WINTER by Amjad Prawej

An old lady is sitting on a chair and knitting. Guddi enters running.

Guddi: Grand ma! Grand ma! We are here.
Grand Ma: Be careful Guddi. You will trip and fall.
She embraces Guddi and kisses her.
Enter Babloo. He looks disappointed.
Guddi: I won! I won! I touched Grand Ma first.
Babloo: You started running on two. You are a cheater.
Guddi: No, I am not.
Grand Ma: Stop fighting. Come here Babloo. (She kisses him) You both are
winners.
Enter Rupak and Sandhya.
Sandhya: My God, these kids! They are uncontrollable. Stop harassing grand
ma. Go play in the garden. Hello Ma (Mother).
Grand Ma: Hello. How was the drive? Hello Rupak.
Rupak: Hello Ma.
Sandhya: It was as usual except the kids wouldn't stop planning and talking
about you.
Rupak: They get so excited and happy every time we plan on coming here.
Grand Ma: I can't thank you enough for bringing them here every month.
Seeing them makes me happy. Thank you for making this old and lonely lady
happy.
Sandhya: Don't say that ma. You have all the rights to see them. After all you
are the only grand ma they have.
Rupak: Besides, they are so happy to see you.
Enter Babloo and Guddi.
Babloo: Grand Ma! Look what I found.
Grand Ma: Its a caterpillar.

Guddi: I saw it first.

Sandhya: I will go put these things in the kitchen and make some tea.
Rupak: I will help you.
Exit Sandhya and Rupak.
Grand ma: One day this caterpillar will turn into a butterfly.
Babloo: Wow!
Guddi: It will have many colors!
Grand Ma: Yes it will. Now go put it on the window sill.
They release the caterpillar on the window sill and return to Grand Ma.
Babloo: Grand Ma, what story are you going to tell us tonight?
Guddi: Sindbad the sailor!
Babloo: But we have heard that before.
Guddi: So what? You play that same stupid video game everyday!
Babloo: It's not the same. There are different levels.
Guddi: It's the same.
Babloo: No it's not.
Guddi: Yes it is.
Grand Ma: I will tell you a new story tonight.
B & G: Yeeeeeeeee!!!
Grand Ma: Have you heard the story of Shravan Kumar?
Babloo: No Grand ma. Who is Shravan Kumar?
Grand Ma: He was the son of Shantnav and Gyanvati. He was a dutiful son and
is known for his devotion toward his parents. He was very obedient.
Guddi: Hmm... So he was not like Babloo?
Babloo: Huh.. As if you are like him. What did he do grand Ma?

Grand Ma: You will have to wait for me to tell the story tonight.
Babloo: I want to hear it now.
Guddi: I will wait till the story time Grand ma. See I am obedient.
Babloo: I am obedient too.
Guddi: No you are not.
Babloo: Yes I am.
Rupak: (Off stage) Babloo! Guddi! Come in here. Let Grand Ma have some rest.
Babloo and Guddi exit. Grand Ma goes back to her knitting. She knits for
sometime in silence. Deepak enters. He is carrying a shopping bag.
Deepak: Ma! Don't you ever get tired of knitting? (He hugs her)
Grand Ma: I am knitting sweaters for Guddi and Babloo. I am hoping to finish
before they come during their winter vacation.
Deepak: You'll ruin your eyes. Anyway, I got you some fruits and vegetables. I
also got you this new ointment for your knees. I hear it is really good. Please
massage every day.
Grand Ma: I will. How is your new job?
Deepak: Same as the old one. Slugging. It would be so different if I had an
MBA. But... I can't afford it... unless of course... (their eyes meet, he sighs) I
will put these in the fridge.
Exit Deepak. Grand Ma goes back to knitting again. Enter Geeta.
Geeta: How could you do that? I had been literally begging you to let me take a
loan on this house. But no, I was not as good as Sandhya or Rupak. And look
what they did to you! Their company is bankrupt and they have no means to
pay off their loan. Are you satisfied?
Grand Ma: (Smiles) How are you sweetheart?
Geeta: I am fine. Ashok and I are moving to Bangalore this month. He knows
someone there. It will be a struggle in the beginning.(Silence...) Ma... I
would've asked you to come but...
Grand Ma: I know beta (son). Don't worry. I will be fine. I made some Gajar
Halwa for you. It's in the fridge.

