The Second Crucifixion - Larry Collins & Dominique Lapierre

The director of A.I.R anticipated that terrible violence would erupt if Gandhi’s assassin turned out to be a Moslem. So he took the responsible decision of ordering the programmes to continue as normal. He announced the death of Gandhi by a Hindu assassin only at six o’clock, nearly 40 minutes after the event, when sufficient security arrangements had been made in all places.

On hearing the news of Gandhiji’s death, Louis Mountbatten rushed to Birla house where his body was kept. Mountbatten could not recognize Gandhi, with his spectacles removed. Gandhi’s look was full of repose and his features were as peaceful and composed as in life. He thought that Mahatma Gandhiji will be remembered in history on par with Buddha and Christ because he had sacrificed his life like them for the sake of mankind.

Mountbatten went up to Nehru and Patel and told them about Gandhiji’s dying wish. Gandhiji had been greatly worried that two of his supporter’s Patel and Nehru were drifting apart. Mountbatten informed Patel and Nehru that Gandhiji had asked him to prevail upon them to forget their differences and work together. Moved by this message, the two leaders embraced each other.

On hearing the news of Gandhiji’s death, the whole nation was filled with sorrow and silence. To mourn the Mahatma, the hearths in villages were cold. The streets of the cities of Bombay and Calcutta wore a deserted look. In Pakistan millions of women shattered their baubles and trinkets to show their grief. In some places mobs tried to attack the buildings of Hindu mahasabha and R.S.S villagers started marching towards Delhi to mourn the leader.

Mountbatten planned to carry Gandhiji’s embalmed body in a special funeral train throughout the country. So that millions of people could have a last darshan of their leader. But pyarelal Nayar ended the idea by pointing out that Gandhiji had clearly wanted his body to be cremated within twenty four hours of his death in accordance with Hindu tradition.

Mountbatten suggested engaging the military for organizing and conducting the funeral procession, as there would be a very huge crowd. Nehru and patel were shocked at thus suggestion as Gandhiji was always against war and violence which was the profession of the military. Mountbatten convinced them by saying that Gandhiji admired the military’s discipline and they finally selented .

Filled with tears Nehru announced the death of Gandhiji on the radio. He said that “THE LIGHT HAD GONE OUT OF OUR LIVES” as the Bapu is dead. But he corrected himself and said that the light will be always seen as it represented the eternal truths of life guiding us in the right path.

The most memorable tribute to Gandhiji was paid by the Hindustan herald .Its editorial page was left bank ringed by a black border. At its centre in bold letters there was a single paragraph which described the killing of Gandhiji as” A SECOND CRUCIFIXON” in the history the world enacted on the same day-Friday-on which Jesus was killed.

The India of My Dreams - Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi (1917-1984) was the first woman prime minister of India. She was drawn into the freedom movement at an early age. She became the prime minister in 1966 and continued in that position until her death in 1984, except for the period (1977-1980). According to Indira Gandhi the environment issues like population explosion, poverty, ignorance, disease, environmental pollution and proliferation of nuclear weapons are independent systems forming vicious circle. Hence they cannot be tackled by isolation .the human environment is also a part of this system.

Women keep themselves isolated, unmindful of the vast changes taking place in the modern world shackled by pre-conceived nations; she is unaware of her political abilities. A lower status for women is a handicap for the growth of mankind. So she should strive for equality in all spheres. Conditioned by the male dominated society women judge themselves by the norms made by men and compare themselves with men. But Indira Gandhi does not want women to imitate men. But she wants both men and women get liberated from outdated thoughts and habits and strive to create a better society.

Women of lower economic levels and tribals enjoy more freedom and less inequality. It is the middle class women who are bound by rigid custom and social attitude. Indira Gandhi was surprised when she saw women of Manipur dealing with marketing and occupying themselves in civic duties. Our national movement vastly accelerated the emancipation of women. Thanks to leaders like Gandhiji and Nehru, a large number of women were drawn into the freedom struggle and they went to prison and actively participated in the organisational work. This induced men to join the movement in great numbers.

Right from boyhood discrimination is made between boys and girls, in the choice of colours, toys and in manners. This creates certain prejudges in the child’s mind, blocking his freewill. All girls did not go to school. Certain things were considered unsuitable for girls. Hence women in public life suffer from a feeling of inferiority. What is remarkable about India is that women of character who have been able to break through the barriers and prejudices have been accepted by the public without questions. Beside the visible subordinate role allotted to women, they were looked upon as a symbol of energy, the active principle.

The Pie and the Tart - Hugh Chesterman

Jean and Pierre are beggars. As the play opens, they pity themselves for not having taken food for the past few days. Pierre and Jean are roaming in the street because they do not have a house. They both talk about their troubles. Pierre says that he was arrested for begging and the judge did not consider him as a human being. They both plan to get some food by begging.

