DEATH DAY OR LIBERATION DAY
A one-act play written by Kamlakar Dahat.
(This text is interspersed with comment -links, which lead to the appropriate place in a commentary.)
For an awakening and a revolution, not only in Marathwada, in Nagpur
or in Agra, but in each corner of the world where there is still exploitation,
for all distressed Dalits and weak human beings, for the martyrs who sacrificed
their lives, for those who spread the thought of Dr. Ambedkar, was this
play written. To pay homage to the memory of such valiant persons and to
participate in the battle for real independence, the pen tracked to write
this drama.
( a person steps on the street, laughing, and says loudly)
Citizen: May Independence remain immortal! Triumph to independent India! People, I'm an independent citizen of this nation. I'm your representative, an ordinary citizen. But what independence means, I still don't understand. Because whether in this country there is the rule of tyranny or our own rule, I don't know. I'm a citizen of this nation because I was born here. This country was prosperous during the time of king Ashoka. It was undivided. In this country each citizen was happy. Today in this country only capitalists, landlords, brahmins, ministers and dogs are happy. Yes, dogs are happy here, too. The dogs are citizens of this nation because they were born here. This is the country of those dogs who, from generation to generation, chewed the pieces of bones thrown by foreigners. How does it come that in the dogs civility arises? They became citizens of this nation by chewing the bones that were thrown by foreigners, from the time Ashoka's reign ended until independence. I am a free citizen; therefore I say I am a common citizen. But what independence is, I do not know.
Independence: (comes forward from the crowd) Shall I tell you what independence is?
Citizen: Well, very well. Glad to meet you. Yes, tell me what independence is.
Independence: The administration of this country is in our hands. We eat the food of this country. We wear the clothes that are produced in this country. The people of this country treat us like human beings. This is independence.
Citizen: Oh well! I know your idea of independence.
Independence: This is not a fantasy, this is the truth.
(1, 2 and 3 come forth from the crowd)
1 & 2: Wrong. Absolutely wrong.
Independence: Who are you?
1: We are the slaves of this nation.
2: We tell you that nobody can live as a human being in this country. In this country your caste is determined by your birth. This is the casteist's country. This nation is still in servitude.
3: It is true. Where fire is opened on unarmed people, where the country's prime minister hurts the religious sentiments of the citizens, there is a country of dictatorship and oppressors.
1: Yes, I also tell you, where Buddhist brothers are (ceremonially) killed and sacrificed in blind belief, where our brothers are blinded, where rape and murder is in their blood vessels, there is a country of slaves. It is, alas, a dog's country.
Citizen: Stop it, stop it. We will decide whether there is independence in this country or not.
(A, B and C come forth from the crowd)
A: Narayan! Narayan! What is going on here? I was roaming the sky in a helicopter. In this country gods and goddesses incarnate in various forms, and I flew here to see how much time remains before there is a new incarnation. As soon as I saw the bustle, I landed here. My name is casteism.
B: Yes, and I came, too. I was actually birthed from Brahma's mouth. I have come from the hands of Manu and after churning the sea. I am called capitalism.
C: You ran away, leaving me alone, you fools! I came, too. I was not born in this country. But as soon as I noticed that this is a time of need I also incarnated in this holy land. My name is dictatorship.
Independence: Oh citizens, have you seen? The messengers of the gods have really come to give proof of this country's independence.
1, 2 and 3: Shame! Shame! Shame!
Citizen: Hey, you. Why do you shout "shame" like this?
3: We must call the original inhabitants of this country. (comment)
Citizen: Then call them, do call them happily. Let there be a religious war. We will rewrite the mahabharat, the tripitak, the koran and the bible. In order to defend the nation's independence you will have to take an oath and then we will begin this religious war. Start taking the oath. (comment)
A, B and C: This country is ours, because this country is under our rule.
1, 2 and 3: This country is not ours, because in this country we live as slaves.
A, B and C: We love this country , because we have come from outside and have won this country with our own talents.
1, 2 and 3: We love this country, because we are the original inhabitants.
A, B and C: We are proud of the various cultures and traditions of this country.
1, 2 and 3: The communal culture of this country is absolutely hideous. We abandon the loathsome traditional customs of this country.
