Bhopal

Rahul Varma

• Publisher: Playwrights Canada Press
• Year: 2005
• ISBN:
  9780369102614
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Canadian Drama
• Index: Literature

Bhopal, 1984. With the presence of the Carbide International pesticide factory, the city begins to claw its way out of endemic poverty. But what is to be made of the deformed babies born to women living near the factory? And the poison gas explosion that will leave three thousand people dead in just a few minutes—and will kill tens of thousands more in the years to come. How could have this happened?

BHOPAL

The play starts with a song. A dancer performs “Zahreeli Hawa” (poisoned gas) dance.

SINGER: Gaib say chalnay lagee jub

Ek Zahreeli Hawa
Dil kay phapholo say bhari
Kis kis kay nalo say bhari
Khamosh cheekho say bhari
Yeay kahan say utha rahi hai aisi dardili hawa
Gaib say chalnay lagee jub
Ek Zahreeli Hawa.

Ek mauzay lahoo aa rahee hai
Maut ki jaisi boo aa rahi hai
Kubooku suboosu aa rahi hai
Apni bayrangi maien bhi hai ek zara peeli hawa
Gaib say chalnay lagee jub ek Zahreeli Hawa

Scene 1

Slum. IZZAT’s hut. The police are taking SONYA away. Crowd follows them saying, “Police, police.” DEVRAJ enters and stands at the mouth of IZZAT’s hut. Slum dwellers start to converge at some distance, watching DEVRAJ. DEVRAJ knocks at IZZAT’s door. IZZAT charges out of the hut.

IZZAT:Who is it? (Shocked, seeing DEVRAJ, he turns to the crowd.) Get the hell out of here, you no good rascals. What are you doing here? Uh??? (crowd disperses, to DEVRAJ) Oh forgive me sahib, I thought some police wallah… bloody father of law. Not a moment of peace from them…. You forgive me sahib?

DEVRAJ:Why do you seek forgiveness?

IZZAT:Sahib, I’m a poor woman, rotting in this slum. What do I know about law and order?

DEVRAJ:You don’t need to worry.

IZZAT:How can I not worry, sahib? Who knows when one of them shows up, orders me to get lost, and flattens my hut…

DEVRAJ:That goat of yours… the one that died?

IZZAT:Yes, sahib. I’m not lying. My child lived on her milk. My own, my own chest, sahib, dried up long ago. I swear, sahib, my goat died. Do you want to check?

DEVRAJ:I believe you. (gives her money) Here, keep this.

IZZAT:Maherbani sahib, may God give you happiness, may you live a long life.

DEVRAJ:Let’s go inside.

IZZAT:Hai bhagawan. My hut is uninhabitable for your comfort, malik. What can I offer you? My food may be too strong for your stomach. My water is undrinkable, for your standard. (laughs) Even I cannot digest my food, malik, how will you?

DEVRAJ:I need to talk to you. Let’s go in.

They step...