Onto The Stage Slighted Souls And Other Stage Plays

by BS Murthy

  Anna (1): You may know Madiga Yellanna's daughter Nirmala. She has complained against Rami Reddy's son Narsi Reddy.

  Narsimma: Well, but where is she?

  Anna (2): Anna, she would be here any time now.

  Narsimma: Okay, we'll take up the issue after she turns up. Meanwhile, let’s deal with the dora and his cohorts.

  [Anna (2) calls up M uthyal Rao, Papa Rao, Rami Reddy, Papi Reddy and Shaukar Suryam, and they all stand up]

  Sarakka: Chief, these are the sinful five.

  M adanna: What are they accused of?

  Sarakka: To start with, they’re all inimical towards the dalits.

  M adanna: Are you guilty on that count or not?

  [All five nod in agreement.]

  Narsimma: Any submission to this dalit adalat?

  Papa Rao: Forgive us Narsimma, pardon us peddanna, we'll behave ourselves.

  Narsimma: Will you swear to respect dalits?

  [All five nod in agreement.]

  M adanna: It's the revolutionary decree of this adalat to tattoo ‘I respect dalits' on both their forearms. And for better effect, let it be capital D.

  [Exit: A stunned M uthyal Rao, Papa Rao, Rami Reddy, Papi Reddy and Shaukar Suryam are led away by Anna(l) and Anna(2) asthegathered applaud the judgment.]

  [Enter: Anna (3) with Nirmala.]

  Anna (3): Anna, this is Nirmala.

  Srisailam: What's your grievance?

  Nirmala: This Narsi Reddy has raped me.

  Srisailam: Yera Narsi Reddy, are you guilty of the charge?

  Narsi Reddy: Anna allow me to make amends by marrying her.

  Srisailam to Nirmala: Does that redress your grievance?

  Nirmala: It's not out of remorse that he proposes. He wants to save his skin, that's all. And the whole village knows he'sa habitual violator.

  Madanna: Let Narsi Reddy face the firing squad.

  Narsi Reddy: Peddanna, please.

  Narsimma: Not to take anything away from Nirmala's hurt; we may take Narsi Reddy's youth into account. It's true he's willing to atone for his sin only to save his skin but still.

  Srisailam: Anna, it's not some juvenile delinquency calling for leniency. It's his patwari mindset to debauch dalit women that we're dealing with.

  M adanna: What is our conscience keeper's say on this?

  Renuka: It's only fair that he serves a jail term as per law. But sadly our failed system lets him go scot-free. And that enables him to violate many more women, if not here, elsewhere . So to save the trauma of his likely victims, he should lose his life.

  M adanna: Let the sentence be carried out.

  [Exit: A stunned Narsi Reddy led away by Anna (3).]

  [Enter: Anna (1) and Anna (2) with Muthyal Rao, Papa Rao, Rami Reddy, Papi Reddy and Shaukar Suryam, amidst a hail of bullets.]

  Rami Reddy: Where is my son? What have you done to him?

  Srisailam: Well, he has got his deserts.

  Rami Reddy: Peddanna please let me see him.

  Madanna: Yeh, Patwari, sit still till all get their due. [To Sarakka] Well, are there any more charges against these fellows?

  Sarakka: I accuse M uthyal Rao, Papa Rao and Shaukar Suryam of having raped me.

  Narsimma: Are you guilty of the charge?

  [All the three nod in agreement}

  Narsimma: Any submissions by you?

  Shaukar Suryam: Annalu, we beg of you, pardon us and spare our lives.

  Yellaiah (From the gathering): Maisaiah too would have pleaded for his life, wouldn't he have?

  Narsimma: Well, what has the victim to say?

  Sarakka: They too must face the firing squad like Narsi Reddy, and for the same reason.

  Yellaiah: Only after they undergo the pain of seeing the gang-bang of their daughters.

  Gathering: Yah, Yah.

  M adanna: What's Renakka's take on this?

  Renuka: That would surely humiliate these thick-skinned but at the same time it amounts to punishing the innocent. Thus, violating their daughters is a crime against the girls and not a punishment for their lecherous fathers.

  Sarakka: Still they deserve to die, don't they?

  Renuka: Won't death make it easy for them. Why can't we imagine their life reminiscing over their humiliation? So it serves them well if they're spared to suffer. M oreover, putting them to death means punishing their wives for no fault of theirs.

