Our batch “Sarvajit” is known for extraordinary events, both on positive and on not-so-positive side. It was truly a thrilling day with so much of excitement and drama that I have to devote an entire post for this purpose.
As a custom, every year, final year PG students present a drama before Swami on independence day. It’s a great opportunity and an exciting event as an entire class gets totally involved in preparing for this play. This year too was no exception to this. What follows now will surely be an exception as you read along.
The midsemester exams got over last week and the students wasted no time in plunging into drama preparations. Two days back, Swami they presented a card to Swami about the drama. He looked into it and showed a keen interest. He asked if Siubhash Chandra Bose was there. when the student replied in the affirmative, he said “ I know, even Tilak is also there”. after dinner, all of us assembled in the Shanti Vedika for a rehearsal as Vice Chancellor was coming to see the practice. The VC said that Swami had specifically asked him to go and see the drama practice. It seems he was continuously enquiring about it and was saying that the drama must be good, the sets also should be good. As the practice was in progress, our warden received a message that Swami had, before retiring upstairs, again asked about the drama and wanted it to be good. You can well imagine that we were in Seventh heaven.
The drama actually portrays bharatiya culture and has scenes from Ramayana, Shivaji, Bose, Tilak , and Lala Lajpatrai. I’ll be mentioning in detail as there were comments by Swami on each scene later.
The next day, as usual most of the boys took leave from classes to prepare for the drama. In the afternoon, some of us went with another card. Swami arrived at about 3.45 pm, but he turned left from the ladies side and went to the portico. As soon as He got down from the car, he asked where is the drama going on. One of his attendants replied that some actors had come with a card. Swami called immediately for the car and said that he wants to see the practice! We couldn’t believe our eyes. Actually, we didn’t have time for that as we immediately ran back to the hostel to inform others.
We expected Swami to come to hostel but instead he went to the auditorium. So, very few boys were present. We again ran to the auditorium and the actors went one by one to seek Swami’s blessings. There are two Bose characters in drama, one younger and the other older. Both went to Swami and His attendant interoduced the older bose saying he is the bigger Bose. Swami looked at the actor and remarked “older bose? When did you get married?”
The drama began with the Ramayana scene.
Scene 1: Rama wins battle but refuses to preside over Lanka as king
The scene was in telugu. Swami turned to warden and said “ is the drama in telugu? Warden said “ yes Swami, this scene”. The scene had nice patriotic dialogues and Swami was visibly very moved. He was shedding tears like a child
Scene 2: Shivaji prays to Durga for the battle sword.
This scene was in English. Swami again turned to warden “you said drama was in telugu.” Warden replied “Swami, only first scene, not the entire drama” Swami kept pulling warden’s leg (as usual) on this issue later on.
Scene 3: Younger bose in class. He slaps his teacher.
The scene was well enacted. the actor was short. Swami asked “ Bose was big. Why is this boy short?” Warden replied “Swami, this is college scene”. After the slap, we all looked at Swami for His reaction. He turned to Warden and said “ call the boy . there is slap, but no sound.” The boy came down and Swami told him “ slap harder. Sound should come” our warden added “Swami, on final day we’ll have extra keyboard effects”
Scene 4: Tilak scene. Kesri paper is banned
Swami had a special interest in Tilak, we don’t know why. The scene went on well.
Scene 5:. Simon go back scene. Lala lajpatrai is killed
This scene had a good amount of violence, something that Swami doesn’t like. It was very well enacted though. The songs were also good.
After the drama got over, Swami came out of auditorium and went to the restroom. When he came out, one of the boys went ahead and asked him if we could name the drama “Janani janma bhoomischa Swargadapi gariyasi”. Swami replied sarcastically “ mother is fine, motherland is also fine, fighting is also fine”. He looked at VC and said, “ I told you to look at the drama, didn’t I?” VC replied “Swami I did and I pointed out about the violence too”. Swami repeated his words in a teasing manner. It was 5.00 pm and he went straight for the bhajans.
If there was a heaven beyond seven layers, we were surely up there. never before did a low key drama like this get so much attention from Swami that He came even for the rehearsal. We were scheduled to have a practice with mikes in kulwant hall after bhajans. So we proceeded to mandir at 6 pm. After an hour, the VC came and said Swami decided not to have drama tomorrow! Well, does even a stock market crash sound so bad?
However, there was a silver lining as the VC told us that Swami wants us to prepare another drama in a few weeks on the topic “love all, serve all” (that’s underlining non-violence for us).But to say the last word, Swami did see our drama, didn’t He?
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