Kunbi Jakki
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Jakki
- Costaum
- Arius
- Roque
- Bostean
- Consaum
- Puddu
- Inas
| Kunbi Jakki | |
|---|---|
 A scene from the play featuring the Kunbis | |
| Written by | João Agostinho Fernandes |
| Characters |
|
| Date premiered | 21 November 1941 |
| Place premiered | Princess Theatre, Bhangwadi, Bombay |
| Original language | Konkani |
| Series |
|
| Subject | Discrimination faced by Kunbis and educated poor people |
| Genre | Tiatr, comedy drama |
| Setting | Local administrative office and bungalow in Portuguese Goa |
Kunbi Jakki is a four-act Konkani play written by the Goan playwright João Agostinho Fernandes. The play was originally written in August 1934 in Margão, Goa. It later received its initial public performance on 21 November 1941 at the Princess Theatre in Bhangwadi, Bombay. The play went on to become one of the acclaimed and commercially successful works in Fernandes' dramatic oeuvre. Kunbi Jakki had a minimum of three showings while Fernandes was alive and was later revived for an additional showing in 1954 posthumously. Fernandes' son, Tony was responsible for both adapting and producing the work for a radio broadcast that took place on All India Radio in Bombay on 11 May 1953. The play represents the sole published work by Fernandes for which the playwright sought formal copyright protection, filing the paperwork in September 1941.[1]
Jakki is the son of Inas and Consaum. He is a young Kunbi who is a middle school graduate but is denied a white-collar job and later opts for manual labor. He is the future husband of Puddu and the main protagonist.
Costaum is a Kunbi who is the father-in-law of Jakki. He is a humorous man who works at Rom Tom Society. He is illiterate, and the father of Puddu, and husband of Bostean. He admires Jakki for serving as a positive example for other Kunbis to follow.
Arius is the devil in human disguise. He establishes a pact with Jakki outlining a potential consequence where Jakki and his spouse would be obligated to serve him as vassals in the event of Jakki's payment default. Arius advocates anti-Christianism to the couple. He compels them to cease adhering to Christian doctrines and the donning of religious symbols like the brown scapular. He is the main antagonist.
Roque is a corrupt secretary who works at Rom Tom Society, a local administrative office. He demonstrates a bias towards individuals of higher social standing while showing prejudice against those from disadvantaged backgrounds. He later becomes jobless and a vassal of Arius.
Bostean is Costaum's wife and Puddu's mother. She emphasizes the importance of receiving a substantial bride-price for her daughter's hand in marriage. She is a minor character.
Consaum is Jakki's mother and the wife of Inas. She is of a Kunbi background and is a minor character.
Puddu is the daughter of Bostean and Costaum. She is a young woman who lacks literacy but holds steadfast religious convictions. She engages in a disagreement with Arius and is part of a spiritual confraternity. She is the future wife of Jakki.
Inas is a Kunbi who is the father of Jakki and the husband of Consaum. He is from a poor and illiterate background and cannot afford his son's further studies.