What was the status of Prithviraj Kapoor’s personality on all these three stages – theatre, cinema and Parliament, I first got to know about it from Gaurav Acharya Janaki Vallabh Shastri ji of Muzaffarpur city. He himself told that Prithviraj was not only strong in appearance but also had high morale just like his loud voice. Came to Parliament with a great sense of responsibility. After much deliberation, the Rajya Sabha MP’s offer was accepted.
Of course, he was close to Pt. Nehru, it was he who had requested him to become a Rajya Sabha MP, but in the Parliament, he Nehru ji He used to present his views in front of the Prime Minister with full courage for the interest of art and theatre. While being an MP, he made many proposals for theater and artists. Despite deep friendship, he also disagreed with Nehruji and also liked the revolutionaries of Subhash Chandra Bose.
Shastri ji also wrote a book on him
Nirala Niketan was situated on the banks of Chaturbhuj place, which was infamous as a slum in Muzaffarpur city. Shastri ji’s residence was there. Pet dogs, cats, cows all roamed freely in his courtyard. Cats used to jump on his shoulders. Very few people would know that Shastri ji had built a special room in his premises for Prithviraj Kapoor to stay. He used to say – Whenever Kapoor Saheb came to Muzaffarpur, he used to stay in this room. Later it was also revealed that Prithviraj Kapoor used to come to Muzaffarpur often only to meet him.
Actually, Prithviraj Kapoor wanted to take him to Mumbai for writing work, Shastri also went but he did not feel like going there. When Prithviraj returned, he used to come to Muzaffarpur to meet him. Later Shastri ji also wrote a book on him – Nat Samrat Prithviraj Kapoor. It is a unique book to understand art, theatre, acting, cinema, literature etc. Memoirs of untouched aspects related to Prithviraj Kapoor are recorded.
Became Rajya Sabha MP in 1952
It is the year 1952. The Constitution came into force in the country and a two-house parliamentary system was formed. Educationist Dr. Zakir Hussain, scientist Dr. Satyend Nath Bose, poet Maithili Sharan Gupt and Prithviraj Kapoor from the world of theater and cinema were nominated for Rajya Sabha. Thus, Prithviraj Kapoor was the first actor to be nominated for Rajya Sabha. However, before becoming an MP, he had a dilemma in his mind. Theater and cinema will be missed and political engagements will increase. But then this idea also came that by going to Rajya Sabha, work can be done for theater and theater artistes.
Then Prithviraj Kapoor had said, “I don’t know what I will do in the Rajya Sabha. For me, acting in a film is much easier than playing the role of an MP in the Rajya Sabha. God knows what Pandit ji (Nehru ji) saw in me. Whenever I am in Delhi, I will definitely participate in the Rajya Sabha session.”
Prithviraj’s first address in Parliament
An excerpt from his first lecture in the Parliament is as follows – “We may be flying in the sky but we should not lose touch with the ground. If we study economics or politics excessively then we lose touch with the ground. Our soul becomes lonely. There is a need to protect our political friends from that situation and save them.”
Today very few people would know that Prithviraj Kapoor had suggested the formation of a National Theater in the Rajya Sabha on 15 July 1952. His aim was that theater culture should be developed at the national level. It should be connected with different regions, languages, sects, dialects and theater artists there. He wanted to make the National Theater a bridge for the cultural unity of the country.
Did a great job for theater artists
As an MP, Prithviraj Kapoor worked hard to improve the condition of theater artists. At that time, many MPs and ministers could not muster the courage to speak openly or put forward demands in front of the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, but Prithviraj Kapoor spoke with full force.
With great courage, during his tenure, he got 75 percent discount in rail fare for the traveling theater artists. His argument was that theater artists are ambassadors of the cultural unity of the country. If they do not get concessions to travel anywhere in the country, then how will art and social unity be promoted through it. Nehru ji agreed to his proposal. And it came into effect. Many theater artists fondly remember this contribution of Prithviraj Kapoor.
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