Independence Day was just a few day saway. The previous year, Muthu's great grand father, a freedom fighter, had accompanied him to school and had shared some inspiring stories with them. This time, the students of Muthu's class were planning to stage a play.
Some felt that they had to focus on one incident - like the Dandi March. Some felt that the theme should be about what India has achieved post independence. A few feltthat it should be woven around our dreams for the India of the future. "The 1857 uprising* will mean a lot of costumes, drama, fighting..." said one of Muthu's classmates.
"Hey you are forgetting - people lost lives so that we could enjoy freedom," said Bala.
"Why focus on what has happened? We read that in books anyway. Let us have smoke and put up a dream sequence on how we think India will be in 2050. India will bethe superpower..." said Jones.
"In 2050 we will all be uncles ..."said Muthu.
"That is too ambitious in terms of costumes and sets ...we do not have enoughtime to make them ourselves or the money to rent...." said Bala.
"I feel we should focus on the present -today. What is India now ... anyway let ustry to write a script and whichever is good we can enact that," suggested Muthu.
Five days to Independence Day and they still did not have a good script that pleased everyone in the class with a role for each person.
No one could think of anything clever orun usual. Also, most of them did not wish tomemorize lines and practice. Some of them were anxious about the monthly tests that were around the corner. Therefore, they consulted their teacher and decided that they would stage a Freedom Parade.
