Summary of "The Bull"
Full Summary
The one-act play "The Bull" by Bhimnidhi Tiwari, a renowned Nepali poet and dramatist, is a satirical portrayal of the feudal system in 18th-century Nepal. The play centers on King Ranabahadur Shah's deep attachment to his beloved bull and the chaos that ensues following the bull's death. Set in the yard of Laxminarayan at dawn in Ashwin 1854 B.S., the story opens with the nervous and worried cowherds, Gore and Jitman, who bring the news of the bull's death. They fear the king's severe punishment, possibly the death penalty, for neglecting the bull.
Laxminarayan, the bull doctor, advises them not to tell the king about the death but to pretend the bull is ill, hoping to save themselves. When Laxminarayan informs the king, he speaks respectfully and describes the bull as merely sleeping and unwell. The king, deeply concerned, personally visits the cowshed at Thulo Gauchar, accompanied by a convoy. Laxminarayan instructs the cowherds to continue the pretense by massaging the bull and fanning it, while he prepares medicine.
Eventually, the king acknowledges the bull's death but responds with sympathy rather than anger. He gives monetary tips to Jitman and Gore and orders Laxminarayan to personally arrange the bull's funeral rites and cover the expenses. The cowherds, relieved and grateful to have escaped punishment, admit they were indifferent to the bull and were only feigning sorrow.
The play sharply critiques the feudal society's dehumanizing nature, highlighting how the lives of ordinary people are subjugated and how animals of the elite receive more care and respect. It exposes the fear and subservience of officials and servants under despotic rule and satirizes the absurdity of power dynamics in this hierarchical system.
In essence, "The Bull" reflects the social realities of its time, illustrating the oppression of common people and the capriciousness of power wielded by kings and their courts.