  Madanna: But how's that?

  Renuka: Why, didn't these rascals' roving eye deny them as wives? And don’t we know what a shabby treatment awaits them as widows? If we kill their men, won't it be a double jeopardy for them?

  M adanna: But if let loose, won’t they stray again?

  Renuka: Not so if bailed on fidelity bonds.

  M adanna: What if they jump bail?

  Renuka: After all this, they are no fools not to see the writing on the wall.

  Srisailam: What have the guilty to say?

  [All three in turns]: I swear that I'll not stray again.

  M adanna: They may be let off but on parole.

  [All three in one voice]: Thank you peddanna, Thank you all.

  Narsimma: Not before spending a night or two in the banduldoddi. Let them have a taste of their own medicine.

  Srisailam: Why should the cattle there endure these rotten souls? Surely it makes a case of cruelty to animals, won't it?

  M adanna: True, but the cattle might have its own scores to settle with these fiends. Let the filthy five spend five days with them.

  Sarakka: Chief, but if ever it comes to light that these eyed a dalit woman, nay any woman, why not we cut off their staffs. Won't that take the stuffing out of these buggers, and justify their women sleeping with dalit men in full view of these eunuchs.

  M adanna: Let that be the caveat of the dalit adalat. If they misuse the reprieve, then it's death for them without further trial.

  [Even as their faces show relief all the guilty five bow their heads in shame.]

  [Enter: M allanna with Yadagiri and M aisamma, followed by two armed annalu.]

  M adanna: Anna, are the guilty brought to book?

  M allanna: As ordained, Anasuya and Saailu are executed.

  M adanna: This is for the information of all. It was decreed by the dalam that Anasuya and Saailu should face the firing squad for their anti-dalit activities, both being dalits. As all are aware of their nefarious activities, the charges against them need no repetition.

  Yadagiri: Though it pains me, I welcome the punishment to my wife and her brother whom I never considered as my daamaad. I'm sure it warns our black sheep as well.

  M adanna: Well, at dalit adalats it's all about fairness and firmness regardless of class. Let the world know that these are no kangaroo courts, and may history hail this as the Rampur Resolution.

  Nirmala: Isn't it still an unresolved resolution?

  M adanna: What makes you think so?

  Nirmala: Where's the succor to the abused women.

  M adanna: Well, before we come to grips with that let the condemned be led away to the banduldoddi.

  [Exit: M uthyal Rao, Papa Rao, Rami Reddy, Papi Reddy and Shaukar Suryam led away by Anna (1) and Anna (2) as the onlookers hoot them.]

  [Madanna confabulates with Mallanna, Srisailam and Narsimma in undertones.] M adanna: We reprerhend the taboo and like to lead by example. All those willing to take a revolutionary's hand can have their swayamvaram at our hideout. Let's see who leads whom to the altar. [Exit: Curtains down]

  Scene -15

  [Curtains up: M adanna - Nirmala, Narsimma - Renuka and M allanna - Sarakka (all in wedding attire) with Srisailam and members of the dalam in the jungle hideout of the scene -12 and 13. After mutual congratulations, M adanna and Nirmala exit with Srisailam and others.]

  Sarakka: What a day it is for us Renu, sorry, vadina.

  Renuka: Won't I prefer to tell your brother first.

  M allanna to Sarakka: Don't you take the cue from her?

  Sarakka: Don't worry you didn't m
arry a dumb either.

  [Exit: M allanna led away by Sarakka.]

  Narsimma: I thought I've lost you forever. [He takes Renuka into his arms.]

  Renuka: Let bygones be bygones baava.

  Narsimma: Oh, how your mother had played the spoilsport?

  Renuka: I think I solved the puzzle in the end. Like all our women, she too had to pander to the peddollu, which she did but with a difference. Unlike the others, she learned to exploit her exploiters to improve her lot. But sensing that the fancies of the patels are but passing clouds, she manipulated Papi Reddy into taking her as his concubine. Yet to cater to his roving eye, and to make him ingratiate to herself, she set her brother to pimp for him.

  Narsimma: Where did you pick up all the psychological threads from?

  Renuka: Why, from the ruins of my life. And to continue, she was too shrewd not to foresee that as her own charms wane, her influence on Papi Reddy would wean. Well, she knew that would take her back to square one of the dalit life, or worse. And to avert that from ever happening, she had this idea of making me his keep as Saailu's wife. In her scheme of things, the prospect of our marriage was but a red herring to her. Oh, how she spoiled her brother's and daughter's life to serve her own ends. That's why I felt she deserved to die, and not entitled to any mercy.

