Independence Day Report - Swaarajya (Rule of the Self) 15th August 2005

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Independence Day Report

Swaarajya (Rule of the Self) 15th August 2005

Patriotic fervour was seen at its best when the students of Sri Sathya Sai

Institute of Higher Learning enacted a drama titled Swaarajya, which conveyed

the theme that Bharat would attain its true independence (Swaraajya) only when

people eschewed the six evil qualities, which had actually imprisoned them and

damaged the moral fabric of Bharat.

The backdrop of the drama depicted the map of India bound by iron manacles,

unable to escape from the clutches of the British rule. But at the end of the

drama the iron chains are snapped, which meant that people have really attained

Swaarajya under Bhagawan's loving guidance, having won over the evil qualities

of Kama (desire), Krodha (anger), Lobha (greed), Mada (pride), Moha (delusion)

and Matsarya (jealousy). The drama was divided into different scenes. The first

part consisted of scenes portraying the pre-independence era and the second, the

post-independence era.

The drama began with a dance sequence. Then an old man appears on the scene and

talks highly of the glorious past of Bharat addressing Bharat Matha (Mother

India), and decrying the present state of affairs.

In the next scene, the audience is transported to the pre-independence time.

Portrayal of Alluri Sitaramaraju, the freedom fighter from Andhra Pradesh takes

the centre stage. He had the support of local tribals and opposed the British

rule with all his might. He was killed in the struggle, but not before he

proclaimed that every drop of his blood would give rise to many more such

Alluri Sitaramarajus to fight for the country's freedom.

Another scene depicts illustrious freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit

Jawaharlal Nehru, Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Sardar Vallabhai Patel. They discuss

as to how to fight the British and achieve freedom. An armed struggle by the

Bharatiyas would be no match to the British might. Mahatma Gandhi says an eye

for an eye would only make the world blind. So, they decide to wage a

non-violent struggle through the policy of non-violence. They decide to boycott

all that was run by the British - to stop working for British administration and

their factories.

In Bihar, at a place called Chowri Chowra, 22 British policemen are gruesomely

killed by the armed extremists. This upset Gandhiji and made him rethink on the

policy of non-cooperation. He even felt repentant since he was spearheading the

freedom movement. But others did not to his view. Then Gandhiji

resorts to continuous fasting, which made everybody relent and accept his

viewpoint.

Even the physically challenged wanted to participate in the freedom struggle. A

blind boy was repeatedly asking his father about his wish to participate in the

freedom movement. His father was trying to make him understand his physical

condition. But the boy was resolved in his stand.

A father with his son goes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and offers his eldest

son's earnings. He is even prepared to sell his lands for the cause of freedom

struggle. But Netaji is unmoved and wants his son to participate in the freedom

struggle. Thus illustrates the saying, "Men are more valuable than all the

wealth of the world."

The next scene shows Bhagat Singh, Jatinda and a few others in jail fasting unto

death to express their solidarity against the British rule. When one of them

asks for a glass of water, he is offered a pot of milk and accepting it would

amount to breaking the fast. All of them are in the throes of thirst. So, in

that condition, the prisoner is driven to accept the milk, but the others

vehemently dissuade him. They went without food and water for a number of days,

and finally Jatinda dies of starvation. All these incidents showed the valiant

sacrifices made by the freedom fighters.

The next scene shows India achieving freedom after all the struggle. This is

symbolically represented by the Indian Tricolour fluttering in the background.

The famous speech of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's Tryst with Destiny is played in

the background.

The cameraman and director who had successfully filmed the pre-independence

period and won a lot of accolades for their commendable effort are asked to

film the post-independence period too. Now the scene shifts to the

post-independence period. The cameraman and the director are inspired to

capture the moments of the post-independence era - the achievements of Bharat

after 58 years of independence. It is for this purpose that they visit a

village in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh.

A farmer in the village takes them round the village. They see the acute drought

conditions prevailing in the place. But still he offers his hospitality and

feeds the guests. At this time, the son of the farmer comes to him asking for

food. But the farmer sends him to his mother. The boy sheepishly reveals that

there is no food with his mother. The cameraman and director are moved by the

pathetical condition of the farmer and his large-heartedness in feeding the

guests in spite of his poverty. It is at this moment that the old man makes his

reappearance. His character is revealed to the audience as the spirit of Bharat.

He says that there is rampant corruption, rank materialism and religious

fanaticism in Bharat. Only when people give up the six evil qualities, can

Bharat achieve Swaarajya. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has come to show mankind

the path and lead man to his goal. At the end, National Anthem was sung by all

the participants. The audience too rose and

sung in unison the National Anthem of Bharat.

Thus came to a close a fine portrayal of the Independence struggle of Bharat.

Histrionic skills of the students came to the fore in this drama. In all

departments of stage acting, the drama was a tremendous success.

All the participants converged to offer their obeisance to Bhagawan. Swami

graciously posed for group photographs. The participants neatly arranged

themselves in small groups for the coveted occasion. The programme came to a

close with Arati to Bhagawan.

 

http://sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/independence_day_report.htm

 

 

Photographshttp://sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/Independence_day_05_Photos.htm

Independence Day Drama by SSSIHL Students 15-08-2005