Jan 30, 2012
Over 500 members from Georgia’s mainstream and Asian American ethnic communities lent their full support to the fund-raiser play ‘Gandhi ‘by Syam Yellamraju-a full length drama tribute in English, organized by The Gandhi Foundation of USA as a befitting birthday dedication to Martin Luther King Jr.; at the Georgia Tech Robert Ferst Center for the Arts on Sunday January 16, 2012. The historic occasion was graced by the presence of Consul-General of India in Atlanta, Hon.Ajit Kumar and the City of Sandy Springs, Mayor Eva Galambos.City& County officials, and other dignitaries.
Emcee and Program Director, Ms. Krishna Kesavarapu welcomed all and invited India American Cultural Association (IACA) Chairperson Padma Rallapalli on stage who in her brief history of The Gandhi Foundation of USA, said, “The Gandhi Foundation of USA was founded in 1997. The purpose of the Foundation is to link Gandhi and King and promote their respective messages of Peace and Non-violence while establishing a meaningful continuity in honoring both Gandhi and King beyond the symbols such as the Statue. The cooperative efforts of the National Federation of Indian American Association (NFIA), and partner organizations with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)/ Embassy of India, resulted in the installation and dedication of the Statue of the Mahatma in the Martin Luther King National Historic Site on January 24, 1998 by the Hon.Andrew Young, the late Giriraj Rao and many others. In 1997, Gandhi Room at the King Center was refurbished under the direct supervision by the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King.
Razdan said that the historical masterpiece “Gandhi’ by Syam Yellamraju is a fundraiser to help GFUSA implement its plans for a Gandhi Center and Gandhi Institute in the triangle of peace in metro Atlanta-Carter Center, King Center and possibly Gandhi Center.” Commenting on the play Gandhi, Subash complimented Syam Yellamraju, saying”
Mayor Eva Galambos congratulated Gandhi Foundation for its wonderful initiative in putting up the play. “Tomorrow when we observe M.L.K.Day, we will remember Gandhi Foundation’s mission of promoting King and Gandhi philosophy.”
Council member Karen Richardson from the City of Johns Creek also expressed her appreciation.
After extending a very warm welcome to Hon.Ajit Kumar, Razdan said, “I am glad to inform you that very soon we will see a grand opening of the Indian Consulate in Atlanta (applause). I exhort you all to lend your total support to the Consulate.
Hon.Ajit Kumar began his keynote address by congratulating Syam Yellamraju for presenting this play. “We invariably recall Gandhi’s message when we are faced with events and choices that leaders and people make in response to challenges when changing course. Gandhi’s life and examples speak for themselves. Gandhi bequeathed to us three guiding principles-the trinity of ahimsa or non-violence, Satyagraha or Truth-force and Sarvodaya or the upliftment of all. It is the value of these principles that we have to re-discover if we want to live peacefully in today’s world. Intolerance is a form of violence. Nonviolence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapons of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man. Gandhi gave a simple way to judge our actions when in doubt. He said: " apply the following test: Recall the face of the poorest and weakest man you have seen and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him. Will he gain anything by it? Will it restore him to a control over his own life and destiny? “M.L.K.Jr.when on his trip to India, in his radio address had reflected: ‘‘Gandhi’s principles are as inescapable as the law of gravitation’’
Hon.Ajit Kumar continued, “I would also like to quote President Obama on what he conveyed through his message on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti in 2009 – “Americans owe an enormous measure of gratitude to the Mahatma. His teachings and ideals, shared with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his 1959 pilgrimage to India, transformed American society through our civil rights movement. The America of today has its roots in the India of Mahatma Gandhi and the nonviolent social action movement for Indian independence which he led”.
Concluding his speech, he said” The power of peaceful means to seek justice; the effectiveness of non-violence in countering force; respect for diversity within and between societies; fighting social prejudices and promoting social reforms; conservation of nature; probity in public life; and, simplicity in personal life, are enduring ideas that can help us address many problems of the contemporary world."
Giving a brief overview of the play, Ms. Krishna Kesavarapu said that ‘Gandhi’ drama is an educational event on Gandhian philosophy. The 16 episodes, with a cast of 33 local actors (some playing multiple roles) take the viewer to 1890s South Africa, and early 1900s in India, culminating with the tragic scene when Gandhi is assassinated by a distraught Hindu. The script was developed based on an extensive research inclusive of many of the well-recognized writings of Martin Luther King,Jr.;Gandhi,Jinnah,Paramhansa Yogananda;original audio and video clippings etc.
The show opens in February 1959 with Martin Luther King Jr.’s visit to a school in Kerala ,where the Principal introduces him to the Dalit students,” I would like to present to you a fellow untouchable from the USA.”At first King was shocked and peeved that he was referred to as an untouchable but then he thought about the wretched plight of the over 20 million blacks in the USA and said to himself, “Yes, I am an untouchable, and every Negro in the United States of America is an untouchable.” In the play , King(Barry Carter) is the narrator. Carter with his forceful delivery has done a splendid job in essaying King’s role. Mohan Das Gandhi(Swaroop Nyshadham) commands the stage with his stellar performance. In the play he delivers thought-provoking nuggets of Gandhi’s wisdom. The audience is able to witness the infamous incident when Gandhi was thrown out of the train in South Africa ,which resolved him fight against the unjust apartheid. (The use of train on stage is really striking).The play depicts the iconic Dandi March(reported world-wide including in the U.S.by U.P.correspondent Webb Miller(Mike Groto),. Scenes depicting Gandhi’s fight against the unjust ‘Pass Law’ and “Smuts Law” in South Africa ,redress for the farmers in Champaran,Jalianwala Bagh massacre; Swadeshi movement against British manufactured goods, visit of famed American photographer Margaret Bourke-White(Angel) from Life magazine; and Mirabehn’s(Brittny Trawick) arrival in Sabarmati are engrossing. The play had some light moments, especially in amusing exchanges between Gandhi and Kasturba. Once, when a mosquito bites Gandhi, he quips, “ Mosquitoes do not know ahimsa! In a touching scene, a Hindu father who has lost his son faces Gandhi who advises him to raise a Muslim boy as his own and that too as a Muslim boy. Gandhi ends his fast as the rioting between Hindus and Muslims(causing heavy casualties in both communities)ends. Jinnah demands separate homeland and the play ends with heartrending scene where Gandhi is fatally shot.
The episodes in the two and half hour fast- paced play are presented in a quick succession. Sardar Patel(Ajay Viswanathan),Prof.Gokhale(Anand Date),Rajender Singh (Arul Chutani);Webb Miller(Mike Groto) Mirabehn(Brittny Trawick)Kasturi Ba(Neeta Shenvi);Jawaharlal Nehru(Raza Shah),Jinnah(Sriram Iyer),Sarojini Naidu(Rita Kapahi),excel in their small but significant roles.
The backdrops on two giant screens, background music ,authentic sets and period costumes, and imaginative props add a luster to the play.
After GFUSA Executive Director Antony Thaliath thanked all including Sponsor Dr.J.J.Shah, Palace Restaurant, Raj Razdan for the bouquets, Syam Yellamraju and the entire team behind the play.
Kudos to Atlanta’s well-known,respected,and versatile and dedicated performing arts producer, writer and director, Syam Yellamraju, for presenting yet another gem of a play. The Atlanta community got a rare treat and an unforgettable experience of watching ‘Gandhi’, which is a MUST SEE play, which undoubtedly deserves repeat staging.
By Mahadev Desai