Citizen: The oath taking ceremony is finished, and war now begins according to the constitution, because in this country there is the freedom to wage war, in this country there is freedom of opinion, in this country there is freedom of religion. This country is secular. Oh heavenly gods, demigods, musicians of heaven, underground beings, oh human beings on the face of the entire earth, the war now begins, for which independence bears witness. Because in this country one is free to open fire, in this country one is free to wrestle, in this country one is free to drink urine.
1: The poor of this country are in servitude.
2: Those known as untouchables are in servitude.
3: In this country the revolutionary against injustice is in servitude.
1: The citizen of this country cannot speak out as he likes.
2: The literary person of this country cannot write the truth according to the state of affairs.
3: The people of this country cannot drink from any well as they wish.
Independence: Stop, don't speak foolish nonsense. Today I have come to realize that I'm a slave in this country. I'm a mere puppet. I, independence, am a slave bound by the chain of established hypocritical orthodoxy. Free me from this noose. Everyone uses me in his self interest, either to speak nonsense or to drink urine. I want salvation. In this country there is only one chance per year to set me free. I'm thirty years young and I'm emaciating. If I am not saved I will fall into pieces in the future. I was crippled already once before. Then the rulers divided me into three pieces (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) Leave me undivided please. Don't tear me into any more pieces.
Citizen: Hey, independence! What are you afraid of? If we citizens are here, then why are you trembling?
Independence: How can I not be afraid? See, those three are coming to cut my throat. Run away, otherwise they will shed your blood, too. And then in this country the foreigners will surely rule.
(A, B and C attack independence)
A: Independence! You are ours.
B: We have nourished you since ancient times.
C: We defended you by giving our daughters to the invaders. Come with us, why are you taking shelter with the citizens! Why are you trying to escape our clutches?
Citizen: Hey! Who is going to save him?
1: We were never independent.
2: Independence has been captured by invaders since ancient times.
3: We kept the flame of independence burning by letting our daughters commit johar. (comment)
Citizen: Hey, this is not the time to chatter. Independence is still in their hands. He is helplessly and frantically struggling for liberation; save him!
1: Friends, today is Liberation Day.
2: We will free independence from his shackles, though we may die.
3: This Liberation Day may become our Death Day, and yet we will fight for our rights.
A: Look! Look! Those few people want to free you from our custody.
B: They do not know our machinery.
C: They were born as slaves and they will die as slaves.
Independence: Let me free. Who are you? From where have you come to this country?
A: Don't you recognize us?
B: We were born from Brahma's egg.
C: From the pen of Manu.
A, B and C: God is all pervading, just as we are all pervading.
Independence: But where were you before? Where were you in the time of Emperor Ashoka? Where were you during the reign of Akbar the Great? And we have not seen you during the freedom struggle of this country.
A: We were here, we were here.
B: Yavashcandra divakarau. (comment)
C: We will live here as long as the moon and the sun shine, do you understand?
Independence: No, no, it cannot be. You are trying to destroy the nation from inside, you are drying up my blood. Who will save me? Save me!
(They take away independence.)
Citizen: Hey, who is going to save him? My throat is aching from shouting and shouting!
1: Don't worry, citizen, 2500 years ago the Lord Buddha gave us an incantation to bury casteism, capitalism and tyranny and today we are ready to fight, holding the fierce weapon of Ambedkarism in our hands.
Citizen: Their powers are stupendous. Do not fight them. If you get the chance, pluck out their roots, otherwise you will be killed.
2: We will see what will happen. Let's go! We must fight for independence! Otherwise independence will never be ours.
Citizen: I agree with you, and I will go with you.
1: Victory to Dr. Baabaasaaheb Ambedkar!
2: Victory to Bhagvaan Gautama Buddha!
3: Victory to Mahaatmaa Jyotibaa Phule!
Citizen: Victory to Chatrapatii Shivaajii Mahaaraaj!
Independence: (happily) Look, they are coming to rescue me.
A: Quiet! No more prattle!
B: Don't forget that you are in our possession.
C: You will see how I will make good use of you.
(The citizen, 1, 2 and 3 come into the hall of audience. The ruler's hall of audience is a false one.) (comment)
Citizen: Mahaaraaj, mahaaraaj, open the door. We want to meet with independence.
Ruler: Who is there?
A, B and C: Your order, Mahaaraaj!
Ruler: Let them come in.
A: Let me first see who is there. If it is a fourth class employee, I will drive him away from your door.
B: Mahaaraaj, in accordance with our custom I will not let them in before I haven't received a bribe.