Exit Geeta. Grand Ma continues knitting for sometime. She stops. Looks
around. Goes back to knitting again. Stops. Looks in one direction as if she
heard something.
Grand Ma: Guddi... Babloo...
Kishore, a caretaker enters. He is wearing a uniform.
Kishore: Do you need something Mrs. Mathur?
Grand Ma: Ah, Kishore... No... I am... I thought...
.
Kishore: Would you like to go for a walk?
Grand Ma: Yes, that would be nice. (Caretaker helps her out of the chair. She
looks at the unfinished sweater and picks it up) Are you married Kishore?
Kishore: Yes, Mrs. Mathur. I have a son and a daughter.
Grand Ma: That's nice. Do you love your children?
Kishore: Of course I do. More than anything else. Why do you ask?
Grand Ma: (Smiles) I forgot to knit a sweater for myself. You
shouldn't. (Hands him the unfinished sweater) It'll keep you warm in the
winter. And please bring me some more wool. I am going to start knitting for
myself again.
Kishore: I will.
The End.

TREE AND TIGER by Amjad Prawej

A tree stands in the centre stage and a tiger is pacing up and down.
Tree: Will you please stop? My eyes are hurting.
Tiger: I am telling you, we'll have no where to go. We have to do something. We
have to act.
Tree: Calm down my friend. I understand your concern but killing them all is
definitely not a solution. Not for me at least. We need them.
Tiger: Ha Ha.. You make me laugh. They need us more than we need them. But do
they care? Absolutely not.
Tree: That is very harsh. There are the ones that care. You know that.
Tiger: Alright yes there are. But how many? Very few. I can count them on my
claws. They are outnumbered by the ones who don't give a hoot.
Tree: Calm down. We will find a reasonable solution.
Tiger: Calm down? You are telling me to calm down. The number of my clan has
reduced to almost nothing. And you are suggesting I calm down.
Tree: I know. There are problems. I am sure they will realize.
Tiger: Realize? When? The entire Eco-system has been altered. We are not sure
of seasons any more. It is raining here in December for God sakes. When will they
realize? And look at what they have done to your kind. You covered most of the
land just 10,000 years ago. And now you've shrunk to merely one-third of the total
area. Thousands of species have been extinct and hundreds of them are in
danger including you and me. When will they realize? On the Dooms Day?
Tree: I agree, it is a serious threat not only to us but also to mankind. The only
solution is to live in harmony. There should be a give and take relationship.
Tiger: But there is a give and take relationship. We have been giving and they
have been taking. It is a high time we stop this imbalance. We will force them to
give back.
Tree: My dear friend. Violence will produce more violence in retaliation. Violence
can never be a solution. Look what it has done to mankind. Hunger, famine,
poverty. They are trying to cope with all these. And I guess that is why they don't
have time to think about our problems.

Tiger: Ha.. They have created these problems themselves. Their greed and
hunger for power are responsible. They don't know how to live in harmony, in
peace. And seriously I don't care. But I do care about myself and all my clan. They
have driven us out of our homes. It is time we show them that Earth belongs not
only to them but also to millions of other species. We were created by nature, like
them. And we have all the rights to claim what is rightfully ours.
Tree: And how are you going to claim it back?
Tiger: We will invade their homes. We have had enough. Its our turn to drive them
out of their homes. Let them know how it feels.
Tree: You are playing the same tune again. Violence, killing and war. I told you its
not a permanent solution. You drive them out, they will rage a war. They will kill
you and you will kill them. It will never end. You are already on the verge of
extinction. Do you want to be eradicated altogether? Is that what you want?
Tiger: Definitely not. But how long can we keep mum. (Pause) Last night they
killed my wife.
Tree: I am sorry.
Tiger: Murderers. They kill almost everything that moves.
Tree: True. But you kill too. Don't you?
Tiger: Yes to eat and survive. I don't kill for fun. I don't kill humans and decorate
my den with their skins and their heads. I don't kill for money. They are selfish.
They would do anything for money. I don't understand really, how much money
do they need to live happily. I've heard about people who have Billions of dollars.
Why do they need so much money? I wonder if they eat money instead of food.
Tree: Everyone needs food. They have to rely on flora and fauna existing in
nature in one way or the other.
Tiger: And yet they don't care about nature. (Pause) So tell me about your
solution to this problem.
Tree: Education and awareness.
Tiger: Right. And who is going to spread this awareness? I am ready to volunteer.
Tree: That wouldn't be necessary. (Pointing to the audience) They are going to do
this. They have been listening to us. They know our problems. I am sure they will
act.
Tiger: Are you sure?

