Dramatization : Strong Roots
Dramatization : Strong Roots
H.S. English Project : Dramatization of a story
H.S. English Project : Strong Roots - A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Stage preparation :- The stage should be decorated in such a way that it looks like a typical twentieth century house. There will be very simple lighting and very simple furniture in the room.
SCENE : ONE
When the screen rises, it is seen that Kalam is studying with one mind.
Father: Kalam, have you eaten son ?
Kalam: Yes father , I ate.
Father : What do you eat today?
Kalam : Rice , aromatic sambar , pickle and a dollop of fresh coconut chutney . Mother gave the food in banana leaf. Honestly, eating from a banana leaf is very tasty. But father ………
Father : What ?
Kalam : Why does mother feed so many outsiders every day?
Father : Your mother Ashiamma is a noble woman. The outsiders are very poor . So your mother feeds them .
Kalam : Really , mother is a noble woman.
Father : ok , P.L. Sastry will come soon. I have a lot of discussions with him. Now I go.
Kalam : Father , who is Sastry uncle ?
Father : He is the high priest of Rameswaram temple and a very close friend of mine.
Kalam : One thing I like very much is that we do not have any religious conflict between Hindus and Muslims here.
Father : Yes it is true. Rameswarm is so famous to pilgrims. Our locality is predominantly Muslim, but there are quite a lot of Hindu fafamilies too , living amicably with their Muslim neighbours. There is no communal conflict.
Kalam : Father , I want to make a confession in front of you.
Father : Confession !
Kalam : You would take me to the old mosque for evening prayers everyday . But I have not the faintest idea of the meaning of the Arabic prayers chanted, but I am totally convinced that they reached God.
Father : That is enough for your age ,son.
SCENE : TWO
Four to five people are present on the stage. They are all talking to Kalam's father about their problems. Each of them has a bowl in their hand. Kalam's father listens attentively to everyone's problems.
People 1 : Sir, my son has no interest in studies.
People 2 : My son is very scared at night.
People 3: There is a lot of unrest in my family.
Father : Put your trust in God. Everything will be fine.
[ Saying this, Kalam’s father put his finger in each bowl and recited a prayer .
Father : Take this water home and feed it. It contains God's mercy. Everything will be fine.
People 1 & 2 & 3 : Thank you sir !
Father : Thank only to Allah , the merciful .
[ Kalam had been watching everything with deep attention for so long. As soon as the outsiders left, he started talking to his father. ]
Kalam : Father , what is the relevance of prayer which you just did ?
Father : There is nothing mysterious about prayer. Rather, prayer made possible a communion of the spirit between people . When you pray , you transcend your body and become a part of the Cosmos , which knows no division of wealth , age , caste or Creed.
Kalam : Why don’t you say this to the people who came to you for help and advice ?
[ Father put his hands on Kalam’s shoulders and looked straight into his eyes . For quite some time he said nothing .]
Father : Whenever human beings find themselves alone , as a natural reaction , they start looking for company. Whenever they are in trouble , they look for someone to help them. Whenever they reach an impasse , they look to someone to show them the way out. Every recurrent anguish , longing , and desire finds its own special helper . For the people who come to me in distress , I am but a go - between in their effort to propitiate demonic forces with prayers and offerings . This is not a correct approach at all and should never be followed . One must understand the difference between a fear - ridden vision of destiny and the vision that enables us to seek the enemy of fulfillment within ourselves .
Kalam : Why do we exist ? Why are people suffering so ?
Father : In his own time , in his own place , in what he really is , and in the stage he has reached - good or bad - every human being is a specific element within the whole of the manifest divine Being . So why be afraid of difficulties , sufferings and problems ? When troubles come , try to understand the relevance of your sufferings . Adversity always presents opportunities for introspection.
SCENE : THREE
[ Kalam is old now. He is around 60 years old. ]
Kalam : In my childhood my father’s answer to my question filled me with a strange energy and enthusiasm. In Fact I have , throughout my life , tried to emulate my father in my own world of science and technology. I have endeavoured to understand the fundamental truths revealed to me by my father, and feel convinced that there exists a divine power that can lift one up from confusion , misery , melancholy and failure , and guide one to one’s true place . And once an individual severs his emotional and physical bond , he is on the road to freedom , happiness and peace of mind .
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