C: I order you to bring in their representatives without further objection.
A: As you will. Let's go, the Mahaaraaj is calling you.
Ruler: Speak out, what do you have to say?
1: We want concessions and reservations, mahaaraaj.
2: Our circumstances still haven't improved.
3: We want our rights.
Ruler: What's this, ministers?
A, B and C: Your order, mahaaraaj.
Ruler: What do these citizens of an independent country say?
A: Mahaaraaj, their demands are not justified.
B: They changed their religion, so we cannot give them any concessions or reservations.
C: If they want any reservations, they will have to live as untouchables.
Ruler: What's this, you ought not to tell me whatever you have changed, I say! We changed our ministry, we are ruling according to karma and according to religion. You have got your rights. Now go.
1: No, mahaaraaj, you are the president of this country. Think more kindly. We are free to change our religion.
2: The religion where there is no peace, no equality, no justice and no brotherhood.......
3: From this religion we converted and became the worshippers of humanity.
Citizen: Mahaaraaj, we are Buddhists. We want our right. Stop our exploitation.
A: The mahaaraaj has not told you to become Buddhists. Go away.
B: Ramraajya has begun in this country. Go and live happily.
C: The Krishnalila began in this country, and that's what independence is. Go away.
Ruler: We will give you everything if we so desire. Go away from here.
Citizen: Mind you, you fool! We know what is going on in this country. Who are you to drive us away? We have to build Bharat, whereas you are ready to carry out a Mahabharat. Behold! In this country Rama is sacrificed. Krishna is drowned in the river, hands and feet bound. Alas!
(Citizen, 1, 2 and 3 exit. Goddesses and gods have entered into the body of a person from the crowd. There the spirits are, resounding. 4, 5 and 6 bring him with exclamations of victory.)
4,5 and 6: Victory to Malhaarii Maartand! Shout: victory to Ambaabaaii! Shout: victory to Bajrangali! We are going to the great god....oh my god.
Worshipper: ha, ha, ha! (Something has entered his body.) Where is the goat for the sacrifice? Bring...bring that Raam here. He has hidden himself under the tamarind tree and was watching from there. He killed two people from the village. He has applied black magic. huhuhaa......
4: Where has that Raam gone?
5: He will be at home.
6: Bring the bastard, hold him by his feet and drag him here.
(they bring Raam forcibly)
Raam: You sons of pigs, tell me first what happened before you beat me.
Worshipper: Bastard, you killed two villagers. You woke up the ghost of the tamarind tree. I want the blood of a goat. Before that I will not calm down. You know charms and spells. You cast a magic spell on a woman of the village, and her child died in her womb. Is it true or not? Give me the blood of a hen or of a goat, otherwise you will be the victim. Speak! Be ready to die. ......huuhuuhuuhuu. (still shaking)
Raam: Oh no. I am a poor man. I fill my belly by selling baskets. I am the father of children. I am a Buddhist. I don't know any spells and charms. I don't believe in spells and charms. I don't understand what you are saying.
Worshipper: Hey, what are you looking at? Offer the blood of a goat, otherwise your blood will be shed.
4: Speak out, bastard! Raam, you village enemy, tell us, where did you hide and keep watch. If you do not tell us, prepare to die.
(beating him)
Raam: No, no. Don't beat me. I don't know any spells and charms. I didn't do anything.
5: You are lying, bastard. Or are the gods lying? The 360 million gods pervading the body of this worshipper, are they all lying? How does it come that you alone speak the truth? What are you looking at? Beat the bastard!
(beating him)
6: Come on, we will sacrifice him like a hen or a goat under the tamarind tree, we will cut off the bastard's ears and the bastard's head.
(The worshipper, 4, 5 and 6 take him away while beating him.)
Raam: No, no.
(They beat him hard and he continues on screaming.)
4, 5 and 6: Go, bastard, son of a pig!!! Shout: victory to Ambaabaaii, shout: victory to Mariimay, shout: victory to Satvaii, victory to Baabaajii.
1: In this country men are made victims of human sacrifice through blind belief.
2: Some are victimized through untouchability. Others cut off men's sex organs and sprinkle a stone idol with the blood in the name of some fictitious god . For wealth or (even) in order to attain deliverance.
3: Then how is this country independent? This country is still in slavery, in the slavery of blind belief which is spread by hypocrites since olden times.