  Narsimma: Now I see the canvas fate had chosen to paint the picture of our misery. But how do you explain her hatred to my mother?

  Renuka: She came to hate aththa as she herself suffered in comparison. After all, aththa had a spotless image, and my mom knew how low her own moral stock was. In a way, she wanted to drag me into Papi Reddy's bed out of spite for your mother. She knew your mother loved me, and so she wanted to hurt her through my fall. And sadly she succeeded.

  Narsimma: Oh, how miserable it was craving for you in the bunduldoddi. The very thought of your plight deepened my sense of humiliation even more. Oh, how I cursed my life for its powerlessness to protect you.

  Renuka: When we were caught on the verge of freedom, I felt as if the ground beneath was giving way. But now, armed with your power, I feel secure in your arms. What is more, I feel fulfilled for I've left behind the pathos of my past.

  Narsimma: Renu, I didn't dare dream of our union, and holding you, still I'm unable to believe it.

  Renuka: Hi baava. [Pinches him] I always wanted to be your wife before I died. I don't know why but I had a premonition that we would come together, that is in spite of that fiasco of an escape. That's why, instead of dying, I married Saailu hoping to be your wife someday. But when he pushed me into that Papi Reddy's arms, I wanted to live for a different reason.

  Narsimma: What's that Renu?

  Renuka: Instead of dying a despaired dalit, I was obsessed with the idea of dying only at the threshold of dalit empowerment. In a way, that has become the fulcrum of my life and the purpose of my suffering. Now that I’ve a sense of power even, I shall use it against anyone who tends to spoil my vision.

  Narsimma: But then, why didn't you complain to M adanna earlier?

  Renuka: I knew he would rid me off Saailu but then what next. I didn't want to run from pillar to post as I've fixed my heart on you. But when Sarakka told me you joined his dalam, I didn't waste a moment, did I?

  Narsimma: Didn't I tell you that our love would script a unique story.

  Renuka: Oh, how the filthy five forbade us from marrying? But why didn't it occur to us to force them to witness our wedding? What a sorry figure they would've cut then?

  Narsimma: It's as if they didn't eat crow at the dalit adalat.

  Renuka: Well, but how could they be digesting that now?

  [As Narsimma takes her into his arms, lights go off. Curtains down]

  Scene -16

  [Curtains up: Muthyal Rao, Papa Rao, Rami Reddy, Papi Reddy and Shaukar Suryam sit morosely in to the courtyard of M uthyal Rao's gadi of scene -10.]

  Shaukar Suryam: What a relief, if it can be called so, to come out of the banduldoddi. What a five-day ordeal it was. Oh, how they turned our plight into a tamaasha for all. Didn't it turn out to be a tiranaala of our taluka? Can we raise our heads in our lifetime again? (Stares at his forearm) What a shame they added insult to injury. Our forefathers might be turning in their graves at our humiliation.

  Rami Reddy: What to say Shaukar Saab, with the death of my son, my family is deprived of its lineage as well.

  Papa Rao (Sniffs at his shoulders): What's left to bestow than the stink of the banduldoddi. Aren't you better off on that score?

  Shaukar Suryam: Perhaps, death is much preferable than to be shamed like this.

  Rami Reddy: But then, you were on your knees begging for life, didn't you?

  Shaukar Suryam: Don't tell me you stood your ground, even after they had killed your son.

  Rami Reddy: It's not as if they had let others go scot-free. Have you forgotten their staff and stuffing warning or what? Apart from handling the gun, these buggers are learning to handle the language as well, aren't they?

  Papa Rao: Why blame any? What can anyone do when they hold the gun and the sarkar is on the run? For that matter haven't we come to fear their shadow even? Well, did they stand guard at the banduldoddi? Yet didn't we fail to rescue ourselves from it though the S.P offered us police protection for the rest of our lives?

  Papi Reddy: Coming to Shaukar Saab, maybe, he wanted to save his skin to latch onto Lachhi who holdsswayon him.

  Sahukar Suryam: What about you Papi Reddy Patel? Haven't you lost your keep as well as your pimp, not to speak of the future upkeep?

