Theatre has always been a mirror to society, and Jam Putra does exactly that—forcing audiences to confront uncomfortable truths about caste, superstition, and social exclusion. The play’s title, which translates to son of the death god, refers to the Mahapatra community, traditionally tasked with conducting the final rites of Hindus. Despite performing one of the most sacred duties, they are stigmatized, shunned, and regarded as “living dead”—thus earning the cruel label of Jam Putra.
📅 Play Date & Venue: Jam Putra will be staged on August 29, 2025, at Shri Ram Centre, Mandi House, New Delhi, at 6:30 P.M.
A Story Rooted in Reality
The play opens in the home of Mr. Jha, a middle-class man struggling to find household help. Through his subordinate, he employs a boy named Jeevu. Over the course of a year, Jeevu becomes inseparable from the Jha family—almost like a second son.
But the household’s harmony is shattered when Jeevu’s father, a Mahapatra, comes to claim his son. Mistaking him for a beggar or thief, the family is shocked to learn that Jeevu belongs to the “caste of the death god.” What follows is a downward spiral of suspicion, accusations, and superstition within the family, as love and acceptance give way to fear and prejudice.
Pride Versus Prejudice
In a powerful moment, Jeevu’s father refuses the money offered for his son’s service, walking away with dignity and self-respect. The Jha family, consumed by superstition, fails to recognize the humanity and honesty of the man before them. The climax intensifies when Mr. Jha’s subordinate, accused of bringing a Jam Putra to the house as an act of revenge, boldly condemns the family’s outdated beliefs. He resigns in protest, leaving the audience with a thought-provoking question—should a person’s worth be defined by birth or by their actions?
Review: A Mirror to Society
Jam Putra is more than just a play—it is a social commentary. With sharp dialogues, emotionally charged performances, and a storyline that resonates with the audience, it exposes the hypocrisy of caste-driven prejudice in India. The narrative leaves viewers unsettled yet awakened, compelling them to reflect on the persistence of superstition in supposedly progressive times.
By weaving a tale of love, betrayal, and dignity, the play succeeds in delivering a simple yet profound message: humanity must rise above inherited discrimination.
Final Word
Jam Putra is a must-watch for anyone who believes in equality and questions the weight of tradition when it conflicts with human dignity. It leaves the audience with a haunting but necessary reminder—discrimination has no place in a modern society.
The discrimination continues. If casteism goes, Hinduism goes. Marx failed in Hindu India.
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