(Someone comes and gives a speech on blind belief. The affair of those people who have been sacrificed in blind belief in Eragav and Maanvat, the affair of the Gawai brothers, who were blinded, the tragedy of Belchi, and details of other such events should be in this speech.) (comment)
A: We spread this blind belief in order to always maintain our dominance.
B: In order to accumulate money.
C: In order to have our rules completely implemented.
A, B and C: No one has yet been born in this country to obstruct our ways.
1: He has been born, you fools!
2: This master was born in this country...
3: ...in the guise of Dr. Baabaasaaheb Ambedkar on 14th of April.
1, 2 and 3: Shout: victory to Dr. Baabaasaaheb Ambedkar!
Citizen: Hey, Independence, today is the 14th of April, Ambedkar's birthday. Look, an imposing procession is emerging there, let's go; we should join company with them.
Independence: I would like to come, but they are chasing me. My oppressors are these caste people. You go. See, they are coming.
(The sounds of proclaiming voices come from the procession.)
A: Hey, what! What are you looking at?
B: What procession is this? Isn't it quite large?
C: Oh, indeed! They seem to have Baabaasaaheb Ambedkar's photograph.
Ruler: Ambedkar? Is it a procession taken out by the city's Jatavs on occasion of his birthday? The procession on occasion of Ramnaavami was not that imposing.
A: What? How dare these backwards...
B: How can they take out such a large procession before our eyes?
C: Because of this our reputation will go to rack and ruin.
Independence: According to the constitution everybody has equal rights in this country.
A: Shut up, you fool! The implementation of the constitution is in our hands.
B: You are the servant waiting at our feet. Tell the police force to get ready.
C: Ask all your friends to get ready to throw stones and to plunder. These bastards want to become our equals.
Ruler: Go, get ready to fire, and throw stones at the demonstrators. Rush into their houses and beat them there. Hit everyone. Be it schoolchildren or old people, women or man, boy or girl, beat them, kill them, loot their houses, rape them. Police, attention! You will get your promotions! Shoot! Shoot! This is your golden chance. Light a fire, burn them in that fire.
A: Bravo! That's why we have elected you.
B: The population of this country will diminish automatically if we follow your ways.
C: We will elect you again. But see, the march is coming nearer. Now get ready. One, two, three, fire! Bravo!
(Gunfire resounds. A boy and a girl of the procession lie there, wounded. A, B and C exit, laughing.)
Citizen: A country where it is forbidden to celebrate the birth anniversary of a great person, how can this country said to be independent? Not just one, but many examples of murder, rape and looting can be given.
( Injustice in Marathvada, firing in Nagpur, the arrest case in Asoli and the murder case in Agra: People are free to inform the public about these events, about other events and about atrocities committed by the police.)
( A person comes. He criticizes the police force in strong words.)
Citizen: Hey, when will it end? Look. It continues...
4: Bastard! Why are you staring at us with wide open eyes?
5: You used to prostrate before us so your shadow wouldn't fall on our bodies, but today you walk upright.
6: Do you want independence today? Do you want liberation? We will give it to you.
( They beat the citizen. They hold independence and bring him.)
Ruler: Pull out the eyes of these brothers. Heat the iron rod and pierce their eyes. ... Bravo!
( A person brings an iron rod. Independence and the Citizen cry out in pain.)
1: My brother was killed.
2: They pulled out my brother's eyes.
3: My brother's wife was raped.
1: We wander around in search of a job.
2: His sisters, mother and wife are working.
3: They put shendur on stones, put them in the streets and regard them as gods. (comment)
1: They offer food to these stone gods.
2: But they treat human beings like dogs.
3: Is this independence? What kind of independence is this?
1: This kind of independence is useless!
2: Throw away this independence!!
3: We want a separate state!!!
1: Casteists, we want a separate electorate...
2: Rulers, divide this country...
3: Rascals, leave this country.
1: This is Lord Buddha's country.
2: This is Mahatma Phule's country.
3: This is the poor people's country.
1: This is Ambedkar's country.
2: This is our country because we are humanists.
3: Traitors, go away from here. Foul bastards!
Citizen: March! One - two - one - two, halt!!! We will sing the national anthem. Begin now.
Independence: No, no. This drama
is not finished. This drama of independence will never end. As long as
the moon and the sun shine, this drama will not come to an end. Hey, Io
and behold! They are coming, I'm still not free. I'm their slave.
