Great Warrior Of Ahimsa

Author(s): Pratap J Tolia
Publisher: Vardhaman Bharati International Foundation

Page 27

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SCENE I
[Stage vacant in the opening.. Darkness followed by dim colorful lights... intermittent noises of one or two remote bombardments.. Piece of a song.. A ballad in 'Gujarati followed by its commentary in English and then the entry of the Peace Soldier- " Buddhe Baba "- the old man..............
..J
BACKGROUND SONG (Solo Male Voice):
"Bahu dina Ghadi re talwar, Ghadi Kai Topu ne manavār Pancha Sata Shoora na Jaikar Kaj; Khub Khelaña Samhar" (*1). COMMENTATOR (Male):
"For ages man has remained manufacturing the sword and the canon and the torpedobombers and various bombs... and there on the stage of the world, numerous wars have been fought... only for the sake of five or seven chieftains and politicians, yes, only for the sake of five or seven chieftains and politicians........!"
[Enters Buddhe Baba with wounds and blood on his body and tears in his eyes, indicating the bloodshed and the dead bodies round about and the weapons and the sky above...]
BUDDHE BABA: This
hatred, this violence, this power-craving, these wars and these weapons!! They are increasing day by day with the passing of the ages..... One.... Two. Three..... The world has witnessed the devastations caused by three world wars in course of time and yet the fourth one ! But what for?.. Why?... Are the three not enough? Does the world require them any more? (Pause, Move)... How long these wars continue? how long..?
[ Cry of wounded white soldier from a corner where he is dying.]
SOLDIER: "I am dying......! Amen........!..... Water...."
BABA: [ Shades light & rushes in the direction of the voice, sits beside the soldier] Oh....... have it my dear boy, have it... [goes near, leans, pours a few drops of water in his mouth, puts his hand with love on his head and the soldier dies....]
SOLDIER: " A..m..e..n..!" [ dies.................effect of Violin]
BABA: [Shedding tears on his face and covering his body with a piece of cloth, praying...] May God rest you in eternal peace, my son!.....[Pause..... Standing up & loitering] How long these wars... how long...?
[Suffers the pain of his own wounds and places his hand on his chest... unexpectedly lands the Major General from silent Space Parachute direct on the stage, exactly at the end of the Baba's utterance and replies in its context....]
MAJOR GENERAL: till the destruction, total destruction of the enemy of our nation [laughs cruelly...Baba surprised]... but halt, hold on your hands and tell me who are you and why are you here on our secret area of the battlefield?
BABA: I am here, sir, to ask the chieftains like you (pause).. and I presume, you are... you
are
(*1) GHAN RE BOLE NE......" (Gujarati: JHAVERCHAND MEGHANI)