', published in 1956, received the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. Bond has authored more than 500 short stories, essays, and novels which includes 69 books ...

's stories, 'Ek Tha Rusty', where again his compositions were noticeable for the distinct Kumaoni folk touch. He died in 1997, in New Delhi.

Family

He married Naima Khan Upreti, a graduate of

, in 1969.

Legacy

Each year on his birth anniversary, 'Parvatiya Kala Kendra', an institution set up by him, presents a new play. In 2004, "Bedu Pako Baro Masa" – a creation of Mohan Upreti, was used in Coca-Cola commercial "Thanda Matlab Coca Cola", by Prasoon Joshi, himself from Kumaon. In the ad a "Pahari Guide" is shown humming the tune. The song is still played at Kumaoni weddings, celebrations and cultural functions and has now even become a popular mobile ringtone. It is also the marching song of the Kumaon Regiment. In 2006,

published his biography, titled, Mohan Upreti – The Man and His Art, written by theatre critic, Diwan Singh Bajeli.

Bibliography

* ''Malushahi: The Ballad of Kumaon''. New Delhi,

Sangeet Natak Akademi Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in English language, English) is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India. It is an autonomous body of the Ministry of Culture (India) ...

(1980).

References

External links

*
Mohan Upreti's Seeta Svyamvar, staged by 'Parvatiya Kala Kendra', 2007
{{DEFAULTSORT:Upreti, Mohan People from Almora Indian male dramatists and playwrights Indian theatre directors 1928 births 1997 deaths University of Allahabad alumni 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights Dramatists and playwrights from Uttarakhand Literature of Kumaon Academic staff of the National School of Drama Hindi dramatists and playwrights Hindi theatre Indian folk-song collectors 20th-century Indian male writers 20th-century Indian musicologists