Tree: Positive.
Tiger: There is one more thing I forgot to mention.
Tree: What?
Tiger: I have been having... you know.. loose motions since this morning.
Tree: You mean diarrhea. You should watch what you eat. Why are you bringing
this up here?
Tiger: The cause... I think it's the water. The river that flows through our home
unfortunately flows through their town. They are dumping every possible wastes
in the river. The waste from their houses, from their factories and what not. These
wastes act like poison for our aquatic friends. Why only them, even we the
terrestrial ones are affected. I hope they do something about it.
Tree: (Pointing towards the audience) Don't worry they are listening to you. They
will certainly spread the message around.
Tiger: (To the audience) Thank you. You all look like very kind human beings to
me. Please spread the word. Thank you again!
Tree: Alright. We must get going now. (Turns to the audience before exiting) Oh! I
forgot. You have exactly five years. If in these five years we don't see substantial
measures to balance the give and take relation, we will take drastic steps. I make
this announcement on behalf of all the living plants, small and big, shrubs and
trees, aquatic and terrestrial if you don't act fast to correct these problems, we
will be forced to stop producing Oxygen! Good Bye.(Exits)
Tiger: What? No! Wait(runs to the audience) My God! Did you hear that? You
better start NOW. Please. I can't do without Oxygen, can you? Well then do as she
said. Plant trees, clean those rivers and please, stop killing us. All the best!
The End

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP015pD0NKg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6nmL-RKX3k

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Skit Based on Corruption - Class Presentation

Posted by Meenakshi Rajan About: Corruption, Our Work

This is the play which we enacted for our [XI 'A'] class presentation a few weeks back. The play
was written by two of us [Karthiga and I] and well... I thought it was worth posting it here, as it's
about the most frequently discussed topic everywhere - Corruption.
Narrator: Its August 14th, the day before the Independence Day and the day looked beautiful
and promising. One lady is seen amongst the crowd. Though she looked like any normal
woman, her noble and dignified demeanor set her apart from everyone else in the place. Yet,
people went by without even throwing a glance at the stately lady. For some reason, she is
invisible to their eyes. She is the Bharat Mata. Yes, the Mother of India. As she crossed a
building, she heard some voices and stopped to listen.
Man: Sir, I need a CC for my daughter. Here is my ration card and the details of the childs
background.
Narrator: The officer verifies all the necessary papers.
Officer: Everythings in order, but for one.
Man: I dont understand sir
Narrator: The officer rings the bell. His assistant enters.
Officer: Take him out and explain the procedures here.
Assistant: Yes sir. [After coming out] Give me 500 rupees. You know the procedure or what?
Man: But sir I am from a poor family and I have enough money only to pay my childs school
fee and todays the last day too. Please sir
Assistant: Even I have a child whos been asking for a new cricket set and I have a few rupees

short. So either hand over the money or else well, you know the process.

Narrator: The man gives away, half-heartedly.

Assistant: You must attach 200 rupees along with the details, if you want to get it signed.
Man: But sirI
Assistant: If you are to argue with the officer like this. He may even tear the CC in anger and
you will never get it.
Narrator: The man hands out the money bitterly cursing under his breath
Man: They get salary from the government for doing their jobs and yet Dont know how Im
going to pay my childs fee
Bharat Mata: Goodness This is outrageous!
Narrator: But then her spirits rose a little.
BM: Therell always be one or two black sheep everywhere. Let me try some other place. Surely
itll be a better story there.
Narrator: She turns towards a building, hoping it would brighten things up. It was the Electricity
Board Department.
Woman: Sir, I have telephoned and even launched 3 complaints that the street lights arent
working in our street for the past 4 months. People especially children, suffer a lot
Officer: Sorry maam your complaint didnt reach me.
Woman: What do you mean it didnt reach you? It was me who had filed them directly to you,
sir! I hope you dont expect me to believe what you say!