  M uthyal Rao: You stop taking snipes at each other, will you? Before he arrives, let's work out a strategy to confront our M LA Venkataswamy. I want to get tough with him to see that he exerts pressure on the C.M. Isn't he known to brag about his closeness to him.

  Shaukar Suryam: Dora, I'm really out of my wits to apply my mind now. Its better we lay low for the time being.

  Papi Reddy: Wait and watch the next naxal order could be interest free loans, free of guarantees at that. Surely that makes you think, won't it?

  Papa Rao: Isn't it like their running a parallel regime?

  [Enter M allesam Gowd, the ex-M LA of the constituency]

  M uthyal Rao: Randi, Gowd garu.

  M allesam Gowd: I feel sad for all that has happened dora. But if only you people had seen the writing on the wall, it was all in the coming. You know while our party is committed to put an end to this naxal menace, all others pamper them for political gains. Don't you know why our party was humbled at the hustings, and how this party of opportunists came to rule? Was it not the fear of the naxal gun that turned away our voters from the polling booths? Now it's the payback time, and so the sarkar looks the other way even as the naxals are on the rampage. What else can you expect from a party that dabbles with the annalu to come to power and then goes soft on them to retain it? Well, it's the turn of the gentry to suffer now.

  M uthyal Rao: Gowd garu, what you say maybe true. Now our worry is how to keep things going our way without hindrance from them.

  M allesam Gowd: Don't you see it's already turning out to be a war between the haves and the have-nots?

  Papa Rao: Why doubt that?

  M allesam Gowd: Is it not said that everything is fair in love and war.

  Shaukar Suryam: What is sad, we're made to lose in our love life also, what do you say Papi Reddy Patel?

  M uthyal Rao: Oh, stop it Shaukar. It seems our Gowd garu has something up his sleeve.

  Papa Rao: Well, not for nothing he is a politician after all. You know how well Gowd garu ingratiates himself with the party high command. Win or lose, the party ticket is his, isn't it?

  M uthyal Rao: Let's come to the point Gowd garu.

  M allesam Gowd: As the naxals are helping the dalits to raise their heads, you can hurt them by hitting at their bellies, if not below their belts.

  M uthyal Rao: But how can we do that when we're on parole. Oh damn the dalit adalat and its Rampur Resolution.

&nb
sp; M allesam Gowd: Don't worry about that for they can't get wind of it. What if you set your crops on fire, and then blame it upon the naxals. As there will be no grain left on your farms for the dalits to lay their claim on, won't the pangs of hunger knock at the bottom of the naxal base? And as for you, you've enough to last for years, don’t you? Why not see this scorch earth strategy cutting both ways?

  M uthyal Rao: What a brilliant idea Gowd garu? What do you say Rami Reddy?

  Rami Reddy: Why, it's a case of hitting two birds at one shot. Besides, we can avenge ourselves at least to some extent.

  [Enter: An apologetically looking Venkataswamy, the current M LA.]

  M uthyal Rao: Swamy Saab, who is ruling the State, you people or the annalu?

  M allesam Gowd: Dora, didn't I tell you that it's the nexus of the naxals and the opportunists.

  Venkataswamy: Gowd garu, why fish in the troubled waters.

  M allesam Gowd: Isn't it like pot calling the kettle black?

  M uthyal Rao: Gowd garu's barbs apart, how do you explain the lawlessness, M LA saab?

  Venkataswamy: Well, I've spoken to the C. M. In fact, it was the other way round. He rang me up to express his distress at the episode, and said an emergency cabinet meeting was held to root out the naxal menace once and for all. To tackle these guys, soon an elite force of Greyhounds would be grounded.

  M allesam Gowd: Heard dora, Greyhounds of these greenhorns. Won't it make a case of balsam on self-inflicted wounds? They lifted the ban we had imposed upon them and held the so-called peace talks, that too when they came with their guns. They made merry with the carrots, and these are left holding their broken sticks.

  Shaukar Suryam: Sure it seems too little too late.

  Papi Reddy: By now, all know that whatever the politicians say against each other is only for the public consumption. When it comes to protecting each others interests, they're ever hand in glove, aren't they?

  Muthyal Rao: Whatever, Swamy Saab, now it's clear that your sarkar is running with the hares and hunting with the hounds. Well, it can't go on like this anymore. You've to take your pick, quickly at that. It's up to your party now.

  Venkataswamy: Dora, don't we know which side of the public bread has political butter?