Nishi Chawla’s play, “Indira,” focuses on some personal aspects of the life of the former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. The play is hinged on a simple theme - the concept of idealism.
The playwright has explored the concept of idealism through the character of Indira Gandhi who is not seen in the play at all until only toward the end. The playwright has examined Indira’s life in phases, from her childhood (which reveals some of the core elements of her personality), to
womanhood, to older age and her death. Nishi Chawla hopes to offer a glimpse into a more personal Indira, including her vulnerabilities and her raw spots. She has tried to attribute her decisions - many unpopular - to the double-edged sword that is idealism. Finally, she has tried to
dissect a female leader for who she is and how she is perceived. Nishi Chawla believes that female leadership is a unique animal, viciously scrutinized for its inability to fit the historic mold of maledominated institutions. She has tried to make Indira a human being, and in so doing, expose the
double standards we apply to women in leadership. However, as a playwright, her primary emphasis remains in making her reader / audience re-examine the dynamics of Idealism as a philosophical concept. Nishi Chawla has also rejuvenated the concept of the Chorus that she has
used for her own creative purposes in her play. The Chorus comments on the action as well as offers a unique lens on the life and personality of Indira Gandhi.
The play was premiered in the Washington D.C. metro area in October / November 2015 by Global Performing Arts, and by Shilpi Marwaha in New Delhi in 2019.