School stages play on Ramayana

Academics, politicos, officials and others from India, China, Pak and US came together for the conference, writes Shalini Narang.

Never did I think that I'd get to see a play on Ramayana 10,000 miles away from India. Like many Indians, I too have grown on the stories of the ancient epic and I remember debating and deliberating with friends and family on some of the actions and decisions of the protagonists in the tale.

I, too, have many sweet memories associated to the stories from the scripture. I remember many a summer vacation nights, lying under the cool evening sky in my maternal grandmother's house in Chandigarh, my cousins and I would huddle around our grandfather to hear again and again the myriad tales of Ramayana. Our father's precise description of Sita was such that we were transformed to a different world.

Strange are the ways of life and stranger are the outcomes. After many an unexpected or unplanned experiences, I have come to believe that it is best to accept life in all of its colors and contours, vicissitudes, nadirs and zeniths and everything else.

More on philosophy of life later, for now, let me tell you about the play presented by the students of Mount Madonna School at the World Theatre of the California State University at Monterey on June 9, 10 and 11.

The showcase of the play on the holy scripture by the members of the Hanuman Fellowship Center- a non-profit organisation founded by the students of Baba Hari Dass and Mount Madonna School (an affiliation of the Hanuman Fellowship Center) is the oldest presentation in a theatrical work on the ancient epic in US.

Speaking about the introduction of the play, Sarada Diffenbaugh, principal of the school, says, "Ramayana was introduced by our teacher and yoga master Baba Hari Dass. In 1972, students of Hanuman Fellowship performed at Yoga Retreats and then at various venues including universities. Initially, some children were members of the predominately adult cast but in 1979, the school commenced a production with the students and other children making up the cast.

After running parallel productions for several years, the school show has evolved as an exclusive program. Parents and teachers of the students and members of the Hanuman Fellowship Centre help in behind-the-scene activities.

The play has grown to be the annual largest school event of the year in which the entire school participates. On lines of the popular Ramlila genre, the preschoolers take part as forest animals and work their way through various small parts as dancers, singers, monkeys, demons, and martial artists to lead players in their high school years.

The presentation commenced with introduction of Shiva and Parvati as the narrators and the invocation to Goddess Saraswati by the entire cast of around 180 students. Amidst elaborate stage decorations and traditional costumes, the story of the scripture was narrated in an amusing and entertaining manner. Though the purists of the tale may find many important details and moral lessons missing, yet, the principle for pleasure was viewing the production as primarily a children's performance with the purpose of entertainment more than the showcase of moral lessons.

The enthusiastic uptake of the ancient scripture of the orient by school students in US as a subject of its performing arts program and the long run that the effort has enjoyed is enthralling. Though the artistic merit of the production can be enhanced in various dimensions, the showcase of the long and difficult tale in less than four hours seemed a Herculean achievement in its own way.

Sampad Martin Kachuck, in his 23rd year directing the Ramayana, says, "It is a great play. I like the story and the opportunities that it provides for different ages. I love to see the kids work together. The older kids take responsibility for the play because they want it to succeed and help the younger children with makeup, costumes, cues, handholding, etc. Every year, we adjust the script, song choices, and dance design."

On the plain of set grandiose and costume glamour, the play left nothing more to ask for. All ingredients of children's entertainment were present and adults basked in the efforts and resulting pleasure of the young artists.