They both decide to go to different streets and beg. Jean goes to Gaultier’s bakery shop and knocks the door. Gaultier scolds him and shuts the door. On the other street, Jean knocks the back door of the bakery and Marion, Gaultier’s wife, scolds him. Gaultier comes out of the house with Marion and says that he is going to dine with the Mayor. He says that he would send a person to take the eel pie from the shop for dinning. Gaultier says that the person would kiss her hand to get the pie. Marion agrees for the plan.

Jean hears their plan. He asks Pierre to kiss Marion’s hand and get the pie. Pierre goes to the bakery and says that Gaultier sends him and he tries to kiss her hand. Marion believes him and gives him the pie. Both Jean and Pierre enjoy eating the pie. They both like the pie very much. Pierre says that he say a tart in their house and asks Jean to get the tart as he got the pie.

In the meanwhile, Gaultier comes home angrily and says that the mayor is not home. He asks Marion to give the eel pie. Marion says that she has given it to a person. Gaultier scolds her for being a stupid. At this time, Jean comes to the door asking for the tart. Gaultier beats and asks for the pie. Jean says that Pierre got the pie. He also brings Pierre to Gaultier.

Pierre comes there and says that he gave the pie to the mayor, who came home just then. He says that the mayor asked for the tart. Gaultier feels happy. He is cheated by giving the tart to Pierre.

The Boy Comes Home – A.A. Milne

The play takes place in the hall at Uncle James home. As the play opens, we find Philip who has come away from Army life and he is now staying with his uncle. He is demanding for breakfast but Mary (servant) refused to give him breakfast and said, as per uncle James schedule the time is 8 o’clock and she must get permission from Mrs. Higgins (cook) to give breakfast after 8 o’clock. Just then, Aunt Emily enters and enquires about Philip work and whether he had breakfast or not. He complains about Mrs. Higgins refusal for breakfast. When Mrs. Higgins enters, Philip argues with her and finally he tares the cheque of 45 pounds and offers to Mrs. Higgins and asks her to leave from the job. This gives a shock to her and she says that she won’t leave the job and will do whatever he needs.

Uncle James enters and starts scolding Philip for his laziness. Then he warns Philip, not to smoke before him and threatens him to be punctual. There starts an argument between them about his future. Philip wants to study Architect but his uncle forces him to join his Jam business. Philip demands for money to stay out and also demands for his property. Uncle James advices him that he will get his property when he will become 25years old and he also advices him that it is not a right age to study instead it is better to join into business. Philip gets angry and suddenly takes of his Pistol and points to his uncle James head. Uncle James gets scar about his activity. Next day, he says to Philip to study what he likes. Finally Philip gets realize and says to his uncle what ready to join in Jam business. When Philip was in Army, he was punctual and discipline but comes to home he changes his attitude like lazy. Finally his uncle James changed him to be punctual and obeyed.

The Dear Departed - Stanley Houghton

Stanley in his one act play tries to bring out the qualities of the two daughters called Mrs. Slater & Mrs. Jordan towards their father. The author tries to show how the sisters are interested in the property of their father rather than to show true care and affection towards their father. The play begins with Mrs. Slater who is dressed in black demands her husband Henry and her daughter to be in black dresses as a symbol of mourning. The hero of the play Abel who is sick and bedridden is taken as a dead person and she starts dividing the properties of her father.

The three things Mrs. Slater takes from his father’s property, first she took his Slippers and asks her husband Henry Slater to wear it. Second is Clock, it was in the upstair in his room, and then it has been shifted to her ground floor and third one is Bureau. After all arrangement and shifting, her sister Mrs. Jordan and her husband Ben Jordan enter there for Mr. Abel’s mourning. Mrs. Slater asks them to have something like coffee or tea before seeing their father’s dead body and they start to discuss about the property of his father. Mrs. Jordan asks to her sister about Bureau and Clock to be there. Mrs. Slater tells her, it has been gifted by her father, before his death.

They plan to see the will, so Victoria Slater goes to get the Bureau key in the upstair her Grandfather’s room and she tells, he is alive and coming. Abel asks them about their black dress and shifted things. Mrs. Jordan explains to him all what happened. Then Able understands about their interest to get his property and he says, going to marry a woman who take care him up to end. He says, three things going to do on next day. First he has to change his property to his new wife and should pay the premium in Insurance office and last he has to go St. Philip’s Church to marry Mrs. John Shorrock who is a widow and living in Ring-O- Bells place. Finally Abel says thanks to Mrs. Slater for shifted the Bureau down because that will be easy to carry to Ring-O-Bells and the dear departed from there.