My  Mother,  Your  Mother,  Mother  India  Hate  is  not  the  answer.  It  is  the  question  and  love  is  the  answer.  

Creative  Writing  Course  Drama  Submission.                                                                                                                                                                  Author  :  Sujeet  Gholap  (26)  

10/25/2012  

1    

1, 1 Act 1, Scene 1 Lights up from black. Suman’s apartment. Eleven in night. Suman is busy on her computer. A knock on the door.

SUMAN (Opens the door. Surprised to see Shekhar at this time.)

Shekhar! You do know that it is eleven in the night, right? Anyway, come on in.

SHEKHAR (His manner of speaking clearly giving away that he is drunk. Enters the apartment.)

Worst day of my life today, Suman!

(Clenching fists and making violent gestures, speaks with anger.) Those Bihari Bast_rds! I swear Suman, I will kill each one of them! What do they think of themselves eh? Mumbai is not their father’s property, I tell you. One day, you see, I will smash them like bugs! Parasites!

SUMAN (Tries get Shekhar to calm down. Makes him sit on the sofa. Gives him a glass of

water. She is angry that he is drunk. Her voice full of concern.) Arey baba! Calm down, calm down. Sit. What happened?

SHEKHAR Suman!

(Hugs her and starts crying.) Everything is over. Our marriage plan… Our dreams of having a small, nice, home with a garden... Everything shattered…

(Sobs uncontrollably.)

SUMAN

(Strokes his back gently.) There, there. Tell me what happened. I am sure we can do something about it.

SHEKHAR (Gaining control back, wipes his tears. Anger starts accumulating in his eyes again.)

I got fired, Suman. That Sharma, Bihari Bas_ard, my boss. He fired me! Everything was going smooth and nice. And today, suddenly, he called me in his cabin. He said, “Shekhar, I think your Raj Saheb needs you more than this company. Don’t bother to come to office from tomorrow.” And then he showed me out of the office without further explanation. This Biharis I tell you!

(Bangs his fist on the table.)

SUMAN

(Reassuringly takes Shekhar’s hand in hers.) Shekhu, look here, listen. Whatever happened, happened. Let’s deal with one thing at a time. First, you had drinks!

(She hits him with mock anger.)

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1, 1 I can never imagine my Shekhu drinking… I still remember him talking about his principles and values. Promise me, this won’t happen again.

SHEKHAR (Not daring to look into Suman’s eyes. In remorseful voice.)

I promise.

SUMAN Ok, now tell me, didn’t we already discuss about possible consequences of being a part of Maharashtra Navanirmaan Sena? I know you identify yourself with their goals. Whenever I tried to talk about this topic, you always brushed it away. But today, I want to know it in detail. You see, it is not just a matter of opinions any more. This is directly affecting your life, our life. Tell me, why do you hate these non-Maharashtrians so much? Why such hatred towards Biharis?

SHEKHAR (Settles comfortable in the sofa)

First, I didn’t talk to you about my political views because time to time, you have been telling me that you don’t have any interest in political discussions. Also, whenever you asked me about MNS, it was more out of curiosity about me rather than my views. I am sure that you would soon get bored if I start talking about my views on these issues. But now that it has come to this, let me spill my guts out anyway. Remember those days, when we had just met? Those trips to Chaupati, that pani-puri and vada-pav?

(Smile across Suman’s face as she recollects the cherished moments of early romance.)

You remember the Chat Vale Kaka and Vada Pav Vala Bhaiya?

SUMAN Yeah… Ramu kaka and Birju bhaiya. Wasn’t it funny the way they used to call you ‘Babua’?

(Giggles)

SHEKHAR

Exactly! When was the last time you saw a Marathi vada-pav vala or a chat vala? Don’t tell me that we can’t make good chat. Don’t tell me our vada-pavs are not tasty. Remember Kothari kaka in the opposite building? He ran into a lot of trouble with police and local authorities because of his vada-pav stall. All he did was refuse to pay bribe. Finally he sold the stall to Chotu Yadav. Do you know how Chotu manages his stall? They have a vada-pav stall owners’ association! They have contacts reaching to the high rungs of the local authorities. No single police person now bothers him with the stall!

