‘Amma’ and Budhan Theatre

On 21 August 2016, the body of Mahasweta Devi, "Amma" to the Denotified and Nomadic Tribes, was buried at the Adivasi Academy in Tejgadh, Gujarat. During one of her visits to Gujarat (where I come from) a few years ago, she had expressed a wish to be buried there to Ganesh N Devy, noted activist for tribal rights and literary critic. I was witness to the conversation and thankfully my camera was rolling. The transcript of the conversation was published by Matrubhumi newspaper on 28 July 2016 – right around the time when Amma's health took a turn for the worse and she had to be hospitalised. An excerpt:

Amma in disappointment, "What does our country do? Nothing. Nobody got anything after our Independence. Nothing."

"What do you think about death?" Devy asks Amma out of the blue.

"What?" she remarks.

"What do you think about death? Is it tragic, or is it the logical conclusion."

"No no… it's a logical event," Amma responds.

"I do also believe so [but] what happens after death?" Devy asks.

"As far as I am concerned, I want to live forever. I will live through my writings. After my death. That's why I have asked you not to cremate me. I have no belief in being cremated and turned to ashes. I want to be somewhere. I would love to be buried in Purulia, but they are such old-fashioned Hindus [there], that they won't allow it. So, Tejgadh is the best option for me and I feel I should be buried here. What I want is for a Mahua tree to be planted above me. I nurse an affection for the Mahua… the tree will help me survive," says Amma, making her intentions clear.