INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN......131

SCENE ..131

( Gandhi and Nehru are seen sitting in a Park in Hyderabad. Patel hastily arrives gasping)

Nehru. Pate, What happened? Why are you tense?

Patel. Do you know the latest news? It is shocking.

Gandhi. What happened?

Patel. A strange thing happened.

Gandhi. Please tell me fast without delay.

Patel Bapu, Many MLA and MP of AP state are in a prison in Maharashtra.

Gandhi. Out of every thing, why they are Maharashtra prison?

Nehru. Has Rosiah filled all jails in AP? Probably this is true. There is no place for a fresher

Gandhi. Is it true Mr Patel?

Patel. Ohfo. That is not the case.

Gandhi. Then why they are there?

Patel Bapu. You do not know real thing.

Gandhi. Then what is real thing?

Patel. Bapu. Real thing is one that is not unreal.

Gandhi. Ohfo. I am getting vexed up. What is this Patel?

Patel. ( sings and does jig)

At times real looks like joke
And unreal appears to be true
Real and un real are two sides of a coin
Bapu, listening to me may give you some flu

(Gandhi picks up a stone that lies nearby. He hammers his head violently shouting)

Gandhi. Kill me .. Kill me fast. I can not stand this type of tension. Kill me.

Nehru. Patel. Please do not keep us in tension. Bapu is getting excited. He may get hyper tension.

Patel. Ohfo. I am sorry. Bapu. Yoou know Chandra Babu?

Gandhi. I know. At present he is the leader of opposition party Telugudesam in AP.

Patel. You re correct Bapu

Gandhi. Why this Naidu now?

Patel. Every thing I circling around Naidu.

Gandhi. What he has done?

Patel. Nothing serious he has done

Gandhi. Come on Patel. Do not keep us in suspense; Tell us what happened to him? Is he sick seriously?

Patel. Not at present. He might become sick soon.

Gandhi. Then what is going on?

Patel. Bapu. By the by you know Babli project In Maharashtra?
Gandhi. I heard about it. I have not seen it. What has Babli
to do with this Naidu?
Patel. I do not want you to be no more in tension. I shall
tell everything.
Gandhi. Thanks dear.

Patel. Bapu there is a dispute for sharing waters between AP and Maharashtra States and this I going on since long.

Gandhi. Are these states independent countries? I am sure these are part of India.

Patel. Sure. They are part of India.

Gandhi. Then what is this word fight?

Patel. Maharashtra was building a dam on Godavari River at Babli in Dharma bad that is very much in their territory. AP state has objected to it and court case has been going on. They have built the dam with greater height inspite of many court directives reportedly and AP state has been sucking thumb. There was hue and cry over this and struggle has been going on since long.

Gandhi. Why don’t they listen to courts?

Patel. Bapu. No one listens to courts in India. Even supreme court orders are violated.

Gandhi. Oho What happened to this country? So, then what happened?

Patel. The present AP government has not done anything concrete to stop Babli progress. Naidu has decided to agitate for the State. He decided to see the project along with his MLA and MP. He proceeded to Maharashtra with may buses and convoy.

Nehru. The what happened?

Patel. I is learnt that Maharashtra govt promised Naidu to show Babli and they were taken in vehicles to the area ad were arrested for violating prohibitory orders.

Gandhi. That is very bad and betrayal too.

Patel. Naidu and his party were behind bars and are not allowed to visit Babli.Naidu is refusing to seek bail. We have to wait and see. Learnt that many MLA and MP are getting sick as they were not provided basic amenities. It is learnt that they had to use one toilet for nearly 160 persons.

Gandhi. That is inhuman.

Patel. At least the guys are coming to know realities.Most of these VIP are used to star treatment and are now on the mat and facing realities and are knowing the real truths faced by a common man in India.

Gandhi. are you happy that these guys are facing these troubles.

Patel. It is not that I am happy about their misfortune. Atleast they will now know what it would be like a common man.

Gandhi. Patel wemustat oncego to Babliand help them

Nehru. The police will at once catch us and put in jail

Gandhi. Are we scared of jails? We shall face them

Patel OK Bapu. As you wish.
( soon the trio land- up near the Babli site in Maharashtra .Some police constables see them ad run to them waving lathis. Some are armed with rifles)

Inspector You. Who are you guys? How you have entered this area?

Gandhi.We are not from AP. We have come to see the dam as curiosity.

