CONTACT PLAYWRIGHT

Synopsis

Gopal, a young police constable, returns to his village, Mohagaon. However, he is not home on leave. The river Mari was being dammed up to generate power for an industrial giant. The villagers were opposing it. The protest turned violent after security guards opened fire. Most workers fled to safety but the chief engineer disappeared. Gopal, who is the sarpanch’s nephew, has been sent back home to investigate. Gopal’s reception at home is tepid. His mother is cagey. His sister is lying to him. Finally, a local news reporter reveals that the engineer was killed but there’s no proof. He offers a clue; when he was last seen, the engineer was arguing with a fisher-girl. Gopal has been trying to woo Jharna, a fisher-girl who ferries people across the river. She inadvertently reveals that it was she who fought with the engineer. Meanwhile, his dog, Kartoos, finds another clue – a Rolex watch. At a secret conference, his uncle takes responsibility for Gopal’s loyalty. The next day, Gopal’s dog is found drowned. He confronts Jharna, who tells him to take his questions home. His sister finally breaks down and tells Gopal the truth – the whole village is culpable. When his uncle asks him to pick a side, Gopal decides to leave the village with his family. His senior inspector, however, orders him to return to his duties. Gopal returns to Mohagaon. He has been asked to arrest Jharna, but he does not intend to. However, he is in uniform and the village elders believe that he has chosen to side with the police and the industrialists rather than with his own people. His uncle decides that Gopal must be sacrificed to protect everyone else. The play has been published by Dhauli Books as part of an anthology titled 'Three Plays', available on Amazon.

Duration

120   Minutes

No of characters

18