The drama Jonmonir Swarga Jatra, presented by Naat-Kotha, was staged at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra auditorium, Guwahati on August 5. The play by noted playwright Harendra Nath Borthakur is based on a Russian tale and was directed by Manik Ahmed. The drama centres around the trials and tribulations in the lives of children, brought about by the demands of a materialistic life and its expectations. It revolves around the child protagonist Jonmoni (played by Abhilash Borthakur), and dwells on the myriad psychological disturbances a child faces when he is burdened by worries that his young shoulders cannot possibly bear.

The curtains rise to reveal the scene of a playground wherein a group of children is involved in play and frolicking to the tunes of the popular nursery rhyme Mary had a little lamb. The scene establishes the fact that childhood is all about innocent fun and social bonding. The next scene focuses on Jonmoni immersed in drawing and his elder sister Alaka (played by Thuria Saikia) introducing him as a kid who prefers the fun and frolic, typical of a child at that age, and who loves to draw rather than study. Jonmoni is drawing a flock of birds in his drawing book as he is very fond of birds.

The drama unfolds to show Jonmoni’s troubles, how he sits depressed after not faring well in his exam, and the way he is scared to return home after that. It also shows Jonmoni’s love for Nature, especially birds. He yearns to fly free like a bird and is saddened to see a bird kept in a cage. He questions the existence of happiness and wants to go to heaven to find it, as his grandmother had once told him that heaven is the place where true happiness exists. Such is the frustration brought about by his miseries that he insists on going to heaven and hence stops eating so as to die early. Everyone at home gets worried about Jonmoni and then an old man comes to the rescue of the family and lulls him to sleep.

During his sleep, a dream like sequence is evoked to create a pseudo-heaven, where Alaka’s playmates act as fairies and a conversation ensues amongst them. Jonmoni is convinced that his wish has been granted and he asks the fairies about heaven. Eventually, he comes to realise that even though heaven is devoid of any cares, yet it doesn’t have the precious fragments of happiness that life on earth offers. Realising this, Jonmoni is eager to return to earth as he comes to accept that life on earth, inspite of all the sorrows, is better than heavenly existence.

The drama ends on a symbolic note, with the old man freeing the bird in the cage and the children shouting with glee. The last scene dwells on the very essence of childhood, which should be kept synonymous with freedom just like the birds, which fly unfettered and free. The best period in one’s life should not lose its charm and become beset with earthly cares.

The drama has been competently directed by Manik Ahmed, with Koushik Borbora ably assisting him. Manik Ahmed, well known in the world of Assamese drama, has been working in this field since 1984. He has to his credit a number of stage as well as radio drama productions. He has directed plays like Siraj (Phani Sharma), Haati Aru Phandi (Munin Bhuyan), Bornadho (Prafulla Govinda Baruah), Balimahir Kotha (Harendranath Borthakur), etc.

The other artistes in the play were Babylona Rajkumari, Syeda Tanaz, Neha Muhib, Madhusmita Barua, Siwansisa Dutta, Upama Kalita, Murchana Hazarika, Likumoni Kalita, Upasana Kalita, Ananya Rajbongshi, Kankana Bharadwaj, Kumar Gunjan, Umar Raja, Motibur Rahman, Deepjyoti Das, Neela Saikia, Jeena Rajkumari Goswami, Rupam Chetia and Umakanta Sonowal. The persons who were involved in making the play a wonderful treat for the audience were Manik Ahmed for lighting of the stage, Pratap Sharma (music), Bandita Bora and Sangita Bora (lyrics), with dance choreography, make-up and costumes by Jeena Rajkumari Goswami and production control by Monirul Islam.

As I left the hall, the words of a song that was sung during the course of the play kept ringing in my ears: Chorai chorai,/Nothou tuk,/Rupor sojat bhorai... that spoke all for itself...

Sushmita Lahkar