Inspector. But how did you reach this place. We have put many barricades ad sentries ( pulls his hair in confusion)

Gandhi. These barricades can not stop us. When we want we make ourselves invisible.

Inspector. Are you some magicians? How can you be invisible? Show me.

Patel. Look Inspector. I am standing on this rock. Can you see me?

Inspector. No.. I can not see you. You son of a b…. Where are you?

Patel. I am here you swine. ( He suddenly appears) Try to catch me you joker..

( Inspector sees Patel on the rock and rushes at him to catch him. Patel vanishes and Inspector falls flat on the ground and rolls into pool of water. His teeth are broken.)

Patel. Hee..hee… You fool. Do not underestimate us. We are not TDP men to get arrested and suffer.

( Many constables arrive and lift up the Inspector from water. His name is Tukaram Jadhv khandbole. He is badly hurt and taken away on a stretcher. Gandhi, Nehru and Patel continue sitting on the rock)

( Gandhi, Patel and Nehru are seen sitting on a rock at Babli project. At distance hundreds of Maharashtra constable are seen watching them.)

Constable Tukaram. Hey Pandu, Have you seen those guys on rock? Our Inspector Jadhav could not catch them although he fell on them and there appears something strange with them.

Pandu. What it could be? They look very weak, famished and are like skeletons.They could not have thrown Jadhav in to waters.

Tukaram. Shall we slowly go from behind and over power them. It is a good chance to great promotions. We will be made sub inspectors

Pandu. Oh no. I have two small kids. What will happen if I die.

Tukaram. Come on. Do not be so scared. One day every one will die.

Pandu. But I like to die after my children are grown up. I better remain a constable.

( Gandhi and Patel are seen waving to them)

Gandhi. Hey you Jokers. Come and catch us. We are not armed. Why are you scared?

Patel. You. Sons of devils. Come and catch us. It is not like arresting TDP guys who were clueless.

Gandhi. Look Patel. These guys are shit scared. If we have to know what is happening with TDP men some how we must get arrested. Let us not scare these poor police men. Let us act as if we are sleeping.

Patel. Fine Bapu.

(The trio act as if they are sleeping)

( Pandu and Tukaram watch the trio sleeping)

Tukaram. Look Pandu. Those jokers fell asleep. This is our chance. Let us go.

( Tukaram and Pandu slowly walk to the rock and suddenly throw a net over the trio and they overpower Gandhi, Nehru and Patel who act asif they are helpless)

Pandu. Yeah. We caught you. You can not escape now. I am Pandu the great

Tukaram. I am Tukaram; I am famous as encounter expert. If you guys move , you are dead

Gandhi ( pretends) No.. No.. Please do not kill us.

Tukaram. That is good.

( Gandhi, Nehru and Patel are tied with ropes and are taken to the police camp. There they are seen by the SP and DIG )

DIG. Who are you guys? Why are you dressed as Gandhi, Nehru and Patel?

Nehru. We are not dressed. We are they.

Patel. They are we.

DIG. Who are you?

Patel. I told we are they and they are we

DIG. Ohfo. No. I am getting mad. I asked your real names

Gandhi. I am Mohan das Karam chand Gandhi, He is Jawaharlal Nehru and the other one is Valabh bhai Patel.

DIG. But You are not they. They can not be you. If you guys do not tell your real identity you will have tough time. I shall get you skinned alive.

Patel. We have no other names. We are actually they. They are actually we. Believe us. More over we have no skins.

DIG ( looks at a constable.)Look. Jivaji Sarkhande. Take this knife and skin this old man.

(Jivaji holds knife and shouts loudly and runs towards Gandhi gesticulating)

Jivaji. Now I have you in my hands. I skinned many earlier. Now this your turn.

( He catches Gandhis hand and fails to feel it. He tries repeatedly and fails)

Jivaji. Come on show your arm.

Gnadhi. Here it is. Catch it.

( Jivaji fails to hold and he looks at Gandhi and sees a skeleton staring at him)

Jivaji eee..eeeeee.. He is a devil. Bhoot.. Margaya.. Bacho. ( He shrieks loudly and faints).

(Suddenly Gandhi, Nehru and Patel assume the forms of skeletons and do break dance. In the background music is heard)

Jaago sone walo,,Suno merikahani
Kya ameeri.. kya garibi.. Bhoolo baaat purani..

