Pioneering playwright and actor of Bengali public theatre Amritalal Basu died on this day. He was called “Rasaraj” for his humour and satire.
After studying at Calcutta General Assembly Institution, he took admission at Medical College, but dropped out and studied homeopathy. For a while he practised homeopathy, but would soon turn to theatre.
In 1872, with Ardhendu Shekhar Mustafi, Basu staged Nil Durpan, at the residence of Madhusudan Sanyal in Jorasanko. This was the first play to be performed by National Theatre and the first performance of Bengali public theatre. He acted in the play as Sairindhri. He was appointed manager of Great National Theatre later. He worked with Girish Chandra Ghosh and Binodini.
After the closure of Great National Theatre, Basu worked as actor and director for Star Theatre for more than two decades. He wrote several plays, including Hirakchurna, Brajalila, Nabajiban, Khasdakhal, Dwande Matanam, Bibaha Bibhrat and Byapika Biday.
He acted in a play, Gajadananda o Yuvaraj, on an event on the occasion of the visit of the Prince of Wales to Calcutta, which satirised the visit and the fawning Bengali society. For this, he was arrested with the playwright and director, Upendranath Das, who had also acted in the play.
The Dramatic Performances Act was promulgated on December 16, 1876, to contain seditious Indian theatre.