Break these ties!
Who is going to save me?
A: Where are you running to?
B: Hold him.
C: Who is this? The leader of this nation?
A: The government is in our hands.
B: The country's army is in our hands.
A, B and C: He is a minority member, he is a slave, he is an untouchable.
Citizen: Today is his death day, that is to say his liberation day. Afterwards we will bring him to the cremation ground. Which is the closest cremation ground?
(A, B and C on one side, 1, 2 and 3 on the other side lift Independence on their shoulders. The citizen goes ahead, all others follow him.)
The End
Translation: Ravi Shambarkar, Mathavi Tritsch, Georg Naggies, Gabriel
Vine.
Commentary
This one-act play was written by Kamlakar Dahat some twenty years ago, but according to those whose lives are concerned, the "Indian social and political structure is still the same, as depicted in this drama." (Ravi Shambarkar, translator of this drama and activist of a Dalit organization, in a letter to the author of this commentary)The theme of the play is the difference between political independence and the actual experience of an independent, free, and happy life.
The promise of equality pronounced at independence had created high hopes of better treatment in the Dalit community. And yet, at the time the play was written at least, there was still the "hiatus between their [the Dalits] official status as equal citizens before law and their being treated as untouchables by 'clean' castes" (Lata Murugkar 1991, p.10, explaining the emergence of the Dalit Panthers, which was a starting point for Dalit literature & drama ).
Ambedkar said: "Where there is no social and economic equality, political equality will be useless." Around this theme "Death Day and Liberation Day" is woven.
"Death Day and Liberation Day" became quickly very popular. It was performed in each and every slum area of Nagpur. Once it was performed on Nagpur's Dikshabhumi, and it is said that on that occasion 900 000 people were watching (A.Ramteke 1992, p.49) All in all it had over 300 shows.
However, there is always a wider context, as seen in a reaction to this play from an American reader, sensitively pointing out the crux of political art:
"Artistically, I felt the drama left something to be desired, but I
also feel this is very often the case with artistic genres that are overtly
political ('overtly' here I do not use in a critical sense), as Dalit
Drama would naturally be, and/or individual works that are message-centered.
I hasten to add, however, that there is incredible value and a great need
for this art, particularly drama, as, it can
serve to unite the oppressed, under-priviledged members of any society
and serve as a 'call to action' . (There has existed a whole world of dramatists
from Ireland who tried, and sometimes succeeded, to do exactly that...
Brendan Behan comes to mind.)"
(Thanking Maureen Fadem, sasialit mailing list, http://is.rice.edu/~riddle/play/sasialit/
)
(back)
Original inhabitants: This refers to the theory that the ancient Aryan settlers came from outside, fought the original inhabitants and enslaved them. Today's Brahmins are perceived as the Aryan invaders, and the call for the original inhabitants thus means: Let there be a war, "backwards versus upper-class people, or original inhabitants versus Aryans, or original inhabitants versus the Hindu religion" (Ravi Shambarkar, translator of this drama and activist of a Dalit organization, in a letter to the author of this commentary)
(back)
"We will rewrite the mahabharata, the tripitak, the koran and the bible" means: We will stand up against the oppressive forces of religion. In this list of holy books the Buddhist tripitaka is also represented, because here it is perceived as having been much altered by the Hindus after Buddhism ceased to be the dominant religion in India.
Before declaring the war the Citizen says: "In order to defend
the nation's independence you will have to take an oath".
Ravi Shambarkar gives here the following explanation: "Though he wants
the war against casteism, capitalism and dictatorship, he still loves his
country a lot. He knows well that if there is a war of the backward classes
against the Hindu religion the nation will suffer a lot.[...] That is why
he wants them to take an oath." (Ravi Shambarkar, translator of this drama
and activist of a Dalit organization, in a letter to the author of this
commentary)
(back)
Johar is the practice of ceremonial suicide on the pyre, committed by women and children who rather choose to die, while their menfolk fight to death, than fall into the hands of an enemy. (back)
Yavashcandra divakarau (Skt.) = as long as the moon and the sun are there. (back)
This hall of audience is a false one, where injustice rules, as opposed to a real royal court or darbaar (hall of audience), where justice is to be found. (back)
This refers to various incidences of atrocities on Dalits. Those incidences created much outrage throughout Maharashtra at their time. (back)
shendur = orange red lead-oxyde colour (back)
