The Bull – Bhimnidhi Tiwari

Detailed Summary

The play "The Bull" unfolds during the reign of King Ranabahadur Shah, who is extremely fond of his bull, Male. The story begins with cowherds Jitman and Gore rushing to Laxminarayan, the bull doctor, in a state of panic to report the death of the king’s prized bull. All three are terrified, knowing the king’s reputation for harsh punishments. Laxminarayan, who has suffered the king’s wrath before, instructs the cowherds to keep the bull’s death a secret and goes to the palace to cautiously inform the king that the bull is unwell, not dead. The king, deeply concerned, decides to visit the bull himself.

At the cowshed, the cowherds and Laxminarayan pretend to care for the bull, but the king quickly realizes the truth—the bull is dead. Overcome with fear, Jitman and Gore break down in tears, expressing their sorrow and dread of punishment. Instead of punishing them, the king gives them money to keep silent. Laxminarayan also feigns grief, and the king assigns him the responsibility of burying and honoring the dead bull. The play ends with the cowherds relieved to have escaped punishment, but it leaves a powerful message about the cruelty and absurdity of the feudal system, where the lives of common people are less valued than the king’s animals. Through satire, the play exposes the oppression, fear, and dehumanization experienced by ordinary people under feudal rule.