Bhoot..bhooot.. Bangla.. eeee….eeeee……………… ( from movie Bhoot Bangla)

(Suddenly sky becomes utter dark and all lights go off. The break dance continues to the weird sounds. Police personnel run away into darkness including the officers)

Patel. Bapu. Maza agaya. Bhag gaye phaaltoo kainka. Pakadtha hai humko! Zindagi bhar yaad rakhlega. Phir hamaare nazdeek nahi ayega. Bada bana police wala.

(Great enjoyment indeed. Ran away jokers. They want to catch us. They will remember for life. They will never come to us. They claim to be great police men)

Gandhi. Patel. Let us go to Naidu and party.

Patel. I learnt that they are detained at a college building. Let us go there.

(The trio land at the detention camp.It is utter chaos there. All people are sleeping on floors. The area is stinking with smell of night oil. They enter the room slowly. Naidu sees them and looks surprised)

Naidu. Who are you dressed like our national leaders and why you are here?

Patel. We are real. We are not fake. We came to see you.

Naidu. The leaders died long ago. How can they be alive?

Gandhi. Look Naidu. You will not understand this. Do you want to escape from here?

Naidu. No. I can not escape like a coward. I shall see the end of this drama.

Patel. Mr Nadu. How did you believe them?

Naidu. They said they will show us Babli and we travelled in our fleet. Then they arrested us claiming that we violated prohibitory orders. We have been betrayed

Gandhi. Do not worry I am happy. You are using peaceful means for agitation.

Naidu. Thanks sir.
Patel. Mr Naidu. What is your next move?

Naidu. We shall not accept bail. We are on hunger strike.

Gandhi. That is good. Use non violence methods as I did.

Naidu. Bapu. The AP govt is just watching the show. I am sure they and Maharashtra guys are hand in glove. Both belong to Congress party.

Gandhi. I can not comment at present.

Naidu. I know your position. You were part of congress party.

Gandhi. It is not like that. The present party is not mine. My party died away. The present guys have killed it during Indira’s time. Naidu. You must hold on Do not give up.

Naidu. Sure. This is a do or die situation. They have to show us the Babli dam. There is no way out for them.

Patel. That is too good. Be an iron man like me. Success will be yours surely

Naidu. Thanks sir.

Patel. I learnt that some MLA have fallen sick. Tell them to be brave and rise to the occasion. This is a testing time for them. If they hold on their image in public will get a lift. If they beg and return to Hyderabad, they will loose their face.

Naidu. I agree and all of them are bold.

Gandhi. Naidu. Please ask al MLA and MP to collect here. I want to address them.

Naidu. Sure.( He asks all to gather around and soon they collect at one place)

Gandhi. Hello friends. You have taken a bold action of walking into a tigers den willingly. It look that you were betrayed. Do not worry. Be bold. Nothing will happen to. you. Think of our days and how we faced the Englishmen. This is nothing. You are not beaten up and they have not fired at you. I agree that they beat up normal people. Success will be yours at a costs. These People will realize their folly and show you the Babli project. Have patience Naidu is great leader flowing my principles .May god bless you.

( In the back ground Marshall song of INA song is heard)

kadam kadam badhaye jaa khushi ke geet gaye jaa
yeh jindagi hain kaaum ki tu kaum pe lutaye jaa
chalo dilli pukarti hume disha sambhali
lakh ye bighadke lehraye ja lehraye ja
chalo dilli pukarti hume disha sambhali
lakh ye bighadke lehraye ja lehraye ja
kadam kadam badhaye jaa khushi ke geet gaye jaa
yeh jindagi hain kaaum ki tu kaum pe lutaye jaa
kadam kadam badhaye jaa khushi ke geet gaye jaa
yeh jindagi hain kaaum ki tu kaum pe lutaye jaa

kadam kadam badhaye jaa khushi ke geet gaye jaa
yeh jindagi hain kaaum ki tu kaaum pe lutaye jaa
kadam kadam badhaye jaa khushi ke geet gaye jaa
yeh jindagi hain kaaum ki tu kaum pe lutaye jaa
tu sher hind aage badh, bandhe se phir bhi tu na darr
udake dushmano ka sir, jo de watan badhaye ja
tu sher hind aage badh, bandhe se phir bhi tu na darr
udake dushmano ka sir, jo de watan badhaye ja

Gandhi. Jai hind. Bye

Naidu and others. Jai Hind. Bye

( Gandhi, Nehru and Patel vanish)

(In the distance Ramdhun is heard)

CURTAIN FALLS