INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN..109

INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN..109

Dr K Prabhakar Rao

(Gandhi is lying in an old cot in a small room in heavens and his Secretary Mahadev Desai is seen attending him. Gandhi occasionally utters hare ram.. ram….ram and gets hick ups and Desai comforts him. He is seen pressing the legs of Gandhi)

Desai. Bapu. How do you feel now?

Gandhi. eee..eeee. aa..aa.. I am having pain in the whole body. Ohfo. I think I burnt myself in freedom struggle by over exerting. What is the use even after so much struggle.

Desai. True Bapu. The nation is in the hands of nuts of first order

Gandhi. True. Lal Bahadur and Indira went away some time ago and did they say they would return

Desai. Probably they would. Let us see.

( In the meantime Indira enters the room and goes to Gandhi)

Indira. Bapu. How are you? You must be better after taking rest.

Desai. Yeah. slightly better he is

Gandhi. Indira. Please tell me. You nationalized banks. Scrapped privy purses. Antagonized great Sikhs and in turn got shot in cold blood.

Indira. I have no regrets. The Khalistani Sikhs were hiding in golden temple and were killing people indiscriminately operating from there.

Gandhi. But why it was allowed. I I was there I would have gone on fast

Indira.You just could not have succeeded. Your ram nam will not do the trick. What is required is hail of bullets. That si why I used army. General Vaidya, the army chief told me that he will complete the operation in 24 hours. But he took so much time and used tanks and guns.

Gandhi. obviously Sikhs were humiliated when you attacked their holiest shrine at Amritsar.

Indira. I think vaidya can answer better.

( In the mean time General vaidya enters the room. He salutes Indira and touches feet of Gandhi.)

Vaidya. ( Laughing) Madam I also have joined you. Both of us were party to the operation blue star.. Both of us paid by our lives.

Indira. Every one has to die one day. We have died for national cause. Then why feel bad.

( In the back ground nationalistic song is heard and Marshal music is herad)

Watan ki raah mein watan ke naujawan Shaheed ho
Pukar tehai ye zamin aas man Shaheed ho..

Gandhi. Look Indira. You were a ruthless ruler but so many problems have been created by you. He nation was in turmoil. It is a simmering pot. Even Gurkhas want separate state. Nagas have already been fighting for separate country. I am getting worked up.

( In the mean time ghosts of outlawed Naga army storm into the room They are holding weapons. They shouthoo..haa..hooo. haa. Long live Nagaland. We o not want to live in India. Down with India. Death to India. Their rifles have fixed bayonets)

Gandhi. Plesae tell them to away. I can not stand violence.

Nagas. Indira down down. Gandhi down.. down. Gandhi sahib Your non violence will no more work. What works is this ( shows rifle). We shall surely get Nagaland.Down with Gandhi and Indira

( Nagas leave the room shouting abuses at India)

Gandhi. Ohfo. Thanks they left ( he wipes his face with khadi hanky)

Indira. Do not get relaxed. We created many movements. Bodo land, Gurkha land, Mizoram, and even madras has threatened with separation.heee..heee. More the merrier

Gandhi. Ram…ram.this is all your doing.You ruled so long and spoiled everything.

Indira. That is not my mistake. It is a changing world. Separatist movements are part of political situations. You can not blame for this.

Gnadhi. Iam only cursing my fate. Not blaming any one. What was my country ans what it is now. Just in a span of few decades the nation is down the drain


( In the distance great actor singer Surendranath BALLB is heard singing)

Teri yaaad kaaaa..aaaa.
Dee…ee…pak Jal..aaaa.ta.aaaa.. hai

Teri yaad ka Deepak jalta hai
Din raat tere veerane méin
Teri yaad ka Deepak jalta hai
Wo paagal pan jo pehle tha
Abbhi hai tere deevaane mein
Teri yaad ka Deepak jalta hai ( From Gawaiah 1954)

(Gandhi listens to the sing, gets sentimental weeps and faints)

Indira. Desai Bhai. Bapu has fainted. Let us help him ( she runs to Bapu)

Desai. True

( General Vidya, Desai and Indira sprinkles water on Gandhi’s face and watch at him)



CURTAINFALLS