Introduction of the Play

“Yakshini” is the first play in Hindi literature written on an antique artifact of archeological importance, the Didarganj Chauri Bearer Female Figure, popularly known as Didarganj Yakshini, presently exhibited in Patna Museum, Patna. This play has been published in the category of public museology and theatre, by Sunita Publishing House Patna.
The play depicts the historical facts related to this world famous icon and the story of its excavation and retrieval to the Patna Museum, Patna, in 1917. Additionally, a fictitious story of the sculpting of this figure in 300 BC has also been told in this drama which helps audience to connect themselves with the icon and to learn about the same with enhanced interest and aptitude.

Story

This play consists of two acts. In act-1, story of its excavation and retrieval has been fabricated in an entertaining manner around the documented facts with all real characters of the episode in 1917. All physical, historic, aesthetic and archeological characters of the icon have been explained in this act through the dialogues of the characters which are easily graspable and interesting so that the audience learns everything about this sculpture while entertaining themselves.
There is always an unanswered question about the 'master' and the 'model' of an antique masterpiece which lacks of a decipherable inscription, such as Didarganj Yakshini. Many wild imaginations regarding the creation of the figure may float in the mind of a person while watching the figure. In act-2 of the play, such a fictitious story has been fabricated within the limits of the historical facts and the epoch of time, portraying a sculptor, a model and the circumstances leading to the sculpting of this masterpiece in 300 BC.
A special consideration about the 'public interpretation' of this artwork at the time when sculpture was unearthed has been made in this literature. According to Richard H. Davis, there is always a 'cult value' of images in a particular culture or community, but Dr. D. B. Spooner, who played an important role in retrieval of the image to the Patna Museum and wrote a report on Didarganj Image in the Journal of Bihar and Orissa Research Society in 1919, considered only the “exhibition value” of the icon and didn't enquire what the locals opined about the image. If they were worshiping the icon, what did they think of this icon?
In this play, the writer has made a logical conjecture of what the villagers would have thought of this image on the basis of traditional belief and cult-practices.
This play is the first in the series of infotainment plays produced by FACES.

Objective

Love and respect for the antiquities, monuments and heritage are hallmarks of a civilized and intellectually developed society. We must create awareness and curiosity for ancient monuments, artifacts and antiquities among the masses to maintain and preserve our heritages. Didarganj Yakshini is a figure serving as a watermark for the aesthetic and technical excellence of ancient Indian iconology. The play based on its excavation and sculpting is a new experiment in theatre, analogous to documentary infotainments in cinema; and it will serve as a strong tool for mass-education and mass-motivation.