Bharatmilap

(“Meeting Bharata”) A particular scene
in the dramas known as the Ram Lila,
which are reenactments of the
Ramayana, the earlier of the two great
Hindu epics. This scene records the
meeting between the god Rama and his
brother Bharata, which takes place after
Rama has been in exile for fourteen
years, during which Bharata has faithfully served as ruler in his brother’s
place. According to connoisseurs of the
Ram Lila, this brief scene is filled with
some of the most rapturous emotion in
the play. Certainly there is the exaltation
that the time of separation has ended,
but the scene’s popularity also comes
from the way it reflects certain basic cultural values. The brothers are considered the heart of the traditional Indian
joint family since they remain at home
their entire lives, whereas their sisters
become part of their marital families.
The eldest brother in every generation
eventually becomes the head of the joint
household, but he cannot succeed without the support and cooperation of his
younger brothers. Rama and Bharata are
thus models for the brothers in a traditional joint family: Rama for treating his
younger brother with love and care, and
Bharata for obediently carrying out his
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Bharatmilap
older brother’s wishes for the good of the
family as a whole.