Officer [to his assistant]: You there take this woman out.
Narrator: Outside the office:

Assistant: Whats wrong with you maam? Why dont you just give him what he asked for?

Woman: What do you mean?

Assistant: Bribe maam, bribe as you people call it. If you want your work to get done, you
must give him money.
Woman [indignantly]: This is unfair then what is he paid by the government for? Next
beggars will start demanding coins from us!
Assistant: You dont argue and waste time here. Either give the money or move away.
Narrator: Bharat Mata watched as the woman gave a scathing look at the electricity board and
gave the money to the office assistant. She looked near hopeless and crestfallen. Just then, she
overhears a conversation between a rich man and another officer from the income tax
department.
Rich Man: Tax What the hell should I pay the government for? Its just like throwing the
money into a bottomless well. Im not dependent on them anyway
Narrator: His cell phone rings
IT officer: Sir, theres going to be an income tax raid in your home, tonight at 8.00PM. Its
secretly arranged, so be prepared, sir.
Rich Man: Right Ill see to it.
IT officer: Meanwhile pay some attention on this poor man, sir

Rich Man: Sure Itll be done.

Narrator: Later, the IT officers wife calls him on phone.
IT officer: Hello?
Wife: Everything has reached us safely. All the appliances are from good companies. I think our
child will be very happy with her new laptop.

BM [forlornly]: I never expected this Even the family members, who are supposed to advice
these corrupt officials against this vice, are supporting them. Where are the leaders who are
responsible for all this disorder and chaos??

Narrator: Just then, she perceived a crowd of supporters following a politician. The throng was
going from house to house. In one house
Politician [slyly]: Im a candidate in this upcoming general election. I need your votes to win,
so please do vote for me. Here is a compliment from me, for your support.
Narrator: He hands out a 1000 rupee note and the poor man gets it, without any expression in
his face. At this, Bharat Matas mind began to swirl. Politicians bribing people, people bribing
officials, officials bribing politicians, politicians bribing people It seemed like a cycle that will
never end. But then, something the poor man did made her look up.
Poor man: Were not selling our votes here. Please go away.
Narrator: And he quietly handed back the note to the irate politician. The Bharat Mata sighed in
relief. A ray of hope had just come into her heart. Tired, she sits down in a bench by the road. A
girl is walking on the road and stops by the same bench.
Girl: Are you alright, Miss?
Narrator: This surprises the Bharat Mata.
BM: Can you see me?
Girl: Of course, I can see you! I have eyes for a reason. So whats up?
BM: I dont think I can bear any more corruption
Girl: Oh So youre a victim of that dreaded disease too, huh?
BM: You mean there's someone you know who is....?
Girl: I am! Just a few days ago I had to file an RTI application to get my work done in one of
those government departments. People call me a fool for wasting so much time, when I could
easily have done it with some money
Narrator: The girl pauses, as if she was going through the events of the past few days.
Girl: But Im not going to give any money... not even a paise! Why should I? This is brazen
injustice and Im not going to tolerate it any longer.
Narrator: She looked pensive and had her eyes fixed somewhere in mid-air. Bharat Mata didn't

break the silence, as she watched the girl curiously. Then, suddenly with the vigor of someone
who had made a decision, she got up.
Girl: I think Ive got to go Got some work to do. It was nice meeting you.

Narrator: And she rushed off without a second glance. Bharat Mata got up from the bench. She
looked again towards the direction in which the girl had gone and she smiled. There was still
hope
Compeer: And that my dear friends, is the end of the skit. Corruption in India thrives on our
indifference and ignorance. Many of us are going to face corruption one day or the other, and
when we do, we should be sure that we dont yield to this vice. Its high time we understood the
difference between adjusting to situations and tolerating injustice, because in the latter case, the
more we tolerate, the more injustice will be inflicted on us. Lets Be the change we want to see
in the world. Jai Hind!