SUMAN But why don’t you look at it as necessary business tactics? Who stopped Marathi vada-pav valas to form a similar organization? Don’t you think it is more pragmatic to

3    

1, 1 play smart than to stick to your staunch ideals. I think it is our ‘will break, but won’t bend’ attitude which is the cause of all this trouble.

SHEKHAR (Surprised)

Suman! I can’t believe you are telling me this! Didn’t expect a “be practical” advice from you! This is where I like Raj Saheb’s approach.

(With a surge of enthusiasm. Stands up, hands gesticulating) Drive them out! Show them the way to their home!

(Takes Suman’s hands in his. Looks into her eyes.) This in aamchi Mumbai… aapli Mumbai, Suman! Raj Saheb is right. For jobs in our land, we should be the preferred ones. They should start speaking our language, not the other way around. We need to be stubborn with our language and our culture. Why should it be we who give in?

SUMAN I don’t quite understand… why special provisions only for us? Aren’t Hyderabad and Chennai also big cities? I never heard those people bothering about north Indians.

SHEKHAR That’s exactly what I was coming to…

(Takes her hand, leading her to door.) Come, right now, I will show, you an example. All these things will be clear then.

(Both exit. Lights out.) Act 1, Scene 2 Lights up from black. At “Pappu’s Chai Tapri”, a roadside tea stall. Pappu a Bihari man. Road almost empty as it is quite late in night. Shekhar and Suman walk down the road, Shekhar orders two ‘special chai’.

SUMAN Shekhar! How come suddenly so romantic? Our favourite tea spot… Remember how we celebrated here when you got your job?

(Suddenly looks confused.)

But I don’t get it. Weren’t you supposed to give me an example? Didn’t we walk these 3 kilometres so that you can present the final ‘convincing’ piece of your argument?

SHEKHAR This is my example. Our Pappu Chai vala!

(Addressing Pappu) Arey Pappu… Listen here…

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1, 2

PAPPU Tell, Bhaiya.

SHEKHAR You remember, you had told me about your Chennai stay before you came to Mumbai?

PAPPU Bhaiya, Don’t ask about that! Worst two months of my life! If Bhagvan is great, then I won’t have the misfortune of visiting that city again.

SHEKHAR I understand, Papppu.

SUMAN Why? What happened Pappu Bhaiya? How was Chennai like? Why such a hatred?

PAPPU What to tell you, Suman Didi… All I heard was “Amma anna something something, illa illa something something!” People won’t speak Hindi only! Even after realizing that I know nothing of Madrasi, they will continue in it nevertheless. When I went to market to buy vegetables, the sabji-vala won’t understand half of the things. Bus conductor won’t tell me a thing, and ah those bus boards! Hindi nowhere else to be seen! It was like being in India and still being in a foreign country. It was as if the whole city was screaming at me : “You don’t belong here. Go back!” Even doctors! They would either speak in Madrasi or English. You only tell Suman Didi, how will an uneducated fellow like me know English? One day, I got lost in the city, and I couldn’t even find my way back. Almost no one could help me. One day’s wages lost and on top of that, my Saab scolded me very harshly.

(Wipes his eyes with the piece of cloth around his neck.)

That day, I decided, I would move to Mumbai, start my own small business. You see, there is no regret about that!

(beams with a wide smile.)

SUMAN Didn’t you face similar problems here too?

PAPPU

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1, 2 No, no. Not at all! The people here are totally different. At the slightest hint of Marathi not being understood, they promptly switch over to Hindi. I am yet to see anyone not knowing Hindi. Here, it feels at home!

SHEKHAR That is true, Pappu.

(Gives him ten rupees) Here, take this.

(To Suman) I hope you listened to all that Pappu said.

(To Pappu) Ok Pappu, see you!

(Starts walking back with Suman)

SUMAN So what exactly is the point that you are trying to make here?

SHEKHAR The Southern cities are inherently shielded from the problem of northern immigrants because of the strong language barrier, Mumbai is not. Hence we need someone like Raj Saheb to lead a movement to reclaim what is ours.

