Hubbali: Eighty-year old Sadhu Katare, who has kept alive theatre art in North Karnataka by writing dramas in graveyards, has been struggling to make both ends meet. Acute poverty has been haunting the dramatist as the meagre honorarium he receives from the government is not adequate to meet the expenditure owing to rising cost of living. He has been running from pillar to post seeking financial assistance to meet medical expenses as he and his wife are suffering from ill health due to old age.
Graveyards are the main source of inspiration for Sadhu Katare as he has written 40 dramas at these places. Gentle wind and chirping birds in graveyards at Vidyanagar, Mantur, Gokul and other places have triggered ideas in his mind to write dramas about saints and religious leaders of bygone era.Sadhu wakes up early morning and heads towards graveyards with a few bananas for lunch and incense sticks that will be lit before starting his literary works.
Writing and playing dramas has become a way of life for the octogenarian artiste. But, he has been struggling to earn his livelihood despite having being in theatre for more than four decades.“The serene atmosphere in graveyard helps me to generate ideas to write dramas. Government pays Rs 15,000 for staging a drama and the money is enough to pay the remuneration for 20 artistes working under drama company Gurusiddeshwar Natya Sangh started by me in 1982.
I have to incur hefty charges for use of music instruments, costumes. I have to look after my polio-affected handicapped son as the two sons have deserted me”, Sadhu Katare said.Katare has already sent 3 dramas for publication.
