A Mashal from Manipur

As theatre artiste Ojas S V comes to the city with her one-act-play ‘Le Mashale’ based on the ‘iron lady of Manipur,’ Irom Sharmila, the activist who has been on indefinite hunger strike for the last 13 years. The play unfolds the atrocities faced by the activist in many walks of her life

The play ‘Le Mashale’ starts with all the redundant issues like lack of basic infrastructure and transportation. But, what strike one’s mind is, ‘as a state, Manipur has not been mentioned in our national anthem’!

“Well, there is nothing against Rabindranath Tagore, but if you think about it from a nationalist’s point of view, you will understand the ignorance,” said the actor-director Ojas.

She continued, “North–East was never a part of the freedom movement, which was led by the national congress. And that is the reason why we do not get to see anything about that place in our history book. As a child, AP used to stand for Andhra Pradesh for me, not Arunachal Pradesh.”

The storyline of the Hindi-English play is based on true facts and original footage of some incidents (like the ‘Nude protest’ of 2004 in Manipur) which has been compiled from different sources like, ‘ Meari Paibi’ movement, the book ‘Burning Bright: Irom Sharmila and the struggle for peace in Manipur by Deepti Priya Mehrotra.

The flow of the play has been woven with many fragments of Irom Sharmila’s life as an activist which starts from the Malom Massacre of 2000, that drives her to begin with her indefinite hunger strike.

The strike continued despite the death of Thangjam Manorama Devi, one of her supporters, the repeal of AFSPA [Armed Forces (Special Power) Act 1958] and so on.

Since the script has many adult dialogues, Ojas has taken the responsibility of the words and content of the same. “Coming from a cosmopolitan background, it was not easy for me to relate with such concept of society where they treat women in a deplorable way.

But that is the reality there; I have experienced the same, after coming face to face with the real situation of Manipur. Paramilitary forces are raping and killing Manipuri women every now and then!” shared the artist who hails from Pune.

But wasn’t there any other way of raise the issue except ‘Nude Protest’ or hunger strike? “Think about the lady who was raped and killed by the soldiers of Assam Rifles?

Does the government need more testaments?” she questioned. “Nude Protest’ or hunger strikes were an action of the expression… expression of anger”, she added.

However, the choreography, different props and the performances were so impactful that the audience was left with damp eyes. Though Ojas’ highly energetic performance covered up all her flaws, the Thang-Ta and dance section could have better with a neat composition.

Once Sharmila, the Mengoubi said that her hunger strike is not a political strategy or a way of punishing myself as they (Government) have arrested her with the charge of ‘Attempt to suicide’; but “I have a right on my body that I have devoted to bring peace in Manipur.”

Ojas, who is inspired by the philosophy of Sharmila, said “My play is not a campaign or to create a sensation in people’s mind, but to create awareness about the movement of a lady of our generation; showing the real situation of a part of our country about which the mainstream media does not talk much!”