SUMAN Just listen to yourself! So full of bitterness and venomous thoughts. I should have stopped you the first time when you said you want to join the MNS. You so spectacularly failed to see the brighter side of the situation! Mumbai adapts, Mumbai accommodates, and that’s why Mumbai evolves. It is Mumbai’s strength, not a weakness! Did you notice the spark in Pappu’s eyes when he described Mumbaikars with affection? Did you not notice the sense of belonging with which he was talking about Mumbai as a city? Did you not get that he feels he owes to this city?

SHEKHAR I understand these positive factors, but still the feeling of being an alien in your own place persists. You can’t deny the existence of groups of those people, helping their kind in various situations, many times resulting in partiality.

SUMAN See, look at it this way: We are open minded enough to make them feel at home, can’t we be open minded enough to feel at home when we are among them? I think that is the root of all our problems : We try to make them feel comfortable, but do nothing towards feeling comfortable ourselves when we are among them. Tell me, why did Kothari Kaka not join the vada-pav valas’ organization? It’s us who should be at ease working along with them!

6    

SHEKHAR 1, 2

(Shakes head indicating disagreement) But still… the feeling of they are taking something away from us doesn’t go away. Every single time such a situation occurs; I can’t help but think how fortunate people in Chennai are…

By this time, both reach the far end of the road, lights slowly fade into darkness. Act 2, Scene 1 Lights up from black. Shekhar’s home. He is watching news on TV.

NEWS ANCHOR According to the news we just received, MNS’s agitations against north Indians have taken a violent turn. Our sources report that a mob of activists threw stones on B.E.S.T. buses in five different areas in the city. There is no sign of any loss of life, though casualties have been reported and victims have been moved to J.J. Hospital.

(Shekhar’s phone rings.)

SHEKHAR (Picks the call up)

Aai, when are you coming back home? Better to do your remaining shopping tomorrow. Today it is not really safe outside…

OTHER END OF PHONE (A male voice)

Mr. Shekhar, I am Dr. Chawala speaking from J.J. Hospital. Your mother was one of the victims of the recent MNS violence. Please don’t worry; she is out of danger now. Come to the hospital as soon as possible.

Shekhar keeps the phone down. Hurriedly leaves house. Stage is dark. Act 2, Scene 2 Lights up from black. Hospital. Shekhar’s mother is lying on the bed, externally blood being supplied to her. Shekhar and Suman are standing by the bed.

DR. CHAWALA (Enters the room in a hurry.)

She has suffered a blow on head, and quite a lot of blood loss. But there is no cause of worry now.

SHEKHAR (Tears in eyes)

How can I thank you, doctor? I am in your debt for all my life… (Dr. Chawala interrupts)

DR. CHAWALA Don’t thank me, Mr. Shekhar. Thank Pappu.

(Pappu enters)

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2, 2

It was his promptness which saved your mother’s life today. He happened to be there at the place of the ruckus, and he immediately rushed your mother to the hospital. Not just that, he is the one who donated blood too.

SHEKHAR Pappu!

(Hugs Pappu and lets the tears flow freely, finally)

Special chai was okay, I don’t know how I am ever going to pay back for this one. (Starts crying again)

PAPPU (Tries to pacify Shekhar)

Bhaiya, what debt and what favour are you talking about? Wouldn’t I have saved my own mother?

Curtain drops.

THE END

Glossary: 1. Bhaiya : Brother 2. Didi : Sister 3. Kaka : Uncle 4. Vala : vendor 5. Aai : mother 6. Saheb, Saab : word used to show respect, e.g., master, lord. 7. Aamchi : ours (in which you are not included) 8. Aapli : ours (in which you are included)

About the drama The drama “My mother, our mother, Mother India” is based on the central theme of the inter-state hatred in India, especially in Maharashtra state, particularly Mumbai. The drama presents popular arguments which are generally made in favour of the separatist movement recently revived by Raj Thackrey, a politician. At a deeper level, the drama is an anecdotal one giving us the message “Hate is not the answer. It is the question and love is the answer.” It conveys that despite our differences, we are all humans : a single thread connecting us all. About the thought process I myself being a believer in some of the arguments presented in the drama, I decided to explore them further, especially there shortcomings and superficial nature. So this drama writing was an exercise in self-correction in a way.