Great Warrior Of Ahimsa

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

Page 32

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7
'MARSHAL : Saluting as per military custom] Excuse me sir, if I am late, I doubt whethe my watch has betrayed me.. MAJOR : No, No, Marshal ! you are quite in time, I came ahead of our schedule: Well, shall like to know about the latest developments, if any... . MARSHAL: Nothing particular to mention, sir. I think you should take rest first, we ma discuss our plans early in the morning.. MAJOR : Yes, if nothing is serious to attend, I shall of course prefer some rest.. MARSHAL : We shall make a move to our camp then.. every thing is ready, sir. MAJOR : Yes, come along... [to the soldiers] both of you dig a pit here, put the corpsed that old man (pointing to the dead body of Baba) and then inform me. [to Marshal) justi minute, let us bury this old peace soldier before we move... (both goes near the books tape recorder and tie them in the bundle..) MARSHAL : Did you know this old man..? MAJOR : Yes..he was a seeker and soldier of world peace... SOLDIERS : Every thing is ready, sir! (Major and Marshal both go there, cover the dead body with earth, pay their silent last homage in prayerful mood and then they all proceed. The soldiers carry the bundle & parachute on their shoulders)
[First Act ends)
ACT: 2
SCENE 1 [The scene shows the Major's camp, of land-fighting spot amidst green trees. It's a tent with woods and hillocks in the background seen from two windows. In the deep back stage is the cyclorama curtain and about two ft. higher is the stage for the dream sequences & visionary scenes. As the time is about eleven in the same night, the darkness and lights are provided in their real and dream scenes as per requirements. Musical and other sound effects are also appropriately provided.
The Major's bed is near the window to enable him to look outside and sleep in such a way that it may coincide with the background sequence. Near his bed lie a lamp and the books and the tape recorder. He is in his-sleeping dress. There are four soldier Guards on duty outside his tent on the other side, other than the one facing the dream sequences. The Marshal is in the adjacent tent only a part of which is seen.
When the curtain opens, the Major is lying and reading one of the books: "Gandhi the Truth Seeker" and looking at the photographs and then outside the windows...dim light of the lamp only...]
(Effect: Instrumental Western Music : Harp...) MAJOR (Reading the book aloud in the light of the lamp, lying.] :
"..... GANDHI WAS OUT AND OUT A TRUTH-SEEKER SINCE HIS EARLY AGE. IN COURSE OF TIME HE CAME ACROSS SOME GREAT SEEKERS OF TRUTH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY. THESE WERE THOREAU, TOLSTOY, RAJCHANDRA OR POET RAICHANDBHAI AND RUSKIN. OUT OF THESE ALL, SRIMAD RAJCHANDRA WAS THE GREATEST SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AND INFLUENCE WHO LEFT AN EVER-LASTING IMPRESSION ON HIM. HE SOUGHT GUIDANCE